Shocking! Priest Explains Slapping Of Crying Baby During Baptism Before Parents

Following the viral release of a video showing Father Jacques Lacroix, an 89-year-old French Catholic priest, slapping a two-year-old boy during a baptism ceremony, the priest was forced to retire. The incident happened at the Collegiate Church in the Paris suburb of Champeaux, which is close to Melun in the southeast.

Details of the Incident

Father Jacques can be seen in the video shoving the crying child and telling him to calm down, "Calm down, calm down, you must calm down," before giving him a cheek slap. The boy's horrified parents and other family members reacted immediately to the aggression, stepping in to help.

Father Jacques' Response

Father Jacques defended his actions, telling France Info radio, "It was somewhere between a caress and a slap. I hoped to calm him down, I didn’t know what to do. The child was screaming a lot and I had to turn his head to pour water over it."

He added, "I tried to hold him close. I just wanted him to calm down. I apologised for my clumsiness to the family. I am finishing my ministry now; it was my last baptism. There is an end to everything."

Public Reaction and Church's Response

The video sparked outrage on social media, with many condemning the priest's actions. In a statement, the Diocese of Meaux acknowledged the incident and declared that Father Jacques would no longer be participating in any baptism or marriage ceremonies. "This loss of coolness can be explained by the tiredness of this elderly priest, but that does not excuse him," the statement read.