Father Connell Answers Moral Questions
by Very Rev. Francis J. Connell, C.SS.R., S.T.D., LL.D., L.H.D.
Conditional Baptism of Dying Non-Catholics
Question A: In a Catholic hospital could a general policy be adopted of baptizing conditionally all non-Catholics who are dying unconscious?
Question B: In the event that such a policy can be adopted, should all the Catholic nurses be instructed to confer baptism in the situation visualized or should this function be entrusted to only a few nurses or Sisters?
Question C: When conditional baptism has been administered in these circumstances, may a priest also give the dying person Extreme Unction? If so, should he use the complete ceremony prescribed by the Ritual or the short form?
Answer A: It seems sufficiently probable that the Sacrament of Baptism can be conferred conditionally on every non-Catholic dying unconscious, unless there is positive evidence that an individual is definitely opposed to the reception of the sacrament. The condition should be “Si capax es,” to cover the uncertainty about a previous valid baptism and about the person’s present intention to be baptized. This opinion is based on the undeniable fact that there are many persons living in our land who have never been baptized, and yet have a sufficient intention to receive this sacrament contained in their general wish to fulfill whatever conditions God has established as requisites for salvation. From this it would seem to follow that by the law of averages there is some probability that every non-Catholic is an unbaptized person who either explicitly or implicitly desires baptism, unless it is certain that his will is opposed to it.
Answer B: There would ordinarily be no reason to restrict the information just presented to only a few nurses or Sisters. Since every nurse or Sister is likely to be in a situation where she is the only one present with a dying person, the knowledge of what should be done in this situation should be given to all the Sisters and Catholic nurses of a hospital.
Answer C: When conditional baptism is permissible for a person dying unconscious, Extreme Unction may also be given conditionally if the person has reached the age of reason. Per se this sacrament should be given with all the ceremonies prescribed by the Ritual even in such circumstances, instead of in the abbreviated form allowed by Canon 947, 1, for a case of necessity. However, in the situation which we are considering there will usually be sufficient reason for the priest to make use of the short form.