A Romanian baby died after a baptism ceremony in which infants are immersed in holy water three times.
The 6-week-old infant was rushed to a hospital in cardiac arrest on Monday and died a few hours later, the autopsy revealing liquid in his lungs, Agence France-Presse reported.
The tragedy put pressure on the Orthodox Church to change baptism rules.
Prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation against the priest in the city of Suceava.
“The death of a newborn baby because of this practice is a huge tragedy,” said a message with an online petition for changes to the ritual. “This risk must be ruled out for the joy of baptism to triumph.”
By Thursday evening, the petition had gathered more than 56,000 signatures, according to AFP.
One person online denounced the “brutality” of the ritual and another blasted the “stubbornness of those who think that it is the will of God” to maintain it.
Church spokesman Vasile Banescu said priests could pour a little water on a baby’s forehead instead of full immersion.
But Archbishop Teodosie, leader of the church’s traditionalist wing, stood firm and insisted that the full ritual would not change.
In Romania, where more than 80 percent of the population is Orthodox, the church is one of the most trusted institutions, according to recent opinion polls
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One Response to Orthodox Church under fire in Romania after baby dies during baptism By Yaron Steinbuch
One Response to Orthodox Church under fire in Romania after baby dies during baptism By Yaron Steinbuch