#Phoenix priest seeks to fix botched baptisms

The Phoenix priest who baptized thousands with the wrong words — meaning those baptisms were null and void in the eyes of the church — is now trying to correct his error.

Father Andres Arango baptized about a dozen people this week, this time using the proper words.

Alysson Najera, 13, was among those being baptized by Arango Thursday, before receiving Communion and Confirmation, two subsequent sacraments that depend on baptism.

“To me, he didn’t do it intentionally,” her mother, Eliana Najera said. “It was just a mistake.”

Church officials are working to identify thousands of invalidly baptized Catholics.

After the errors were revealed, Arango stepped down as pastor of St. Gregory — disappointing some parishioners.

In a statement, the Diocese of Phoenix said: “Fr. Arango is a priest in good standing and has led many people to a deeper relationship with Christ in his pastoral work at Saint Gregory Parish, but now he is committing himself to this vital and important pastoral outreach to the people of God – helping and healing.”

With Post wires