Priest accused of drowning six-week-old boy during a BAPTISM as family looked on
Priest accused of drowning six-week-old boy during a BAPTISM as family looked on
Last updated at 1:37 PM on 28th July 2010
A priest has been accused of accidentally drowning a six-week-old boy as he baptised him in Moldova.
Witnesses claimed the baby died after Father Valentin failed to cover his mouth and nose when he immersed him in water three times.
Film shot by relatives shows the youngster moving after being taken out of the font, but then suffering difficulty breathing as he is dressed.
Twenty minutes later, he started bleeding from his nose and mouth and died.
Immersed: The priest in a Moldovan village has been accused of drowning a baby boy as he baptised him
Parents’ nightmare: The baby had problems breathing as it was dressed after the baptism. Father Valentin can be He added: ‘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.
‘We couldn’t believe it that he just put his hand over his belly and over the head and submerged him three times in the water.’
Father Valentin denies being to blame for baby’s death at the ceremony in the Rascani district in north-western Moldova.
The baby’s godmother Aliona Vacarciuc, 32, told the Sun: ‘The baby was crying as he went into the water.
‘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.’
She said that she and the other godparents had challenged the priest and asked him: ‘What have you done.’
She added: ‘He just told us that he knew better than we did what should have happened and that it was not his first baptism — he was experienced and knew what to do.’
Doctor Sergiu Raileanu, who examined the tiny tot, confirmed that the baby had drowned.
Police said they have launched a manslaughter investigation. If found guilty, the priest faces up to three years in jail.