Wrestling at the Font

"Just lately there have been numerous cases of parents bringing their babies for baptism aged a year or even 18 months. This is entirely wrong and contrary to the church's teaching." So, in his parish bulletin, writes the Rev. Horace Willson, Anglican rector of St. Mary's Church of Rosettenville in Johannesburg, South Africa. "It is only reasonable to expect a child twelve months of age to be frightened and resist the priest's attempts to pour water over its head. Some of the recent administrations could be likened to an all-in wrestling match, with the priest applying all the holds possible. The dignity of the service is shattered the moment the fighting and screaming begins.

"So often, when baptism is deferred so long, I cannot help but wonder whether there is the slightest chance of the child being Christianly brought up in the church or home. The fact that many persons bring their offspring to be baptized in the same spirit in which they have taken them to be vaccinated reflects a lack of spiritual perception on the part of those parents."

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