The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had recently made an official statement deeming this language improper for the conferral of baptism.

Not only did this affect Father Hood himself and the many people who had received sacraments from him, but it also brought about significant questions from the people of the church about what the case means for sacramental life.

The person acting as minister must intend to do what the church intends to do with the sacrament.

Most prominent among these questions are the sacramental validity of the baptisms, confessions, marriages and more that Hood performed during his priestly ministry.

Fr John Baldovin, S.J., a sacramental theologian and professor at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College, offered America explanations for many of the important questions that have arisen as a result of Father Hood's case.

Baldovin noted that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has the authority to say what is and is not valid when it comes to sacramental language and form.

Theologians, however, also have the right to raise questions, he said.

It is important to recognize, Baldovin noted, that other forms of baptism have been used validly in the church throughout history.

Even today, some Eastern churches, both Orthodox and those Eastern Catholic churches in union with Rome, use a different form.

Some early churches used an interrogatory form in which the baptismal candidate was asked a set of questions about his or her belief in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and was immersed in the baptismal font after each affirmative answer.

Baptism is unique in that any person can be its minister.

Baldovin points out, though, that the person acting as minister must intend to do what the church intends to do with the sacrament.

Importantly, that intention must be expressed both internally and externally.

While it could reasonably be assumed that Deacon Mark Springer baptized Hood with goodwill in his internal intention, his external expression of the sacrament—even if its aberration from the essential form was an honest mistake—is what the statement from the C.D.F. invalidates.

The central question of the case lies in the matter of sacramental validity—in other words, the church guarantees that God's grace is present in the sacramental act.

Baldovin makes an important suggestion about validity's meaning and impact: "Too many people think invalid means unreal."

On this point, he stands in agreement with the Letter to the Faithful From Archbishop Vigneron of Detroit that addresses the case of Hood.

Vigneron urges hope when he writes that "[t]he Church, following the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, recognizes that God has bound Himself to the sacraments, but He is not bound by the sacraments."

While we can be sure that God acts in sacraments properly conferred, Baldovin said, the boundaries of God's grace and power are not delineated by the sacraments alone.

The deacon's errors were meaningful and should not be repeated, he noted, but they do not necessarily limit God's power to act. Continue reading

Father Matthew Hood learned that he was not a baptised Catholic earlier this month after watching a family video of his baptism and where some words were changed.

The words used at his baptism are not sanctioned by the Church.

Hood remembered a video of his own baptism ceremony in which the deacon said: "We baptize you…."

Hood realised his baptism wasn't valid - which meant he wasn't confirmed nor ordained.

According to sacramental theology, only a baptised Catholic can validly receive the other sacraments, since baptism is the means by which a person enters the Church and is incorporated into the body of Christ.

The trouble was, in the three years since his ordination, Hood had worked as a priest, baptising people, confirming them, celebrating Masses, offered absolution and marrying couples.

Once he realised Hood called his archdiocese. He needed to be ordained!

But first, after three years of acting like a priest, living like a priest, and feeling like a priest, he needed to become a Catholic!

First, he needed to be baptised.

After receiving the sacrament of baptised he was confirmed and received the Eucharist. He made a retreat, was ordained a deacon and on August 17 he was ordained a priest. (As pictured.)

Hood called the ensuing two weeks "a roller coaster".

"My heart goes out and breaks for those for whom I've celebrated Mass, Mass intentions I've offered, the confessions I've heard, and especially the sacraments of anointing of the sick that I've celebrated for people on their deathbeds, my grandmother included among them," Hood said.

St. Thomas Aquinas once famously said, "God binds Himself to the sacraments, but He himself is not bound by them."

Hood said, The Lord is still merciful and fully capable of imparting grace even when human error occurs.

Archbishop Allen Vigneron of the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit has acknowledged "human error has resulted in disruption to the sacramental lives of some members of the faithful" and vowed to remedy the situation for those impacted.

"As far as God ‘taking care of it,' we can trust that God will assist those whose hearts are open to Him", the Archbishop said.

On August 6, the Vatican released a document saying that baptisms using the word "we baptise" rather than "I baptise" makes the baptism invalid.

A doctrinal note accompanying the CDF letter said it has received number of cases in which baptisms have been administered using the words: "In the name of the father and of the mother, of the godfather and of the godmother, of the grandparents, of the family members, of the friends, in the name of the community we baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

The document was signed by Cardinal Luis Ladaria, head of the Vatican's doctrinal office, and by the department's secretary, Archbishop Giacomo Morandi.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Detroit Catholic
• Crux
• Image: National Catholic Reporter

The Australian delegation - which included Denis Hart, Archbishop of Melbourne, Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane and Justice Neville Owen of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council - discussed "the restoration of trust" amid sex abuse allegations.

Current allegations before the court in Australia involve Australian cardinal George Pell, a top adviser to the pope.

Pell is currently on leave of absence from his position as the Vatican's chief financial officer, facing historical sex abuse charges. He has steadfastly denied his involvement in any sex abuse.

A press release from the Holy See says a number of topics were covered at the Australian bishops' meetings. They included the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the relationship between the Church and society at large, the restoration of trust, and greater participation of the laity in decision-making roles in the Church.

Source

• Vatican Radio
• Washington Post
• Image: YouTube

He also says he thinks the apparitions of Our Lady which appeared in the town in 1981 might be recognised by the Vatican later this year

Although he expressed an opinion about the Vatican's likely recognition of the apparitions, Hoser points out that his task at Medjugorje was not to make a judgement on the apparitions' authenticity.

He says role was to evaluate whether the town's pastoral ministry was proper and consistent with the doctrine and teaching of the Church, as well as effective and well organized.

"I concluded that this is the case," Hoser says.

In relation to the authenticity of the apparitions, however, he says "... let us not forget the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith has submitted the entire documentation to the State Secretariat of the Holy See which is now working on the issue,".

Source

• Crux
• Total Croatia News
• vesti.mk