On Sep 12, 2012, at 1:33 PM, Altino Demelo <[email protected]> wrote:
> Sam, think that in instances where a baby is close to death, the priest is > called quickly to baptize the infant. I don't think a midwife is allowed to > baptize a child. For the record-- > (From Catholic Encyclopedia at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10287a.htm) As regards the sacrament of baptism the office of midwives is of the highest importance. On them frequently devolves the duty of conferring thissacrament, under circumstances where no other person's ministration is possible. Hence, the Churchhas always been most solicitious concerning the character of midwives and their instruction in thisreligious duty. Canonists teach that women who undertake the office of midwife are bound under mortal sin to learn the methods and requirements of valid baptism, as in case of necessity this dutyfrequently devolves upon them. There has been much legislation on this subject in various diocesansynods, whose canons place special obligations on parish priests and midwives. The former are reminded that, as midwives in conferring baptism act in place of the parish priest, he is strictly bound to in form himself whether they have sufficient knowledge to administer the sacramentvalidly. Some diocesan synods require that midwives, before being approved for duty, take an oaththat they will labor to procure the spiritual safety of infant and mother. When a new-born child has been baptized by a midwife, the parish priest must inquire carefully whether she had the properintention and administered the rite according to the prescriptions of the Church. If there is anyreason to doubt, the baptism is to be repeated conditionally (Catch. Rom., II, ii, ยง 43); but if it becertain that the sacrament was properly conferred it may not be repeated (c. Majores, 3 de bapt; Conc. Trid. Sess. VI, can. ix), and only the other ceremonies are to be supplied by the parish priest. -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
