This priest baptizes a baby with… a water pistol

This is an unusual image to say the least. You can see an American priest, Father Timothy Pelc, pointing a water pistol at an infant. Why do you wonder? He is actually baptizing him! This scene straight out of an action movie takes place in Detroit, in the United States, at the Saint-Ambrose Catholic Church. In order to compensate for the various social distancing measures put in place in his church, this father found a subterfuge. " The original idea was to do something for children, he tells the BuzzFeed News site. They were about to celebrate Easter in a whole new way, when I said to myself, "What can we still do to respect all the protocols of social distancing"? "

So the idea of ​​the water pistol came to him to give blessings to his followers during Easter week, but also to baptize the children. If the gesture may seem unwelcome in a holy place, Father Timothy Pelc considers himself endowed with a "Wacky spirit", while admitting that his congregation was "Quite welcoming" (and above all understanding!)

A reopening of places of worship

In France, since a decree of March 23, published in the Official Journal, all places of worship – churches, mosques or synagogues – "Are allowed to stay open", But "Any gathering or meeting within them is prohibited with the exception of funeral ceremonies within the limit of 20 people".

On the night of May 22-23, a new decree was published in the Official Journal, this time reporting that authorization to resume religious ceremonies has been started, but in accordance with strict rules. The state was summoned by the Council of State, itself pressured by the various religious associations to allow the faithful to gather in their respective places of worship.

"If the objective of a general resumption of religious ceremonies remains on June 3, it will thus be possible to celebrate again, gradually, offices" from the publication of the decree, said the Interior Minister, Christophe Castaner.