Morena Rial was baptized in the Umbanda religion days ago in Hurlingham, Buenos Aires Province. The ceremony, which included a ritual with the sacrifice of a goat, was guided by pai Ariel González.
The man in charge of the ceremony shared exclusive details with LAM (América TV), where he explained how the young woman approached the religion.
What is the Umbanda religion?
Umbanda is a Brazilian religion that combines elements of Candomblé, spiritism, and Catholic beliefs. In this context, baptism has a strong spiritual component, focused on personal evolution and the relationship with God. According to pai González, the initiation process is very personal and must be decided with full awareness.
How was Morena Rial's baptism?
The father of the ceremony explained that Morena approached the group through an acquaintance. According to him, "to be baptized, one must be aware of what they are doing." He emphasized that the rite is a spiritual evolution and that the decision was made thoughtfully by the young woman.
"What is done in this type of ceremony depends on each person. It's very personal," he commented.
The sacrifice of the goat and the controversy
One of the most talked-about aspects of the ceremony was the sacrifice of a goat, a common rite in some Umbanda practices, although it is not always performed. Pai Ariel González clarified that the religion "is very poorly viewed" and that while animal sacrifice can occur, not all temples practice it. He also explained that the beliefs within this religion are taboos in many cases, which leads to misunderstandings in society.
Morena Rial responds to the criticism
After the dissemination of the rite, Morena Rial faced numerous criticisms. Through her Instagram account, she defended her right to practice the religion of her choice. "Our National Constitution protects freedom of belief," she expressed.
Morena Rial recibió una inesperada visita en el día de su cumpleaños
She also warned that she will take legal action against those who continue to discriminate against her religious beliefs. She assured that she has already consulted with her lawyer, Alejandro Cipolla, to have the law support her right to religious privacy.
