Vandal Decapitates Statue Of Jesus

AP ^ | December 8, 2004

[West Coast Conservative]

The statue of Jesus in front of Rehoboth Beach Roman Catholic Church has been decapitated.

The Rev. Ray Forester said that the vandalism was discovered after Mass on Sunday, but he's not sure when the statue was defaced. The vandal also damaged the faces of two statues of children sitting on Jesus' lap.

Forester said the the head of the six-foot statue was hit until it broke off. The statue is made of bronze-coated fiberglass.

It is the third time the church has been vandalized in recent weeks. A church sign was damaged and a window was broken.

Police say investigators have some leads, but not enough evidence to make an arrest.

[West Coast Conservative]

Vandals smashed the head of the statue of Jesus at St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach and also damaged the faces of the children depicted in the 6-foot tall sculpture

[steplock]

"The Rev. Ray Forester"

Typical of an ignorant leftist reporter not knowing the PROPER and respectful way to address a priest of the Catholic Church.

It is "Father Ray Forester".

[acapesket]

I am assuming Rehoboth is in CA as we have a Rehoboth here in MA!

[zencat]

Probably an NPR employee.

[LibertarianInExile]

Looks like the head is missing. Maybe someone wanted their own personal Jesus.

[ntnychik]

I'm assuming Rehoboth Beach is in Delaware, as there is a keyword, "US: Delaware". It's a wonderful place to visit. I hope you get a chance some day. So sad that hatred, ignorance, or evil resulted in the desecration of the statue.

[John Lenin]

Liberalism =Mental Illness

[durasell]

According to AP handbook, it's Rev. Reporters have very little latitude in how titles are used.

[asgardshill]

I remember some bast*rd doing this to a statue of Jebediah Springfield about 15 years ago.

I think it was this little punk.

[steplock]

"According to AP handbook"

Try ... according to the communist manifesto ... according to Antonio Gramsci ... according to mohamed ....

the Dis-associated press fits right in

[diamond6]

Or better yet, an ACLU lawyer.

[expatpat]

Rehobeth, DE is very gay.

[durasell]

Yes, I know, all media is evil. Yet, they give me something to read at the breakfast table with my coffee.

[texasbluebell]

In that case, the AP handbook has at least one error in it.

Probably one of many.

[ProudVet77]

There's a lot of this kind of thing going on. Stealing figures from nativity scenes appears to be a popular pastime. The left is getting ever less tolerant of things having to do with religion.

[texasbluebell]

Yes, something to read, agreed.

It's fun though to nitpick at the media, sort of a small pleasure of mine these days.

[HairOfTheDog]

I am going to guess this gets you a few Hell points.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

"The Rev. Ray Forester" Typical of an ignorant leftist reporter not knowing the PROPER and respectful way to address a priest of the Catholic Church. It is "Father Ray Forester".

OK for Catholics. For the rest of us, its Reverend.

[Publius6961]

What state is this?

[SlightOfTongue]

I'm hoping somebody knows something about the pr*ck that did this dastardly deed.

Tell him he's won a prize for beheading the statue -

a ticket to the "Young Christians' Fellowship Camping Trip" hosted this year by al Zarqawi.

[steplock]

So it's ok for anyone NOT American to call President Bush "hey Bushwhacker!" ??

No it would not be ok - WHY? Because it would show a blatant LACK OF RESPECT.

Since I am NOT a protestant I should not bother to call a pastor of a Baptist church reverend? After all, I don't believe as you so why should I show any respect? Right?

So - to restate - the PROPER and respectful term to use when addressing a priest of the Catholic Church is "Father ...."

[ntnychik]

I hadn't noticed that Rehoboth Beach, DE was "gay."
Too busy having a good old-fashioned family time at the beach and boardwalk to notice, I guess. There is one bookstore, however, that I cross the street to avoid. Ultra liberal, yuck.

