BAPTISM, LAY. A lay person can baptize validly and in case of emergency (e.g., when unbaptized person is dying and no cleric can be obtained) is bound to do so. Anybody man, woman, child, Catholic, Protestant, Jew -- may do it, provided there is the intention to do what the Church does when baptizing, that the water is poured on the head of the person to be baptized, and that the requisite words-- "I baptize thee in the Name of Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" -- are said at the same time. Though the sacrament is validly administered, it is gravely illicit for a lay person to baptize in other than cases of necessity. Midwives are required by canon law to know how to baptize case of necessity.