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To: Mrs. Don-o

“Which is why, for instance, the Catholic Church recognizes the Sacraments of Baptism and of Matrimony as valid in all Christian denominations, even if those denominations themselves don’t see them as Sacraments”.

Except............

APOSTOLIC CHURCH: Invalid
An affirmative decision has been granted in one case involving “baptism” in the apostolic church. The minister baptized according to the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, and not St. Matthew. The form used was: “We baptize you into the name of Jesus Christ fo r the remission of sins, and you shall
receive a gift of the Holy Ghost.” No Trinitarian form was used.

CHRISTADELPHIANS: Invalid

Belief is in spiritual rebirth by immersion. Baptism appears
invalid since there is no belief in a Trinity, but in one God, Jesus, who was the son of God, but not God the Son. There is no Trinitarian formula, since there is no belief in the Trinity.

CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS: Invalid
The mother church of all Christian Science Churches states: “Baptism is an individual spiritual experience. It is not a religious rite or ceremony performed by an ordained minister or priest.” The textbook states that it is a purification by spirit. A letter from the board of directors states there is no baptismal ritual in the Christian Science movement. In other words, they have
no true baptism.

CHURCH OF DIVINE SCIENCE: Invalid
Apparently invalid baptism. Th e ceremony is a christening ceremony, but not one of baptism. There is no change brought about in the person who is blessed. The church does not believe in original sin, so that the child is blessed only when received into the church.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES: Invalid
An affirmative decision was granted in such a case because of lack of proper form and intention on the part of the ministers. It appears that t he Jehovah’s Witnesses are fundamentalists, Unitarians. The Divinity of Christ is explicitly denied, as is the existence of the Holy Spirit as a person. In the ceremony of baptism there is a discourse. It is really a symbol of dedication rather than baptism. The person enters the water, but his name is not called out. No words or formula are pronounced while the person is submerged or immersed in the water. If matter and form are valid, the intention of the minister is to
baptize the person into the Jehovah ‘s Witness sect, thereby not intending that the person be baptized in
the name of the triune God. This is evident since the Divinity of Christ and the personality of the Holy
Spirit are denied. These latter refer simply to a power exerted by Jehovah, who alone is God.

LATTER DAY SAINTS CHURCH (MORMON): Invalid
There is a dedication ceremony in which no water is used. Baptism takes place by immersion, but not before the age of 8. The Vatican Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith in 2001 declared this baptism invalid.

PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES: Invalid
Invalid baptism because of Unitarian formula. This is found in the official book of the Pentecostal Assembly. Yet baptism is considered necessary for salvation and is done by immersion. SALVATION ARMY: No Baptism
The Salvation Army Headquarters state they do not have a baptismal service, but a religious ceremony called a dedication service of children, and also a cradle role. A certifica te is issued for the dedication service, but is not to be confused with water baptism.
UNIVERSALISTS: Invalid
Universalists and Unitarians voted to merge in May of 1960, with the union taking effect in 1961. Even before that time, Universalists favored ultimate salvation and rejected original sin. With time, they denied the Trinity and the Divinity of Jesus.


245 posted on 09/20/2013 1:43:29 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
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To: NKP_Vet
Exactly right, and thanks for the correction. I should have phrased that: "Catholic Church recognizes the Sacraments of Baptism and of Matrimony, when validly performed, in all Christian denominations, even if those denominations themselves don’t see them as Sacraments”.

Many of the faith communities you listed do not believe in the Trinity, nor in Jesus Christ as the eternal, Only-begotten Son of God, and so their identity as Christian is dubious.

246 posted on 09/20/2013 1:53:10 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("No one on earth has any other way left but -- upward.” - Alexander Solzhenitsyn)
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To: NKP_Vet
[addressing a statement that said "the Catholic Church recognizes the Sacraments of Baptism and of Matrimony as valid in all Christian denominations"]
APOSTOLIC CHURCH: Invalid
CHRISTADELPHIANS: Invalid
CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS: Invalid
CHURCH OF DIVINE SCIENCE: Invalid
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES: Invalid
LATTER DAY SAINTS CHURCH (MORMON): Invalid
PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES: Invalid
UNIVERSALISTS: Invalid

Not sure why you would bring these up, unless you believe that these are "Christian (Protestant) denominations". Is that what you believe?

308 posted on 10/08/2013 5:44:06 AM PDT by Alex Murphy (Just a common, ordinary, simple savior of America's destiny.)
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