A Catholic priest in Arizona resigned effective February 1 after discovering that the baptisms he had administered were invalid. In his letter addressed to his community, Rev. Andres Arango said he is saddened to learn that he has performed invalid baptisms. According to Arango, he had used an incorrect “formula” when administering baptisms.

Katie Burke, a spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona, said it’s “not the community that baptizes a person and incorporates them into the Church of Christ.” “It is Christ, and Christ alone, who presides at all sacraments; therefore, it is Christ who baptizes,” Burke added.

Arango has been using “we” instead of “I” on the baptism rights he performed. Burke explained that baptism is invalid because of this one wrong word. According to the diocese, an invalid baptism also invalidates ensuing sacraments such as Confirmation and marriage.

In June 2020, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Vatican issued a doctrinal note reminding churches worldwide about the correct formula for baptism and other sacraments. The doctrinal note also emphasized a Catholic canon law from the Second Vatican Council prohibiting anyone “even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.”

Arango first served as a priest in Brazil, California, and Arizona before joining St. Gregory Parish in 2015. 

Arango’s mistakes were brought to the diocese’s attention after a layperson noticed his performance of a baptism. The layperson was aware of the Vatican’s earlier doctrinal note and the similar cases in Detroit and Oklahoma City.

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix said they confirmed Arango’s mistakes through their internal investigation and consulting with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In his letter addressed to the diocese, Olmsted said Arango had no ill-intention towards the parishioners. “I do not believe Fr. Andres had any intention to harm the faithful or deprive them of the grace of baptism and the sacraments,” he said.

He also encouraged parishioners or anyone who believes that Arango administered their baptism to contact their local parish for assistance.

Arango, after his resignation, is still in good standing with the diocese and remains an ordained priest. In his letter, he vowed to devote his “energy and full-time ministry to help remedy this and heal those affected.”