Like in Arizona, botched baptisms roiled Michigan church

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Like in Arizona, botched baptisms roiled Michigan church

By ED WHITE
February 21, 2022

DETROIT (AP) — One word caught the ear of a young priest a few years ago when his father shared a video of his 1990 baptism at a suburban Detroit church.

“Wait,” the Rev. Matthew Hood recalled thinking. “Something doesn’t seem right here.”

Indeed, an error by a deacon who said “We baptize” instead of “I baptize” spoiled Hood’s baptism in the eyes of the Catholic Church — and, in domino-like fashion, erased his other sacraments and meant that he wasn’t really a priest.

It was perhaps the most significant consequence from a controversy that emerged nearly two years ago at St. Anastasia Church in Troy, after the Vatican said the use of “we” invalidates baptisms in the Catholic faith.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-religion-arizona-michigan-detroit-379fec0946a7ad8b8d536f6871f28715


Father Matthew Hood is shown at Our Lady of the Rosary church Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, in Detroit. In 2020, one word caught the ear of a young Detroit-area priest while he watched a video of his baptism from decades earlier. "Wait," the Rev. Matthew Hood recalled thinking. "Something doesn't seem right here." Indeed, an error by a deacon had spoiled the sacrament — and, in domino-like fashion, meant he truly wasn't a priest. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)