Pastor Resigns from Church after Learning that He Used one Wrong Word in Baptizing People for 25 Years

• Father Andres Arango has recently resigned from his role as the Catholic priest of St. Gregory Catholic Church in Phoenix, US
• The pastor's resignation came after he learnt that he had been using the wrong word in baptizing people for the past 25 years
• In a doctoral note issued in 2020, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ruled that baptisms done with incorrect phrasing were invalid

A catholic priest, Father Andres Arango, has in February 2022 quit his role at St. Gregory Catholic Church in Phoenix, US after learning that he had wrongly performed baptism on thousands of people for the past 25 years.

CNN reports that Andres had since his ordination in 1995 been baptizing people saying, ''We baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,’' which the Vatican has determined to be incorrect.

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What is correct according to the Vatican

Bishop Thomas Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix explained that Father Andres would have used the word, 'I baptize.'

"The issue with using 'We' is that it is not the community that baptizes a person, rather, it is Christ, and Him alone, who presides at all of the sacraments, and so it is Christ Jesus who baptizes," Olmsted wrote in a message to parishioners in January 2022.

Going by a 2020 doctoral note released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, baptisms done using incorrect phrasing - like the pastor had been doing - are invalid.

The pastor apologizes for the error

In a letter announcing his resignation, Andres who had previously worked as a pastor in Brazil apologized to all those his mistake had affected and sought the community's prayers, forgiveness and understanding.

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Netizens share their thoughts on the development

@ppltalkinallaround wrote:

"It’s religion, everything about it is invalid and a relic from times before actual education. Tax the churches out of existence, to pay for all their damage to society."

@loominthisannathat remarked:

"Organized religion at its finest! These people will no never get into heaven because he said the wrong words. What a friggin’ JOKE!!! Grow up."

@bohemian_chic_vibe said:

"Seriously? Invalidates hundreds of baptisms? Yall think Jesus is THAT petty?? so Yall wont get rid of molesting priests but on THIS yall let a priest resign...seriously??"

@whoismesiah stated:

"They’re gonna let a technicality like this tarnish so many baptisms, but brush pedo*philia and molestation under the rug. Whet?! "

@forthrightlyibis opined:

"Violating children calls for a “relocation,” but using the wrong pronoun will get a priest fired."

Pastor resigns after 30 years of service

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a pastor had resigned after 30 years in the church.

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In a trending video online by Nation Scoop, the pastor did not go into details surrounding the resignation but he said that he is very sure that God is a rewarder.

He said that though he apologised for many who may have been disappointed by his decision, he is not going back on it.

Pastor Tola said it is expected that he would be demonised on social media for his decision, adding it is 'okay'. He, however, asked his members not to bring the reports to him. The cleric also said he "would not throw stones", adding that he helped build his former church.

Priest quits priesthood after falling in love with a woman

In other related news, Legit.ng reported that a Catholic priest had dumped priesthood after finding love.

The priest named Riccardo Ceccobelli made this statement on Sunday, April 11 as he disclosed he will hang his cassock, a release published on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 by the diocese confirmed.

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A release credited to the priest reads:

"My heart is in love although I have never had the opportunity to transgress the promises I made.

"I want to try to live this love without repressing it, without pushing it away."

According to The News, the 42-year-old has since been suspended from his duties while measures and formalities are already in place to aid his return to lay state.

Source: Legit.ng