Since Jimmy Carter, religious fundamentalists play a major role in elections. He was the first president who made a point of exhibiting himself as a born again Christian. That sparked a little light in the minds of political campaign managers: Pretend to be a religious fanatic and you can pick up a third of the vote right away. Nobody asked whether Lyndon Johnson went to church every day. Bill Clinton is probably about as religious as I am, meaning zero, but his managers made a point of making sure that every Sunday morning he was in the Baptist church singing hymns.

I breathe in. The water will wash my wounds clean. I breathe out. My mother submerged me in water when I was a baby, to give me to God. It has been a long time since I thought about God, but I think about him now. It is only natural. I am glad, suddenly, that I shot Eric in the foot instead of the head.

It would be unjust toward children to introduce them to Christian teaching and existence only as little pagans and catechumens, in order to leave it up to them to choose the Faith on their own responsibility at a point in time difficult to determine.

The Church does not dispense the sacrament of baptism in order to acquire for herself an increase in membership but in order to consecrate a human being to God and to communicate to that person the divine gift of birth from God.

Teach the people the Word before converting and baptizing them

We are members of God's family. One faith, one hope and one baptism.

One Lord, one faith and one baptism.

Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall recieve the gift of the Holy Spirit. ACTS 2: 38

Be baptize with the Holy Spirit.

The grace of being is gift of baptism by washing in water. And in Spirit of Christ Jesus.

What is baptism but a declaration of our misery by sin, our need of Christ, and a badge of our belonging to Him?

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism does not save you. It identifies you.