Churches fight decision to stop lake baptisms

Two churches are appealing after Canton Geneva refused permission for them to hold baptism in the lake.

Deputy Director of the Swiss Evangelical Network, Stéphane Klopfenstein, says it’s a surprise, as they’ve been allowed to baptise people in the past. 

The cantonal Department of Security says that only organisations that have a relationship with the state can make such requests.

Klopfenstein blames the strict secularism laws for the restrictions. The churches are challenging the decision in the courts. 

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