Can a Catholic baptized as an infant be baptized again as an adult in the same faith by immersion?

Answer 1

According to One View Catholics, along with most non-Catholic Christians, believe that Baptism is a ritual that should take place only once. Catholics recognize three modes of Baptism: immersion of the whole body,, pouring of water over some part of the body (usually but not necessarily the head), or sprinkling. The essential physical element of Baptism is that another person must somehow cause water to flow over some part of the body of the person to be baptized, while saying, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit It does not matter which form was used--immersion, pouring or sprinkling. If done correctly, by anyone (Christian or not) with the intention to Baptize, Baptism need not be repeated, and as a matter of Church discipline would not be repeated even in a different mode. In rare cases, where there is a legitimate doubt as to the validity of the first Baptism ceremony, a second conditional Baptism should be given. This would be in cases where some necessary element of the Baptism was lacking, as has happened when the formula was defective: "I baptise you in the name of God Almighty," or "I baptise you in the name of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Spirit of Love." Both of these formulas have been used by misguided or poorly informed persons within recent memory. Or in another case, rose petals were used instead of water. That also would presumably render the Baptism invalid. In the Catholic view, all such changes would render the attempted Baptism invalid, and in a subsequent ceremony the formula would be, "If you are not baptized, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Another ViewBaptism is not just an empty ritual that gives a person something like a "rite of passage" or something like that, and "most non-Catholic Christians" do not hold a similar view to baptism as the Roman Catholics do.

True baptism is a symbol of something that has taken place within a person. It's often referred to as "an outward expression of an inward reality." The whole meaning of Baptism is to do with repentance, a person repents (dies) of their old ways, and follows Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour.

If a baby or young kid is baptized, it is meaningless in the eyes of God. How is a baby to repent?

Acts 2:37-38 reads - Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Baptism is about faith IN Jesus not faith in a religion. Believe it or not, baptism is not a requirement of salvation, a person's faith IN Jesus is the only requirement for salvation, baptism is an expression of that faith: a public declaration.

The Apostle Paul wrote: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:8-10

Baptism is an empty ritual unless he/she has been born again by the Spirit. John 3:3-8 reads:

Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (natural birth) and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

"Come to ME, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28-30)

Another View

No, Baptism makes an permanent mark on the soul that can not be repeated. To attempt to repeat it would be considered sacrilege, a very serious sin.