NBC journalist Celia Viggo Wexler excoriated the Church’s perennial dogma on Baptism in her opinion piece last week, “Baptism scandal points to something very wrong in the Catholic Church.” Wexler’s screed recalls the decision of the Diocese of Phoenix to discipline a local priest for performing baptisms invalidly with the formula “We baptize you,” instead of the words instituted by Christ Himself. Words don’t really matter, Wexler bemoans. She then blames clericalism for the Church’s “infuriating” obsession over sacramental theology in place of more important issues, like climate change. Why does it matter what a priest says anyway? Wexler’s argument would border on nominalism if it wasn’t so infantile.
First, Wexler’s presumably limited knowledge of sacramental theology undermines the longstanding tradition that the Church requires a valid formula for anyone who performs the sacrament of baptism — even those without faith. The Church considers the effects of baptism —namely, justification, salvation — so important, she permits even a non-baptized person to baptize someone in danger of death. Second, if words as eternally consequential as “I baptize you” don’t matter, then what does matter? Do the words inscribed in civil law, which legislate against discrimination and hate crimes matter? Surely, those accused of those infractions could proffer the same argument in their defense. Do the constitutionally protected liberties in the Bill of Rights matter, or are they just words, easily manipulated by judicial fiat? Most Americans would agree those words matter.
In the Rite of Baptism, the “I” implies that Christ ultimately baptizes in the person of the minister (whether priest, lay person, or atheist). We — society, communities, parishes — don’t baptize. They have no power to effect sacramental grace. Only God does. This unchangeable fact forms little resemblance to the “nitpicking” Wexler accuses clerics of fomenting. Because the Church loves humanity so much, she cannot redesign the plan which emanates from the Divine Word. Not only would such arrogance border on blasphemy; it would eternally endanger the souls entrusted to the Church’s care.
