FREDERICKSBURG, Va.--Rappahannock River park officials cancelled a Virginia pastor's plans to baptize a church member at a waterfront park, claiming that the ceremony would violate park policy against water activity.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Fredericksburg-Stafford Park Authority Director Brian Robinson's handling of the incident has come under scrutiny.

Robinson told another pastor, the Rev. John H. Reid, he will allow him to baptize a church member at Old Mill Park in Fredericksburg on Sunday afternoon.

"It seems to be just a small, casual group, and we wouldn't have a permit issue," Robinson said.

Kent Willis, executive director of the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, told the Times-Dispatch the ACLU will monitor the event. He said the ACLU is prepared to take legal action if park officials ban baptisms or otherwise discriminate against religious activities. Willis said he is troubled by the lack of a hard-and-fast policy at the park.

"What they have are traditions, maybe even de facto rules, but they are very vague," he said. "We will need to be vigilant."

The Rev. Todd Pyle of Cornerstone Baptist Church said he had baptized 12 people in the river at Falmouth Waterfront Park in Stafford County before he was told by a park official to stop.

Pyle said Robinson told him such a ceremony was prohibited because the park discourages water activity.

Robinson said churches and other groups are allowed to hold events at a park shelter but that they must first obtain a permit. He also said the park authority is reviewing the guidelines.

Robinson said he is not requiring a permit for Sunday's baptism, primarily because Reid's New Generation Evangelical Episcopal Church apparently plans no other activities at the same time and the baptism will only attract a small group of 10 to 20.

Reid said he has baptized about 40 people in the past six years at waterfront parks operated by the regional park authority.