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Dear Father Angelo Bellon,
I live and work in China. A chinese citizen, friend of an acquaintance of mine, a deeply troubled person, has expressed the desire to receive baptism. Not trusting the Christian communities in China (perhaps he is fearing for his own safety) he privately asked my acquaintance if he could baptize him; since the latter refused because of his religion (Coptic Christians lay people cannot administer baptism) he asked me to do it. I don’t know exactly the conditions under which a lay person can administer baptism to anyone who wishes it, but I know that it is possible in case of “necessity”.
This person who desires the sacrament is severely depressed and has a serious addiction to alcohol. Furthermore, being a Christian in China is somehow dangerous. As a baptized Catholic Christian, would it be possible for me to baptize this person?
Thank you,
Lorenzo
Priest’s answer
Dear Lorenzo,
1. The Code of Canon Law says that “in a case of necessity any person with the right intention, confers baptism licitly. (can. 861.2).
In the following canon we read: “Except in a case of necessity, no one is permitted to confer baptism in the territory of another without the required permission” (can 862).
2. There is necessity when the person who should receive baptism is in danger of his life or, worse, is on the verge of death.
3. Now, the person asking you to be baptized cannot be considered “in a case of necessity”.
Therefore, in this case, canon 862 must be applied which, as we have seen, provides that baptism can only be administered with due license.
4. This license can only be given by the local ordinary of the person receiving baptism.
5. What to do, since in your case there is no state of necessity?
You can remember that alongside the baptism of water and blood there is also the baptism of desire. And if this desire is accompanied by sincere repentance for one’s sins, it already brings one into God’s grace.
6. Furthermore, by being baptized in time, there is the opportunity to do the necessary catechesis, to have adequate knowledge of the truth to be believed and of the commitments that one takes on.
7. Finally, with ordinary baptism the person is inserted into the ecclesial community so, as far as one can, one lives in the church and for the church.
Living in the church means meeting with others, praying and listening to sacred preaching in a community form, participating together with others in the Eucharist…
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Cor 12:13).
Therefore prepare this person for baptism by praying together, teaching him to pray, reading the word of God and catechizing him.
I wish you all the best, I bless you and I remember you in prayer.
Father Angelo