Baptism

[janiemackers]

Can a Protestant minister assist a Catholic Priest in the baptism of a child?

[Clanad]

No...not unless it's an act devoid of faith... that is, a friend of the Catholic family asks the Protestand minister friend in attenadance out of respect to the family, to hold the 'towel' or some such outside of being involved in the ceremony. If the Protestand pastor (at least in my denomination here in the U.S.) assisted in 'blessing' the infant baptism, it would be toatally outside of his and his denominations beliefs concerning such acts...
I do believe though, that it depends entirely on the denomination. Here, many Lutherans and Episcopalians would not have a problem with it...

[baileybird]

Protestant !!!

[Clanad]

You're exactly right, baileybird... don't know where the errant "d" came from... thanks for pointing that out!!

[McMouse]

I don't know the correct answer but I do recall speaking to a midwife many years ago who told me that she had "baptised" children soon after birth when it was clear that they would not live for very long. Maybe she did this to give comfort to the parents........but in my book this would be every bit as valid as having an ordained person doing it.

[WaldoMcFroog]

I agree - it's equally as valid.

[Whickerman]

not sure what the problem is, ecuminism seems to be alive here in Ireland. I've been to a christening in a Catholic church two weeks ago co-celebrated by a Church of Ireland priest, two funerals lately with similar (in fact one of them was a service in CoIreland with burial in Catholic churchyard, and vice versa in the other case, both with ministers from both sects)

All Christian so I've no idea what the issue is.
Also, if you convert between the two you don't get re-baptised as the original is recognised

[Octavius]

I'm with Whickerman, I have seen CoE Vicars and RC Priests concelebrate at weddings and funerals and also an Eastern Orthodox priest on one occasion.

It really depends on the clergy themselves, but most would welcome another minister concelebrating providing it was clear who was leading the mass and who was assisting.