Dist. 5, Art. 2, Q. 2
by St. Bonaventure
Source text: Public Domain Mark 1.0. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://bonaventure.wrootpress.com/browse/4/d/5/q/bon-sent-IV-d5-a2-q2
----------------------------------------
### Question II. *Whether heretics give the reality of the Sacrament.*

Secondly it is asked whether heretics give the reality of the Sacrament. And it seems that [they do] not.

1. Augustine, *On the Consecration,* the fourth distinction: «The Church, compared to paradise, indicates to us that one can indeed receive her baptism outside, but neither receive nor have the salvation of blessedness outside her».

2. Likewise, Augustine: «Those who are baptized outside the Church do not take up baptism unto salvation, but unto destruction, having the form of baptism, [while] denying its power».

3. Likewise, it seems [so] by *reason*: because, if the baptism of heretics makes sons of God, by giving the grace of baptism; it seems that among heretics outside the Church there are sons of God; but this is false: therefore etc.

4. Likewise, if the baptism of heretics effects the remission of sins, and the remission is made through the Holy Spirit; therefore among them is the Holy Spirit: therefore heretics give the Holy Spirit; but this is false: therefore etc.

**On the contrary:** 1. The baptism of Christ, of the Church, and of heretics is one, for they baptize in the same form: therefore they have the same efficacy: therefore if in the baptism of the Church grace is given, [it is given] also in the baptism of heretics.

2. Likewise, that baptism is a true Sacrament; which is plain, because it is not to be repeated: therefore if it meets no obstacle, it confers grace just as [the baptism] of catholics [does].

3. Likewise, it is possible that he who baptizes be a heretic, without my knowing it: therefore I should incur harm from another's malice without any fault of my own.

> **Conclusion.** The baptism of heretics, conferred in the form of the Church, has efficacy, unless an obstacle stands in the way.

**I respond:** It must be said that the baptism which is given by heretics in the form of the Church is baptism, and the baptism of the Church, because it regenerates sons of the Church, not [sons] of heresy; it also begets sons in Christ. — The example of Augustine against Donatus is [this]: that, just as Jacob begot offspring not only through the womb of free women, but also of handmaids; so also Christ; whence those who, being good, are baptized by heretics, he compares to the sons of the handmaids, but those who, being wicked, [are baptized] by the Church, he compares to Esau. Therefore it always has efficacy, unless it should have an obstacle in the one receiving; and it has an obstacle when he who is baptized consents to heresy. — And this can be in three ways: either when he is a heretic and favors the error; or, if he is not a heretic, yet he goes to a heretic cut off [from the Church] in contempt of the Church; or, if he is not [going to one] cut off, yet he goes to a hidden one, whom he knows to be a heretic, on account of some advantage or favor. And then he receives nothing, because he receives from the heretic as he is a heretic. — But he does not then consent, when he has an incapacity for discerning, like a little child; or when that heretic is hidden and is believed to be a catholic; or when a man is placed in necessity, with regard only to the necessity.

The authorities of Augustine are understood according to the first way. The reasons to the contrary are plain: because those whom heretics baptize, [the heretics] not consenting to heresy — yet, because [they baptize] outside and beyond the Church... having indeed the form of the Sacrament, [while] denying its power [as] their own — even if [these baptized ones] seem to be of them [the heretics], nonetheless they are sons of the Church and within the Church. Whence Augustine says against Donatus that heretics baptize not through that which they have repugnant to the Church, but through that which they have in common with her and in unity [with her]; and therefore, if he who is baptized receives nothing from the heretics except baptism, and agrees [with them] in nothing else, he is to be judged a catholic, because he agrees with catholics and has nothing repugnant; and such is the little child. And therefore, although little children are baptized by heretics, nevertheless they are not within [the company of] heretics as regards *merit,* but only as regards *number;* and therefore it does not follow that they are within [the company of] heretics, according as they are heretics, like sons of God; nor either that among them is the Holy Spirit, through whom sins are remitted.

---