As for swimming pools and Canon Law. Given the results of the election just what does that have to do with being Catholic or at least calling oneself a Catholic. I’m only half joking here. Canon Law also requires that a nuptial mass take place on consecrated ground, i.e. a church.

For Catholics, baptism is the initiation of a person into the Church—the Mystical Body of Christ. It seems to me an argument can be made that as many members of the Church should be present as possible. The woman in the video says it is appropriate to have a baptism anywhere, but according to canon law, Catholic baptism is to take place, if at all possible, in church, and in the church of the parish to which the baptized person will belong.

But there’s a bit more of a rationale for those big celebrations, isn’t there? The party aspect is supposed to help bring two families together into one. So the brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts and cousins from one side can get to know the in-laws, with the idea that they are now joined in some way, along with the couple.

Baptisms do typically have some kind of family party, but not like this — it’s not a stylish event in my family. But there are presents and a brunch, right? Perhaps infant baptisms are a bit of a bulwark against the development of a “stylish event” approach.

One might argue that modern weddings are overdone, but weddings and wedding feasts in the Gospels seem to have been quite joyous and extravagant affairs.