CATHOLIC CHURCH DOES NOT RECOGNIZE VALIDITY OF MORMON BAPTISM

VATICAN CITY, JUL 26, 2001 (VIS) - The Catholic Church does not recognize the validity of baptism conferred by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, whose followers are known as Mormons. This is the response, published with the approval of the Pope, of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to a question in this regard. The response is dated June 5 and is signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., respectively prefect and secretary of the congregation.

A recent article published in the Vatican newspaper, "L'Osservatore Romano," explains that "the baptism of the Catholic Church and that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints differ essentially, both in regard to faith in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, in whose name baptism is conferred, and in regard to the reference to Christ Who instituted it."

Regarding the matter of the sacrament - water - "no problem exists. ... The Mormons practice baptism by immersion, which is one of the modes of the celebration of baptism ... which the Catholic Church also accepts."

Regarding the form of the sacrament, "the similarities with the formula used by the Catholic Church are, at first glance, evident, but in reality they are only apparent. There is not, in fact, an underlying doctrinal coincidence. There is not a true invocation of the Trinity because the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, according to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are not three persons in which a sole divinity subsists, but three gods who form one divinity."

"According to the Catholic Church," says the article, "baptism remits not only personal sins but also original sin, and therefore children as well are baptized for the remission of sins. This remission of original sin is not accepted by the Mormon Church, which denies the existence of this sin and therefore baptizes only people who have the use of reason, who are at least eight-years old, excluding the mentally handicapped."

The article concludes: "The decision of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is a response to a particular question regarding the doctrine on the baptism of the Mormons, and obviously does not indicate a judgement on the persons who adhere to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."

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