Public baptism sparks controversy

CNN ^ | Wednesday, June 2, 2004 Posted: 8:31 AM EDT (1231 GMT) 6/2/2004 | AP

[Servant of the 9]

What?
It has to be done in secret now?

So9

[zechariah]

ping.

[z]

[shhrubbery!]

The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia also said in a statement: "If the park rules allow people to wade and swim in the river, then they must allow baptisms in the river."

This is so obvious, even the ACLU can't weigh in on the wrong side.

[hellinahandcart]

They tried to break up the ceremony, claiming it might be offensive to nearby swimmers or other people using the park. Pyle was able to finish the baptism, but then he was asked to leave.

I wonder how assiduously they go after people having sex in the park.

[OpusatFR]

Maybe the Park Service is afraid of Holy Water....

[Monk Dimittis]

Somebody put these "officials" in touch with the city officials of Hamtramck, MI.

[been_lurking]

we try to discourage is anything not formally permitted

"All that is not mandatory is forbidden."

Scary choice of words from the spokesperson.

[Fintan]

I wonder how assiduously they go after people having sex in the park.

 

Especially if they're gay.

 

Oh, excuse me...Public gay sex is now considered an educational field trip for elementary school children...

[AD from SpringBay]

It has to be done in secret now?

That's right - all Christianity must occur in designated Church buildings - otherwise it will infringe upon the public's general welfare.

[spunkets]

" "What we try to discourage is anything not formally permitted that just sort of occurs spontaneously." "

Jackass authoritarian bozo...

[TontoKowalski]

"We don't want to tread on anybody's First Amendment or constitutional rights," said Brian Robinson, director of the Fredericksburg-Stafford Park Authority. "What we try to discourage is anything not formally permitted that just sort of occurs spontaneously."

Yeah, you have to watch out for those spur of the moment baptisms.

[siunevada]

"All that is not mandatory is forbidden."

Well, 1984 is now long past and the Thought Police are taking their positions of authority.

[bad company]

"claiming it might be offensive to nearby swimmers" Can someone tell me just where in the constitution this right not to be offended is before I have an anurism? How about my right not to be bombarded daily with their girls gone wild culture.

[latina4dubya]

this coming Sunday our church (which meets at the local high school) will be holding baptisms in a rented hot tub out in the school's quad area right after service... usually we gather at somebody's swimming pool... the hot tub thing should be interesting...

[siunevada]

"What we try to discourage is anything not formally permitted that just sort of occurs spontaneously."

Yeah, that's why I go to the park, lots of formally planned activity.

[chile]

I see people babtized all the time at the Kern River here in CA. We'll be playing in the water at the park and they will be dunking person after person across the river. I've never heard anyone complain.

[petitfour]

Yep. The current governor of Virginia hands out pardons to folks who are convicted of indecent acts in public. Gay sex in public is ok with Gov. Warner.

[smith288]

Do you people know how outraged a normal person can get seeing some right-wing whackos "washing" their old selves and rising as a child of Christ??? Huh? Huh??? Its disgusting!!

You have to keep these freaks in control or they will start talking to you in God-speak...

</sarcasm for those who think im serious>

[Question_Assumptions]

Does anyone actually read the First Amendment any more? (i.e., the part about "free excercise")