Thousands Of Baptisms Invalidated After Priest Uses Wrong Word For 26 Years

KEY POINTS

Rev. Arango has been performing baptisms since he began priesthood in 1995
People who have had a botched baptism may need to repeat subsequent sacraments
The priest has resigned as pastor of the Phoenix parish following the findings

Thousands of baptisms have been invalidated after an Arizona priest changed one word in administering the sacrament, according to the Catholic church.

Rev. Andrews Arango, a priest of the Diocese of Phoenix, had performed thousands of baptisms throughout his more than 20-year career. During the baptism, Arango would say, “We baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

However, saying “we baptize” was incorrect. According to The Vatican, priests should say “I baptize.” Saying the sacrament in another way would make the baptism invalid.

Church leaders investigated and determined last month that Rev. Arango could have been using the incorrect word since he began his priesthood in 1995 until June 17, 2021. This means the baptisms he performed in Phoenix and at his previous parishes in Brazil and San Diego could all be invalid.

"I do not have an exact number of people affected, but I believe they number in the thousands," Katie Burke, the spokesperson for the Diocese of Phoenix, told NPR in an email.

All other sacraments Arango performed were proven to be valid. However, because baptism is the first of the sacraments, an invalid baptism could invalidate any subsequent sacraments. This may include a person’s confirmation, holy orders and marriage.

"What this means for you is, if your baptism was invalid and you've received other sacraments, you may need to repeat some or all of those sacraments after you are validly baptized as well," the diocese said in the statement.

Father Arango has since apologized for the botched baptisms and said he is resigning as pastor of the St. Gregory Parish effective Feb. 1. The priest added that he would devote his time to helping those affected. He still remains a priest in good standing, according to the diocese.

"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," Arango said in a statement.

The diocese is now encouraging anyone who believes their baptism was affected to call the parish. The diocese has also set up an online form that people could fill out if they or their child were baptized by Rev. Arango.