During a review of Isaac Hess (who refuses to debate) and his arguments against "Mormonism," the topic of "sacramental intention" in Roman Catholic sacramental theology came up. While reading a thesis from 1944, I found the following helpful for Latter-day Saints who may want to better understand such vis-a-vis baptism:
It has been alleged that the
majority of non-Catholic sects in the United States do not administer baptism
validly because by their heretical notions on the nature and efficacy of
baptism they interpolate into the form a meaning which is essentially at variance
with the Church’s sense. It is implied thereby that there is present in the
minister a positive intention not to perform the rite of baptism in accordance
with the practice of the Church. It is sufficiently clear, from what has been
said in the first part of this chapter on the intention of the minister, that
no matter how erroneous may be the views of non-Catholic sects concerning the
nature and effects of baptism, if there is present the serious intention
faithfully to administer the rite as Christ’s instituted mandate (the
application of the valid matter and form being duly presupposed), the baptism must
be considered valid. That this intention is generally present is indicated from
the examination of the several ritual formulas found in Appendix I. In general
it may be said that it does not appear from these ritual formulas that there is
present a positive intention not to perform the rite in obedience to Christ’s
mandate or in conformity to the practice of the true Church of Christ. Such a
positive contrary intention, were it present, could certainly be expected to
appear in the very rite itself, which rite would of necessity reflect an
essential change and departure from the Catholic rite. But such an essential
change or departure from the Catholic rite does not as a rule appear. (Joseph
Goodwine, The Reception of Converts: Commentary with Historical Notes [The
Catholic University of America Canon Law Studies 198; Washington, D.C.: The
Catholic University of America Press, 1944], 48-49)
For more from a Roman Catholic perspective, see Robert J.
Siscoe, “What is the
intention to do what the Church does?”
