EMERGENCY BAPTISM

​

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20a)

​

​

10. Periodically an instruction shall be given in every parish explaining the requirements for the valid administration of baptism and the obligation of a lay person to confer the sacrament in case of emergency.(CIC 861, §2) The faithful shall be instructed to report an emergency baptism immediately to the pastor of the person baptized. The pastor will decide if prudent grounds exist for repeating the baptism conditionally.

 

11. Priests and deacons shall acquaint those who may be concerned, especially doctors, nurses and parents, including non-catholics if necessary, with the Church’s practice in regard to baptism. This obligation devolves particularly upon hospital chaplains and pastors having hospitals within their parishes. The matter should also be clearly explained to those about to enter into marriage.

​

12. After an emergency baptism, the proper pastor shall arrange to supply the ceremonies using the proper rite in the approved liturgical books. [cf. #21.4]

​

(...)

​

16. If there is doubt of whether the person or fetus is alive, baptism can be conferred conditionally. If aborted fetuses are alive, they are to be baptized if possible. (CIC 871) If there is no doubt that the person or fetus is dead, the minister may not baptize.

​

21 When an EMERGENCY BAPTISM has been celebrated in a hospital, or any other place, the following steps are to be followed in order to insure proper recording of the baptism:

​

          21.1 The one who administers baptism (cleric or lay) is to see that, unless a sponsor is present, there be at least a witness by whom

                    the conferral of baptism can be proved. (CIC 875)

​

          21.2 If baptism was not administered by the pastor of the territorial parish of the institution, the one who administered the

                    baptism must inform the pastor of the territorial parish in which baptism was administered so that the proper record may be

                    entered into the books in accord with the norms of canon 877 §1. (CIC 878) This is to be done within three days after the

                    administration of the sacrament.

​

          21.3 As of September, 2012, the territorial parishes for the following hospitals are:
                    21.3.1 Lovelace Medical Center: 601 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave: San Ignacio, Albuquerque
                    21.3.2 Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital: 505 Elm St. NE: San Ignacio, Albuquerque
                    21.3.3 Heart Hospital of New Mexico: 504 Elm St. NE: San Ignacio, Albuquerque
                    21.3.4 Kindred Hospital: 700 High St. NE: San Ignacio, Albuquerque
                    21.3.5 Children’s Psychiatry Hospital: 1001 Yale Blvd NE: Our Lady of Fatima, Albuquerque
                    21.3.6 UNM Carrie Tingley Hospital: 1127 University Blvd NE: Our Lady of Fatima, Albuquerque
                    21.3.7 University of New Mexico Hospital: 2211 Lomas Blvd NE: St. Charles Borromeo, Albuquerque
                    21.3.8 Presbyterian Hospital: 1100 Central SE: St. Charles Borromeo, Albuquerque
                    21.3.9 Kaseman Presbyterian Hospital: 8300 Constitution Ave NE: Assumption, Albuquerque
                    21.3.10 Lovelace Westside: 10501 Golf Course Rd NW: St. Jude, Albuquerque
                    21.3.11 Lovelace Women’s Hospital: 4701 Montgomery Blvd NE: Queen of Heaven, Albuquerque
                    21.3.12 Plains Regional Medical Center, Clovis: Sacred Heart, Clovis
                    21.3.13 Presbyterian Española Hospital: Sacred Heart, Española
                    21.3.14 Alta Vista Regional Hospital: Las Vegas: Immaculate Conception, Las Vegas
                    21.3.15 Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center: St. John the Baptist, Santa Fe
                    21.3.16 Santa Fe PHS Indian Hospital: St. John the Baptist, Santa Fe
                    21.3.17 Holy Cross Hospital: Taos: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Taos
                    21.3.18 Miner’s Colfax Medical Center: St. Patrick-St. Joseph, Raton
                    21.3.19 Presbyterian Rust Medical Center, 2400 Unser Blvd. SE; Rio Rancho: St. Thomas Aquinas, Rio Rancho
                    21.3.20 UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center, 3001 Broadmoor Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho: Church of the Incarnation, Rio

                                   Rancho
                    21.3.21 VA Medical Center, 1501 San Pedro Dr. SE, Albuquerque: Military Archdiocese, Washington, DC. (A copy is also

                                    placed in the patient’s medical records.)

​

          21.4 The one who administers the baptism is to encourage the parents, or person baptized, to go to their proper parish to have the                      ceremonies supplied. (9) A record of the ceremonies supplied is to be sent to the parish where the baptism is recorded

                    (territorial parish of the institution).

​

          21.5 When baptism is conferred by a non-cleric, the recording of the baptism is done in accord with the norms of law. Catholic

                    Chaplains are to see that the proper information is sent to the parish in a timely fashion

(9) By proper parish is understood the parish where the parents, or the one baptized, are registered. If they are not registered in any parish, it is understood to be the territorial parish of their home address.