Recently I learned that the priest who baptized my youngest child was a pedophile priest.

If he was in a state of sin, does that mean my son isn't really Catholic?

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2 replies	Author	Time	Post
Recently I learned that the priest who baptized my youngest child was a pedophile priest. (Original post)	mykpart	Nov 2012	OP
No	47of74	Nov 2012	#1
Relax. The efficacy of the sacraments do not depend on the whether the priest is in a state of sin.	rug	Nov 2012	#2

Response to mykpart (Original post)

Sun Nov 18, 2012, 11:44 PM

47of74 (6,663 posts)

1. No

There's a concept in the church called In persona Christi. Basically what that means is that the priest acts in place of Christ during certain sacraments such as communion and that the sacrament is valid regardless of how good the celebrant happens to be.

My family is kind of in the same boat as yours - the priest who officiated at my grandparents wedding abused scores of young men during the 30s, 40s, and 50s.

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Response to mykpart (Original post)

Wed Nov 21, 2012, 05:20 PM

rug (47,400 posts)

2. Relax. The efficacy of the sacraments do not depend on the whether the priest is in a state of sin.

Thet was settled in the fourth century when the Donatists were rebuffed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donatism

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