Different View of Baptism

What was the point of Sam Enriquez’s article, “Baptism’s Long Lines and Expenses Make Spiritual Step Big Business”? To hold up to ridicule Hispanics’ need to baptize their children?

For over five years, I served at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, where 200 to 250 children are baptized every week. In the thousands of baptisms which I have participated in, I cannot recall even one occasion in which a family rented a hall for a reception and dance. The great majority of families have a simple dinner celebration at the parents’ or padrinos’ home.

Mr. Enriquez’s ignorance is clearly seen in his words: “baptism ranks alongside quinceaneras. . . . “ Baptism is the first of seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. I will not address the other obnoxious assertions of “big business,” of drinking parties, of “pricey kiddie tuxedos,” of “children’s squawks and screams.” I pray that I shall never see an article like this again. It did my community harm.

REV. ARTURO S. GOMEZ, San Gabriel. Father Gomez is an associate pastor of the San Gabriel Mission in San Gabriel.