Halted baptisms in Virginia cause outrage

RICHMOND, Va. — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) rarely takes up for Christians. But even the ACLU cried foul over an incident at a public park in Virginia where officials asked a minister to leave after baptizing 12 new members  in the park’s river.

Todd Pyle, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Stafford, said he chose the outdoor baptism because his church does not have a baptismal pool.

But officials at the Falmouth Waterfront Park near Fredericksburg 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.

Patrick Mahoney, who heads the Christian Defense Coalition, has threatened to sue if the park refuses to allow future gatherings by religious groups, something the park admits it has no written policy on.

But park officials said religious groups seeking to perform a service in the park still need to apply for a permit.