Rebaptism
During
the second century, the church in Asia Minor, faced with considerable heresy,
refused to recognize the validity of heretical baptism. Converts to the
orthodox faith from heretical groups were accordingly rebaptized.
In Reformation times the Anabaptists insisted
on baptism for those who had been baptized in infancy, and this has continued
to be the position of the Baptist churches. The Roman Catholic Church and the
Church of England practice what is known as conditional baptism in cases where
there is doubt as to the validity of prior baptism. The formula used in the
Church of England begins, "If thou art not already baptized, I baptize
thee."