Romania’s Orthodox Church Being Pressured Following A Baby’s Death After Baptism

Paedobaptism, a subject that has befuddled many Christians has become a strong practice in the Orthodox church. The practice has been going on for decades now in the church, whether biblical or arguable, the question is, is it safe?

[Romania]—The orthodox church in Romania is under fire following a child, a six-week-old suffered cardiac arrest during infant baptism, which involves three immersions in holy water. The child under tradition was immersed into the ‘holy water’ three times. This terrible incident has left the church under pressure as to change the ritual of infant baptism or not.

After suffering a cardiac arrest, he was rushed to hospital on Monday where he died a few hours later. The autopsy revealed liquid in his lungs. The after the result has caused a lot of chaos where the prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation against the priest in the north-eastern city of Suceava. The Guardian reports.

A petition has been raised concerning the tragedy, especially an online petition which has attracted and gathered more than 56,000 as of Thursday evening.

“The death of a newborn baby because of this practice is a huge tragedy. This risk must be ruled out for the joy of baptism triumph”. Others have condemned this act of infant baptism describing it to be a brutal act while others say “stubbornness of those who think that it is the will of God” to maintain it.

Polls suggested that more than 80% of Romanians are orthodox and the church is one of the most trusted institutions. However, the media in the locality have reported several similar incidents in recent years. Vasile Banescu said priests can pour the holy water on the baby’s forehead instead of full immersion three times.

Archbishop Teodosie, the leader of the Church’s traditionalist wing said there is no way the ritual can change.