a sacrament, receives it from a
minister of the Church, not because he is such and such a man, but
because he is a minister of the Church. Consequently, as long as the
latter is tolerated in the ministry, he that receives a sacrament
from him, does not communicate in his sin, but communicates with the
Church from whom he has his ministry. But if the Church, by
degrading, excommunicating, or suspending him, does not tolerate him
in the ministry, he that receives a sacrament from him sins, because
he communicates in his sin.

Reply Obj. 3: A man who is in mortal sin is not perplexed simply, if
by reason of his office it be his bounden duty to minister
sacraments; because he can repent of his sin and so minister
lawfully. But there is nothing unreasonable in his being perplexed,
if we suppose that he wishes to remain in sin.

However, in a case of necessity when even a lay person might baptize,
he would not sin in baptizing. For it is clear that then he does not
exercise the ministry of the Church, but comes to the aid of one who
is in need of his services. It is not so with the other sacraments,
which are not so necessary as baptism, as we shall show further on
(Q. 65, AA. 3, 4; Q. 62, A. 3).
_______________________

SEVENTH ARTICLE [III, Q. 64, Art. 7]

Whether Angels Can Administer Sacraments?

Objection 1: It seems that angels can administer sacraments. Because
a higher minister can do whatever the lower can; thus a priest can do
whatever a deacon can: but not conversely. But angels are higher
ministers in the hierarchical order than any men whatsoever, as
Dionysius says (Coel. Hier. ix). Therefore, since men can be
ministers of sacraments, it seems that much more can angels be.

Obj. 2: Further, in heaven holy men are likened to the angels (Matt.
22:30). But some holy men, when in heaven, can be ministers of the
sacraments; since the sacramental character is indelible, as stated
above (Q. 63, A. 5). Therefore it seems that angels too can be
ministers of sacraments.

Obj. 3: Further, as stated above (Q. 8, A. 7), the devil is head of
the wicked, and the wicked are his members. But sacraments can be
administered by the wicked. Therefore it seems that they can be
administered even by demons.

_On the contrary,_ It is written (Heb. 5:1): "Every high priest taken
from among men, is ordained for men in the things that appertain to
God." But angels whether good or bad are not taken from among men.
Therefore they