No doubt persuaded by the discussion on this list.... Marc -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Volokh, Eugene Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 10:34 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: "Parks will not block baptism"
From: Volokh, Eugene To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <http://mail2.law.ucla.edu/exchweb/img/prev-paperclip.gif> Subject: FW: park will allow baptism Cc: Parks will not block baptism Church will be allowed to baptize member at Falmouth Waterfront Park on SundayBy MICHAEL ZITZ <http://www.fredericksburg.com/Feedback/emailreporter?User=mzitz&headline=Pa rks%20will%20not%20block%20baptism> Date published: 6/3/2004 River use still discouraged Fredericksburg-Stafford Park Authority officials say they won't interfere with the baptism of a mentally retarded man at Falmouth Waterfront Park planned for Sunday afternoon. A bit of a national media flap arose after a dozen members of Cornerstone Baptist Church near Berea were baptized May 23 in the Rappahannock River as 50 congregation members looked on. Park officials admonished Cornerstone's pastor, the Rev. Todd Pyle that day and told him river baptisms violated the Park Authority's unwritten policy. . . . Park Manager Brian Robinson said yesterday that the situation has been twisted almost beyond recognition. There is no park policy against religious activities, he said--merely a requirement that large groups of any kind get permits to use the park in advance. Robinson has said churches and other groups typically rent space in shelters in the parks the authority oversees. The controversy grew after he said use of common areas of the park for religious events isn't allowed so that others are "forced to endure someone else's religion." The Rev. John H. Reid, pastor of the New Generation Evangelical Episcopal Church, said yesterday that he has baptized 40 people at the Waterfront Park over the past six years and has no plans to ask for a permit. Reid said that in addition to the man who will be baptized Sunday, there will probably be only 10 to 20 church members observing the sacrament. . . . "We've never had a big crowd [at a baptism]," Reid said. "And that's why they've never had any problem," Robinson said. "We wouldn't have an issue with that and wouldn't have a conversation with them." Robinson said that if Cornerstone Baptist Church were to bring another large group in for baptisms--and it requested a permit--there would be no problem. But, he also said that because of the danger in the river, the Park Authority would not formally sanction the baptisms and would want to have personnel on hand in case something went wrong. "We don't own the river and we can't prohibit it," Robinson said. . . . http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2004/062004/06032004/1385680 <http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2004/062004/06032004/1385680> _______________________________________________ To post, send message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe, change options, or get password, see http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/religionlaw
