Vatican Fundamentalism


Last week the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith released a pronouncement that those who were baptized with the celebrant using a phrase other than the words: "in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" must be re-baptized. This pronouncement was in response to questions about the use of other phraseology by protestant & feminist ministers such as "Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier." According to the pronouncement, those who have been baptized by a minister or priest who used such phraseology should be considered unbaptized in the Christian faith.

According to the statement that was approved by Pope Benedict XVI (another example of what my friend Ginger calls "creeping infallibility"), Jesus ordered his apostles to baptize Christians "in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," that any other language does not adequately express the Trinitarian nature of God. I find it disappointing that the Vatican has chosen to take a fundamentalist position when referring to God. We know that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have many names. And there is no mistaking who we mean when we refer to Lord, Creator or Our Maker; Savior, Redeemer or Good Shepherd; Living Water, Sanctifier or even Sophia. Certainly God knows.

What I find most troubling is that this pronouncement sabotages an ecumenical principal that has been adopted by most Christian denominations -- that the sacrament of baptism should be universally accepted by all Christian churches. Once again, the Roman Catholic Church tries to set itself apart falsely as the "one true church" by making such a pronouncement. God knows the heart and intent of one of God's ministers when s/he celebrates the sacrament of baptism in the name of the Trinity -- regardless of the how the minister refers to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

It should be noted that the Vatican has made it clear that this pronouncement should be applied to other sacraments. In other words, if you are married in the name of "Yahweh, Joshua and Sophia" -- you're living in sin. If you've been married in the name of "the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" -- you're good. Unless of course you're in a same-sex marriage.

Peace.

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