Does the Catholic Church recognize baptism in other Christian Churches?

Answer 1

Catholics recognize baptisms performed by most major Christian denominations. In particular, the Catholic Church recognizes all Protestant denominations. As the Dutch Reformed Church is a Protestant church, the Catholic Church should recognize it.

Answer 2

All that is required for a valid baptism, according to Lutheranism is "water and the Word." Any baptism that was performed in the name of the "Father, Son and Holy Spirit." in the traditional trinitarian understanding is valid. Where that stands as far as eligibility to receive communion in a Lutheran Church, etc. is a more complicated matter.

Answer 3

Catholic AnswerThe Catholic Church recognizes all baptisms that are done in which water actually runs on the head of the person, in which the words, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" and done with the intention to do what Our Blessed Lord asked of us when He said that you must be baptized. If any of these elements are missing (sprinkling versus poured water or immersion, something other than water, different words, or no intention) then the baptism would not be considered valid. AnswerAny Christian baptism performed with water and the formula "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Orthodox, Coptic, Anglican Christians use this formula, as do most Protestants. Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Unitarians do not use this formula and/or have different understandings of the Trinity than other Christians, so Catholicism does not recognize their baptisms since they do not have the same intention.

Canon 869.1 states

"Those baptized in a non-Catholic ecclesial community must not be baptized conditionally unless, after an examination of the matter and the form of the words used in the conferral of baptism and a consideration of the intention of the baptized adult and the minister of the baptism, a serious reason exists to doubt the validity of the baptism."

In other words, Christians being received into full communion with the Catholic Church are not re-baptised unless there is some real doubt as to whether or not it was done properly; even then, baptism is 'conditional'. This would never apply to such people as Orthodox, Copts, Anglicans, Lutherans or Presbyterians; please note that there are possible problems with Methodists and other protestants who baptize with sprinkling, the water must actually run on the person's forehead (if they are not immersed) for validity.

AnswerNote that with the above answer, the Eastern Churches usually say "You are baptised ..." instead of "I baptise you ...". The Catholic Church regards both as valid forms of baptism.

Answer 4

Yes, definitely

Answer from a CatholicI was baptised as an infant in the Methodist Church, the Methodist Church uses sprinkling, and there is a question as to whether the water actually runs on the person when they are sprinkled. When I entered the seminary to study for the priesthood, the priest who was explaining baptism and when there was a need for conditional baptism, I mentioned my own baptism. I was taken over to the the local parish Church the following day and conditionally baptised and confirmed.