ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA
CHANCERY
(as of 9 March 2018)
AN UPDATE ON THE VALIDITY
OF BAPTISM
IN NON- CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN
COMMUNITIES
IN THE PHILIPPINES
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Note: Based on
the list prepared by the Episcopal Commission on the Doctrine of the Faith and
presented during the CBCP Plenary Assembly on January 27-29, 2018 and in
consultation with Msgr. Geronimo Reyes, Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of
Manila.
I.
NON-CATHOLIC CHURCHES AND CONGREGATIONS
WITH VALID BAPTISM [based
on the 2009 Report of the Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs (ECEA)].
1.
All
Eastern non-Catholics (Orthodox)
2.
Adventists
3.
African
Methodist Episcopal
4.
Amish
5.
Anglican
6.
Assembly
of God
7.
Baptists
8.
Evangelical
United Brethren
9.
Church
of the Brethren
10.
Church
of God
11.
Congregational
Church
12.
Disciples
of Christ
13.
Episcopalians
14.
Evangelical
Churches
15.
Methodists
16.
United
Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)
17.
Lutherans
18.
Iglesia
Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas (IEMELIF)
19.
Liberal
Catholic Church
20.
Old
Catholics
21.
Old
Roman Catholics
22.
Convention
of the Philippine Baptist Churches
23.
Church
of the Nazarene
24.
Polish
National Church
25.
Presbyterian
Church
26.
Reformer
Churches
27.
United
Church of Christ
THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITIES DO NOT HAVE A VALID
BAPTISM:
1.
Apostolic
Church
2.
Bohemian
Free Thinkers
3.
Christian
and Missionary Alliances, Christian Scientists, Church of Divine Science,
People’s Church of Chicago, Quakers, Salvation Army, Pentecostal Churches
4.
Christadelphians
5.
Jehovah’s
Witnesses
6.
Unitarians
7.
Iglesia ni Cristo (INC)*
8.
Mormons*
II.
THE AGLIPAYANS
Because of the
concrete historical circumstances of the Aglipayan Church, it can be claimed
that Aglipayans baptized after 1960 are most likely to have been validly
baptized. The Aglipayans splintered into two groups: one affiliated with the
Unitarians, which do not have a valid baptism. Subsequently, the two groups
reunited, and the baptism conferred in this united group is certainly valid. It
may be necessary to determine what sect of the Aglipayan Church the baptism was
conferred before this period.
III.
THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO
The INC openly
denies the Trinity. Therefore, there is certainly doubt to the sufficiency of
the Faith and intention of the Minister. Because of this, their baptism is held
to be invalid. Regular baptism applies.
IV.
THE MORMONS
We could add to
this report of the ECEA the response of the Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith to a Dubium on the validity
of baptism conferred by “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”, or
“Mormons”. The negative response was made public on June 2001. The main reasons
for the invalid baptism of Mormons are: an erroneous understanding of the
Trinity (although the Trinitarian formula is used); the denial of original sin;
that baptism was not instituted by Jesus Christ.
V.
THE “BORN-AGAIN” GROUPS
The ECEA Report
says: It is difficult to determine a
priori the validity of the baptism conferred in the many born-again groups
that have multiplied so quickly in the Philippines in the past decade or so.
Each case will have to be examined individually.
Additional
information: A common practice among these groups is the giving of baptism only
to those with an age of reason because a lot of importance is given to the
personal and conscious act of repentance and of the acceptance of Christ as
Redeemer. A “dedication” ceremony for infants is usually held called paghahandog.
An official of
the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), Mr. Alex Galvez, told
the ECDF Secretary that the Trinitarian formula is used in their baptismal
rites: “ I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit”. Furthermore, the PCEC reviews the “Statement of Faith” of every
group to be accredited to it. Consequently, it is safe to presume that the
baptism of a “born-again” group is valid as long as the same group is a member
of the PCEC. The most recent Newsletter of PCEC says that the total number of
member organizations under it is now 546 (“77 denominations, 240 para-churches
and 229 local churches”).
