According to what has been posted on this thread, catholic baptism is far more than mere entry into the institution of Catholicism. The catechisms claim it makes one ‘sinless’, but only if done by an ordained Catholic Priest. Is that correct?
“By baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin” (New Catholic Catechism [NCC] Paragraph 1263).
Incorrect. From the Catechism:
1256 The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon. In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize , by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of Baptism for salvation.As long as there is an actual washing with water and the use of the Trinitarian formula the Baptism of non-Catholic Christians are valid. If one so baptized were to enter into the Catholic Church they would not be re-baptized.