Illegitimate baptisms

Regarding "Wrong language renders baptism null" (NCR, March 21): Has anyone in the hierarchy informed our "Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier" that people baptized using that formula are not really baptized? Does anyone suppose that God cares more about legal formulas than about the intention of faith? Jesus himself repeatedly followed the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law by healing and working on the Sabbath. Years later, St. Paul asked the Galatians, "Did you receive the Spirit from works of the law, or from faith in what you heard?" and then proclaims, "You are separated from Christ, you who are trying to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness." Will we soon learn from the official church that the baptismal formula must be proclaimed in Aramaic, so as not to "change any words of Jesus"?

MARY ANN M. SCHOETTLY

Newton, N.J.

Identifying and rooting out these false Christians must be a high priority. Already some may have invalidly been ordained and might be chosen as future bishops. Though some may mistakenly believe they are Christians, if this cancer in our midst is not eradicated, some could even end up as members of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

MIKE McFARLAND

Dubuque, Iowa

Just when we were beginning to think that the church's sacraments weren't just magic after all but meaningful events in our spiritual life, we have the boys in red dresses and white lace reassure us to the contrary. But look on the positive side. This new clarification will greatly facilitate the marriage invalidation process. All I have to do is distinctly remember that my baptizer didn't use the exact words from Matthew 28 " and bingo! I'm off to a new marriage. I wonder if God is just laughing, or maybe crying.

AMADEO H. REA

San Diego

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