JAMAICA

The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) is urging faith leaders involved in last month’s “troubling” Baptism mishap in Bog Walk, St Catherine—which was captured in a viral video—to exercise more wisdom in the future.

While making it clear that the Council does not wish to impinge upon the religious rights and freedoms of anyone, General Secretary Reverend Newton Dixon opted to highlight the responsibility that religious leaders have for the well-being of those under their pastoral care in the wake of the distressing incident.

According to a Jamaica Observer report, the video of the Baptism attempt, which was being done by Revivalist Bishop Joseph Telfer, shows four people in the water. Telfer and one of the others attempted to submerge the woman being baptised, as apparent church members on dry land could be heard issuing instructions for the woman to relax and hold her breath.

“What followed was a shocking scene of the three being swept away in the turbid water, and the bishop disappearing from sight. The video ended before Telfer resurfaced, but The Star newspaper later reported that the leader of Holy Stars of Mount Zion in Linstead is alive and well”.

“We are challenged to see the wisdom of conducting this sacred rite under such unsatisfactory and unsafe conditions, that is, when the life and well-being of the baptismal candidate and other participants are at risk,” Dixon told the Jamaica Observer.

“This circumstance actually seems antithetical to the whole point of a Baptism — the idea of cleansing, of renewal and resurrection to a new life,” he said. “We strongly advise against any form of riverine activity during and shortly after periods of heavy rainfall for both health and safety reasons,” he told the Observer.

The JCC said it hopes anyone who may have been traumatised by the experience has or will receive the necessary support to deal with the “troubling” experience.

“We are grateful that there was no loss of life or serious injury and strongly urge the faith leaders concerned to exercise wisdom in the future,” said Dixon.

The Catholic Church in Jamaica is a member of the Council.