Stephen and the Rebaptism Question

So much for Gallus. In the city of Rome, Cornelius completed about three years as bishop and was succeeded by Lucius. He served in the ministry not quite eight months, and at his death passed on the office to Stephen. To Stephen Dionysius wrote the first of his letters on baptism, since a question of no small importance had been raised at that time: whether those who turned back from any heresy whatever ought to be purified through the washing of baptism. For an old custom had prevailed in such cases, of using only prayer with the laying on of hands. [a]