There are indications now that the child was sick.
Priest in Moldova, Father Valentin, Allegedly Drowns Baby During the Child's Baptism
July 28th 2010
New York Daily News
It all went so very wrong.
A priest in Moldova has been accused of accidentally drowning a 6-week-old baby during the boy's baptism, according to London's Daily Mail.
The baby's relatives said he died Friday after the priest, who is referred to only as Father Valentin, did not cover the tot's mouth and nose when he immersed the child in water three times.
The priest said he isn't to blame for the child's death in the Eastern European country. But the child's family thinks otherwise.
"We couldn't believe it but we thought the priest must know what he's doing, but he didn't. When we got him back there was nothing that could be done anymore," the baby's godmother, Aliona Vacarciuc, 32, told London's Sun.
"We all saw it. The priest didn't put his hand over the baby's mouth to stop water going in as he should have done and as they do at every other baptism," said the child's father, Dumitru Gaidau, 36.
The baby died on the way to the hospital, Gaidau told a local television station. Dr. Sergiu Raileanu said the cause of death was drowning.
Police have launched a manslaughter investigation. If the priest is found guilty, he could spend up to three years behind bars.
Read more here and here.
