The Facts Behind the Viral Photo of a Priest Using a Water Gun in Baptism
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped lives and traditions around the world, forcing people to adapt to new ways of living and practicing their faith. Businesses, communities, and religious institutions have had to innovate to ensure safety while continuing their practices. Recently, a social media post featuring a priest using a water gun for baptizing a […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped lives and traditions around the world, forcing people to adapt to new ways of living and practicing their faith. Businesses, communities, and religious institutions have had to innovate to ensure safety while continuing their practices. Recently, a social media post featuring a priest using a water gun for baptizing a baby went viral on Twitter, garnering over 10 million views.
Social Media Post
Recently, a picture of a priest using a water gun to baptize a baby due to social distancing measures has resurfaced and gained widespread attention, with over 10 million views on Twitter, with the caption: “This was the most insane stage of the pandemic.”
This same picture has been shared on Facebook and other social media platforms in recent years, including here, here, and here.
Fact-Check
After investigating to trace the source of a viral photo and determine its authenticity and context, we used the Reverse Image Search feature. We found several news articles (here, here, and here) that referenced this unique baptism event. This led us to the post from Saint Mark Catholic Church in Manchester, Tennessee, and their clarification regarding this picture on their Facebook page.
Saint Mark Catholic Church confirmed on their Facebook page that the photo was staged. They clarified that the unconventional use of a water gun for baptisms was not a regular practice at their church. Rather, it was a special event requested by the parents of the baby for fun. (Source: Catholic News Agency)
In addition to Saint Mark Catholic Church, other churches have also adopted social-distancing measures during baptisms. For example, St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church in Detroit shared pictures of a priest using a water gun filled with Holy Water during the Easter occasion in 2020. (Source: Buzzfeed)
In conclusion, the viral photo of a priest using a water gun for a baptism, which has garnered immense attention on social media, was staged as requested by the family in the picture. The Church has explained that this was a unique and playful adaptation of a traditional ceremony, necessitated by pandemic safety measures.
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Title:The Facts Behind the Viral Photo of a Priest Using a Water Gun in Baptism
Written By: Cielito WangResult: Insight
