HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — Around the world, from the Philippines to the Tri-States, Christians are celebrating Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season that culminates with Easter next month.
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church priest Larry McBride says Lent is an important time for Christians of all faiths to prepare for a “deeper relationship with Christ”, adding that Lent is important for people who join the Catholic Church to prepare for membership, and for others to renew their faith.
But this Lent could be different for Catholics across the United States after church officials in Phoenix and Detroit revealed priests misspoke at baptisms, rendering them invalid. Father McBride says the ‘letter of the law’ requires priests to say ‘I baptize you’, rather than “we baptizes”, whereas the priest takes on the person of Christ at this moment of baptism.
Father McBride says these issues are usually dealt with at the local diocesan level and says he is not aware of any of these issues in the Diocese of Owensboro. Still, it gives some parishioners pause. Parishioner John Speaks says he understands it might be easy for some priests to say we instead of Ibut he says that the priests he has known are “well versed in thinking before speaking”
The Catholic Diocese of Evansville declined to comment on the story.
