What People are Commenting
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False Hope, Assisted Suicide & Baptism Name
Pope Appoints Progressivist for Academy for Life
Salve Maria!
I saw this piece of news and did not want to let it pass by: Leo XIV just appointed Msgr. Renzo Pegoraro as head of Pontifical Academy of Life.
Apparently, among other things, this man has suggested legal acceptance of assisted suicide as a “lesser evil” compared to voluntary euthanasia.
He also suggested contraception could be allowed by married couples if it is used for medical purposes and to safeguard the couple’s sex life.
An interesting appointment by a supposedly conservative Pope… his colors are becoming very clear now.
In Jesu et Maria,
S.B.
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Baptismal Name
I was baptized 4 months ago but not in church, I was Muslim and I converted to Catholicism, but I didn’t choose a baptism name. Can I now choose a baptism name?
Note: The person who baptized me wasn’t a priest or even a monk, he was a layman.
Gloria in excelsis Deo. Amen
S.F.
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TIA responds:
Hello S.F.,
First of all, we commend you for seeking Baptism and having the courage to convert to the True Faith from Islamism. As long as your Baptism was performed with the intention of doing what the Church intends and the person who baptized you poured water on your head while saying “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” then your Baptism was valid, as a layman is able to give a valid Baptism.
According to the rules of the Church, there should have been at least one person present at your Baptism who did not confer the Baptism, who acted as a witness. Even if you did not have this, however, your Baptism could still be valid. However, if it is possible it would be advisable for you to find a priest who can bestow upon you a Christian name and record your Baptism in a Book of Baptisms.
Canon 761 affirms that, “Pastors should take care that a Christian name is given to those whom they baptize; but if they are not able to bring this about, they will add to the name given by the parents the name of some Saint and record both names in the book of baptisms.”
It would be best to seek a traditional priest (diocesan, independent, SSPX, FSSP or a traditional priest of an Eastern Rite in union with Rome), as he would understand the seriousness of Baptism and the necessity to confirm that you were validly baptized.
The Rituale Romanum emphasizes the importance of the priest’s role in this matter: “The priest should inform himself of the candidate's status, particularly when dealing with strangers. In these cases let him make careful inquiry as to whether they were ever baptized elsewhere and whether it was done properly, thus precluding that someone already baptized should wrongly ask for it again - be it out of ignorance, error, selfish advantage, or any other reason. In every case where, after due investigation, a reasonable doubt remains as to whether the person has been baptized really or validly, baptism should be administered again conditionally.” (p. 45)
When you approach the priest, bring the person who baptized you and any witnesses to your Baptism or, if that is not possible, a written statement clearly affirming their presence, what they did, and what was the intention in the case of the person administering it. The priest needs to be able to verify the circumstances of your Baptism.
He will then either confer upon you a conditional baptism (if there are any doubts as to your baptism's validity), or he will confirm that you were validly baptized, give you a baptismal name, and record your baptism in the Book of Baptisms.
If the priest deems that you do not need a conditional baptism, you would do well to request that the priest perform over you the exorcism prayers and ceremonies said at the beginning of the Baptism ceremony, as this is the wish of the Church: “The ceremonies which for any reason were omitted in the administration of Baptism should be added later in church as soon as possible.” (Rituale Romanum, p. 24)
These ceremonies will help to drive from you any devils that linger from your past. To understand the power of the full Rite of Baptism of adults, you would benefit from reading the prayers of the rite in the Rituale Romanum which can be found in English here.
After clarifying the circumstances of your Baptism, you should also strive to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation performed in the traditional rite. This is becoming more difficult, but if you make a search and talk with the same traditional priest, this should be able to be arranged for you.
You also are obliged as a baptized Catholic to study the Catholic Faith and know the Catechism.
We recommend studying traditional catechisms such as the Catechism of the Council of Trent, the Baltimore Catechism, or Doctrina Christiana: The Catechism of St. Robert Bellarmine.
You will have to be aware of the progressivist catechisms issued post Vatican II. One of our writers, Dr. Remi Amelunxen, gave an excellent critique of the Modern Catechism here.
Cordially
TIA correspondence desk
Posted May 29, 2025
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The opinions expressed in this section - What People Are Commenting - do not necessarily express those of TIA
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Answering some criticisms Facebook’s readers made on TIA post Prevost: No cassock & short sleeves
The human mind, when exposed repeatedly to certain stimuli, gradually becomes desensitized, diminishing its ability to recognize stark truths. This process often occurs when individuals cling to false hope, convincing themselves that a desired outcome is still within reach despite clear evidence to the contrary.
Cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias, reinforce this illusion, causing people to selectively perceive information that supports their optimism while dismissing inconvenient realities. Over time, emotional exhaustion and psychological defense mechanisms – like rationalization or denial – further cloud judgment, making the obviously apparent seem obscure. The mind, in its pursuit of comfort and reassurance, inadvertently trades clarity for self-preservation. The bitter reality of Catholics, lost in illusion. Veritatem dicere perge. Deo gratias, benedicat te Deus TIA.
Prof. V.S.N., Cambridge