[metmom]

By definition, being sealed with the Holy Spirit and initiated into the Christian faith would be a baptism, whether its an official "ceremony" and whether water is used or not. The Catholic Church also recognizes baptism by blood (those killed for refusing to deny Christ) and baptism by desire (like the thief on the cross who told Christ that he accepted him). Those are still "baptisms", just not the far more common version we associate with entry into the Christian faith -- a ceremony where the person is covered in water and baptized in the name of the trinity by another Christian. Again, under Catholic canon law, baptism by desire and baptism by blood would be equally valid as a water baptism.

So whatever happened to *one Lord, one faith, ONE BAPTISM*???

Now the Catholic church adds all kinds of baptisms that Scripture never even mentions and adds something make believe as a condition for salvation, something God NEVER required.

What chutzpah.

[BillyBoy]

>> So whatever happened to *one Lord, one faith, ONE BAPTISM*??? <<

Baptism happens only once in your life. If you've had a legitimate baptism in another Christian denomination and then convert to Catholic, you CANNOT be rebaptized. To baptize someone another time would be meaningless since the first baptism permanently removes original sin.

You can, however, be CONFIRMED in the Catholic Church. This is a separate sacrament and does not involve the pouring of the water. It does NOT remove original sin, but ratherm it fills the person with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.