Adult Baptisms See A Rise In Italy And France

ROME, Apr. 07, 2010, 10:00 Hrs (SAR News):

Over 1,500 adults were baptised during the Easter Vigil service this year in Italy and on the same night 2,903 adults (two thirds women) in France.

Over the last ten years there has been a noted increase in the number of adults who received baptism both in Italy (1,500 in 2008) and neighboring France (9,846 in 2009). While in Italy the adult baptisms increased by about 200 per cent over the decade, in France the increase amounts to only 20 percent. Again in Italy, adult baptisms from immigrants form about 33 per cent. However, the majority of the adults who seek baptism are Italian nationals who are children of former “flower children” of 1968.

Among this year’s adult baptisms in France are Muslims (5%), Jews (1%) and who claimed to be adherents of no religion (18%). A team of 10,000 catechists accompanied these catechumens in their faith journey in France.

“The latest statistics I can tell is of the year 2008 when some 1,500 adults (average aged 30 plus years) were baptised. Thirty percent of those were Italian nationals. The statistics for the year 1997, when I took charge, was only 600 adult baptisms of whom 50 per cent were Italian,” recalls the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) National Catechumanate Service director Father Walter Ruspi speaking to the Italian national Catholic newspaper "Avvenire", March 28, 2010.

“The CEI statistics is further revealing,” reminds Father Ruspi, “as not all 223 Italian dioceses send in their statistics to the Rome office.”

Besides, adult baptisms are made not only during Easter service but also at other convenient days during the year.

Father Ruspi adds, “It is to be noted with great interest that among the adults who receive baptism are doctors, engineers, advocates, teachers, research scholars as well as professionals.

Many of the adult baptism seekers are children of 1968 era when the so-called hippie generation young people who rebelled against infant baptism and insisted that religion should be an adult choice.

Some others come across Christianity before their marriage through a partner who is a believer. Still others start off from a sincere search for the meaning of life… Once these adults make up their mind, they are not ashamed to witness to their Catholic faith. Often they take up active service in the parish and community to keep themselves motivated in their new-found faith.

The intense and immediate catechumenal training period normally lasts over a year with regular fortnightly meetings with catechists.

“Some of the newly baptised adults lament the fact that they were not baptised when they were infants, thus depriving them of a religious (pious) childhood,” says Father Ruspi recalling the complaints of a 27-year-old professionally well-placed lady who received adult baptism.

“It also gives us all a sense of wonder when an adult person asks for baptism, especially these days when so many are leaving the faith,” concludes Father Ruspi.