# Catholic priest inadvertently changed one word during baptism rites for decades, and apparently it's a BIG PROBLEM **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 15, 2022, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494 "2022-02-15T02:32:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/81 "2022-02-18T16:21:17Z")
Taking the Christ out of Christianity for 2000 years. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/82 "2022-02-18T16:23:51Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > God doesn’t want to send all those unbaptized babies to hell, but in his official capacity he finds it necessary to do things that he personally finds reprehensible. “Don’t make me turn the car around!” [Magical Thinking.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_thinking) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/83 "2022-02-18T16:28:41Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > God doesn’t want to send all those unbaptized babies to hell, but in his official capacity he finds it necessary to do things that he personally finds reprehensible. He does feel bad about it though, so there’s that. - Can God create a pile of bullshit so large even He gets buried? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/84 "2022-02-18T16:43:43Z")
If I were told that I am not really an ‘Official Catholic’ because of someone else screwing up, I would immediately ask for all the money back I’ve given to the church. Donations and tithes and whatever else should be null and void if the congregant is not official. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/85 "2022-02-18T18:52:46Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Can God create a pile of bullshit so large even He gets buried? That would be an ecumenical matter. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/86 "2022-02-19T01:42:54Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > “Don’t make me turn the car around!” More like, “See what you made me do!” the cry of abusers everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/87 "2022-02-19T01:52:46Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Which makes me wonder further–can I baptize myself? People have preformed [c-sections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-inflicted_caesarean_section) and [appendectomies](https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32481442) on themselves in emergency situations, so surely you can baptize yourself if you’ve got access to a cup of water. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/88 "2022-02-19T01:57:29Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > People have preformed [c-sections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-inflicted_caesarean_section) and [appendectomies](https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32481442) on themselves Of course, none of these were in the U.S. If they were, it would turn out that you were not in your own network, and you’d get billed $37,000. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/89 "2022-02-19T05:01:50Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > “Does the Pope shit in the woods?” Depends, is the bear Catholic? ### A drunken man stumbles upon a baptism in the River Jordan The priest is standing there, dunking people’s heads underwater, and when they emerged he would ask if they’d found Jesus. The drunk wanders down to the river to join in, and when it gets to his turn, the priest dunks his head under the water. When he gets back up, he asks the man if he had found Jesus, to which he replied no, so the priest dunks him underwater again, this time a little longer. and again. He pops back up, and after the priest asked if he’d found Jesus, he said no, a second time. The priest then dunks him under once more, only this time he kept the man underwater for a while. When he came back up one final time the priest asked if he’d finally found Jesus. The man asked, “Are you sure this is where he fell in?” ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/90 "2022-02-19T12:36:01Z")
So the Catholic Church has recalled thousands of Christians due to an error in their manufacture? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/91 "2022-02-19T15:27:10Z")
More like in dealer prep. I’m sure the manufacturers delivered the correct product. It’s just that the final prep was botched. Like forgetting the undercoating or not making sure the airbags were correctly installed. The problem now is that when the product is totaled, the bad prep keeps there from being any salvage or recycling value. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/92 "2022-02-19T22:35:40Z")
Which tracks pretty much 100% with what I learned in one of the theology classes in high school (“Catholic Doctrine & Dogma”, in fact). The point as I understand it, is that whoever’s doing the baptism is administering a sacrament, which is a ritual/ceremony that imparts some sort of divine grace, and by saying “We”, the implication is that it’s ALL the people doing the baptism, not the person who’s _actually_ doing it, instead of standing around watching. I do want to point out that I’ve seen baptisms in four different denominations (Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian), and ALL of them use the “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” formula. This priest in Arizona was doing something janky, and should have known better. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/93 "2022-02-20T02:15:57Z")
Regardless, this is shitty “magical words” thinking that reduces religion to some stupid ritual instead of some putatively rational framework. Built on fantasy, but still internally at least trying to appear rational. This is just Ouija board crap. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/94 "2022-02-20T05:17:46Z")
Whatever happened to: > He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. >      – 2 Corinthians 3:6 ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/95 "2022-02-20T08:47:51Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Whatever happened to: > > > He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. > > – 2 Corinthians 3:6 As I said earlier. > [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Taking the Christ out of Christianity for 2000 years. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/96 "2022-02-21T14:23:19Z")
My 90 year old aunt who will go to her grave believing the entire child sex abuse scandal is a fabrication of the Jewish Controlled Media is pissed off about this issue. At least she says the Church is shooting itself in the foot, that God cannot be as stupid as they are making Him out to be and giving their “enemies” (hint: ✡☪🇨🇳) ammunition. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/97 "2022-02-21T22:44:18Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > My 90 year old aunt who will go to her grave believing the entire child sex abuse scandal is a fabrication of the Jewish Controlled Media… Wait, does that mean it was Jewish Media Moguls abusing those altar boys? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/98 "2022-02-22T00:32:29Z")
No. It’s all fake news to her. It was maybe one or two priests, and a handful of victims. Everything beyond that is fabrication. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/99 "2022-02-22T01:36:17Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > I would think the backwards spelling proves that dogs are exactly the opposite of godly. The Egyptians worshipped cats–we may have forgotten this, but the cats have not. Ah, but if you rearrange the letters of _cats_, you get _scat_. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494/100 "2022-02-22T02:03:38Z")
All the cool cats can scat. There’s a reason the bible of scatting is _The New Cab Calloway’s Cat-ologue: A Hepster’s Dictionary_. It’s not a dog-ologue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-priest-inadvertently-changed-one-word-during-baptism-rites-for-decades-and-apparently-its-a-big-problem/959494.md?page=6)