General Introduction 19 6) be a member of the Catholic Church, not prohibited by law from carrying out this office. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may be received only as a witness of the Baptism and only together with a Catholic godparent, at the request of the parents.20 In the case of separated Eastern Christians, the special discipline for the Eastern Churches is to be respected. 11. The ordinary ministers of Baptism are Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. 1) In every celebration of this Sacrament they should be mindful that they act in the Church in the name of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. They should therefore be diligent in the ministry of the Word of God and in the celebration of the Sacrament. 2) They should avoid any action that the faithful could rightly regard as favoritism.21 3) Except in a case of necessity, they are not to confer Baptism in the territory of another, even on their own subjects, without the required permission. 12. Bishops, who are indeed the chief stewards of the mysteries of God, just as they are also the moderators of the entire liturgical life in the Church entrusted to their care,22 direct the conferring of Baptism, by which a participation in the royal priesthood of Christ is conferred.23 They themselves should not neglect to celebrate Baptism, especially at the Easter Vigil. The Baptism of adults and care for their preparation are especially entrusted to them. 13. It is the duty of pastors to assist the Bishop in the instruction and Baptism of the adults entrusted to their care, unless the Bishop makes other provisions. It is also their duty, with the assistance of catechists and other qualified laypersons, to prepare and assist the parents and godparents of children to be baptized through appropriate pastoral guidance, and finally to confer the Sacrament on infants. 20 Cf. C.I.C., can. 873 and 874, § 1 and § 2. 21 Cf. Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 32; Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et spes, no. 29. 22 Cf. Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops, Christus Dominus, no. 15. 23 Cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, no. 26.
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