Why does the Church recognize Protestant baptism if Protestantism has no valid priesthood?
The short answer
Because baptism is necessary for salvation and God wills everyone's salvation, the Church recognizes all validly administered baptisms. In necessity anyone can baptize, using the Trinitarian formula with the intention of doing what the Church does. Baptism by immersion or pouring with the Trinitarian formula is valid in itself.
Who can baptize
The ordinary ministers are bishop, priest and, in the Latin Church, deacon. In necessity anyone, even a non-baptized person, can baptize with the Trinitarian formula and the intention of doing what the Church does. The Church grounds this in God's universal saving will and the necessity of baptism (CCC 1256).
Non-Catholic baptisms
The Ecumenical Directory says baptism by immersion or pouring with the Trinitarian formula is valid in itself. If a community's rites prescribe either, the baptism is presumed valid unless there are serious reasons to doubt the minister followed his community's rules (DE 95a).
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