Hundreds of Catholics in Arizona are wondering if they are, in fact, Catholics after it was revealed that a long-serving local priest used the wrong word in the baptism ceremony, likely meaning their baptisms are invalid, the Associated Press reports.
Rev. Andres Arango, who has served in the diocese for 16 years, recited, “We baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” during the rite. In Catholic ritual, however, the priest should have said “I baptize you…,” not “we.” Catholics believe that Jesus Christ Himself is baptizing the individual, being channeled through the priest, so Fr. Arango’s baptism, in fact, didn’t stick.
In a note on the diocese’s website, Arango wrote: “It saddens me to learn that I have performed invalid baptisms throughout my ministry as a priest by regularly using an incorrect formula. I deeply regret my error and how this has affected numerous people in your parish and elsewhere.”