THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 26, 1996 TAG: 9609260356
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: 31 lines
The death of a 4-month-old girl following her baptism at a breakaway Roman Catholic sect has been ruled a homicide.
The District of Columbia medical examiners office said Wednesday that Sade Victoria Omotola died last week after nearly drowning during her baptism at the Imani Temple on Capitol Hill.
The case will either go to the U.S. Attorney's office or a grand jury to determine if charges should be filed, according to a city police spokesman.
The infant had been on life support since Sept. 8th at Children's Hospital, where she was rushed after blood began streaming from her nose, and her face turned blue during the ceremony.
The Rev. August Griffin had immersed the baby's head three times into a baptismal tub.
Bishop George Stallings, who founded the Imani Temple seven years ago for black Catholics disillusioned with the church, said in a written statement Wednesday that the temple was deeply shocked by the report but stands by its practice of baptism by immersion. He also noted that homicide is a medical term and should not necessarily be used to pinpoint fault.
The Imani Temple has temples in Washington, Baltimore, Norfolk and Philadelphia, and has about 6,300 members worldwide. Temple officials said Griffin joined the church five years ago.
KEYWORDS: MURDER BAPTISM by CNB