Baby gets drowned at baptism

A six-week-old baby died by drowning during his baptism in the village of Mihaileni, Riscani district. “We went yesterday to baptize our baby. The priest didn't even put his hand at the baby's mouth as they use to do with the children when they are immersed into the water at the baptism. He just put his hand on the tummy and another one on the nape and submerged him thrice into the water”, said Dumitru Gaidau, the grieving father. Reportedly the baby's godfathers warned the priest that he wasn't holding the child the right way, but he replied that it wasn't his first baptism. “We came all the way from Romania to rejoice at the baby's baptism, and instead of a baptism now we have to go to a funeral”, Oleg Gaidau, a relative, told Info-Prim Neo. Pathologist Sergiu Railean confirmed to Publica TV the baby died from asphyxiation by drowning. Criminal proceedings were initiated on charges of negligent manslaughter, said Rascani District Commissar Valeriu Moscalu. Fr. Valentin, the priest who performed the baptism, could not be contacted for questions.