[Issaquahking]

Where you been man? Under some rock? A beheading is only done by islamic fundamentalists....

[expatpat]

Yeah, the family area is 'downtown', further south is Dewey Beach, where the single heteros gather, and in between is the queer beach. It's really weird to walk along the beach and see a whole beach area with only men on it (mostly in Speedos).

[Intolerant in NJ]

Parishioner mentioned on local TV that a "lot of hate" had to go into destruction like this, but of course it won't be called a hate-crime by authorities since everyone knows that only leftists can be the victims of such crimes, never conservative targets such as a Christian church.......

[MizzouTigerRepublican]

"Looks like the head is missing. Maybe someone wanted their own personal Jesus"


I like the Depeche Mode reference there! Maybe their own personal Jesus is related to Jesus Jones??

[LibertarianInExile]

Whoever the Violator is, it's just a question of time. He'll go to Some Great Reward for this eventually.

At least the church is still open, playing Music For The Masses. But with Jesus defaced like that, it's a Black Celebration, I suppose.

[LibertarianInExile]

Bump to 29. This story is just begging for DM references. :)

I would Doubt that this has anything to do with Jesus Jones, however. That's Perverse even dragging them into this. In The Face Of All This, I'd prefer we stick with Depeche Mode, The Devil You Know. Get the Message?

Yeah, I'm Damn Good At This. LOL.

[LibertarianInExile]

Nope, the guy I saw doing it looked more like this:

[DaveTesla]

Rehobeth is the Sodom of Delaware.

[Tamar1973]

In that case, the AP handbook has at least one error in it.

The AP handbook doesn't care about being right, they just care about being consistent. (Consistently liberal, anti-Christian, etc. but consistent nonetheless.)

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

So it's ok for anyone NOT American to call President Bush "hey Bushwhacker!" ??

No it would not be ok - WHY? Because it would show a blatant LACK OF RESPECT.

Calling President Bush "Bushwhacker" is something a die-hard Michael Moore fan would say. Distinguishing forms of etiquette among different sectors of society is common. For instance, a soldier would address the President as "Sir." A civilian whether American or not in formal polite settings would say "Mr. President."

I suggest you get over your provincial view of the world.

[momincombatboots]

As a southerner, I was raised with a healthy fear of God. I think liberal Christians have not gotten the message across to people, Fear God, accept His Son or suffer eternally. We have made Christianity a "grace for everyone, tolerance and love for all with no consequences. Everyone searches for God, they can deny it, rename it, call Him something else, take medication to subdue it, but everyone does. The fear of God should be reiterated once more. It would be an eye- opener for us all, including me. I used to joke to everyone "I was raised Southern Baptist, I know, I am going to hell" LOL

[Junior]

Nope. Even Catholic priests are referred to as "the reverend" in writing. This is a formal style of address and would be used in correspondence, for instance.

[Revelation 911]

I remember some bast*rd doing this to a statue of Jebediah Springfield about 15 years ago.

Doh!

either the perp will eventually burn, or come to repent

Im comfortable with either

[A.A. Cunningham]

Lighten up, Francis and take a look at your bulletin next Sunday. Reverend is proper.

[Pyro7480]

Bigotry against Catholicism ping!

[siunevada]

It is the third time the church has been vandalized in recent weeks.

Time to invest in some surveillance equipment. Good reason for a second collection.

[AnAmericanMother]

Well, according to Noah Webster's dictionary (Unabridged 2nd Ed.), the proper form of address is "Father".

[AnAmericanMother]

The envelope is addressed "The Reverend Father So and So, OSB" (or whatever order he belongs to.) The salutation and subsequent use is "Father So and So."

[AnAmericanMother]

And this article from an NBC affiliate uses the correct title:

Vandals Decapitate Jesus Statue at [Delaware] Church

[Convert from ECUSA]

I could say a few things about the types of people that do this sort of vandalism, but since this is a religious forum, I'll refrain. I will say that those who do this are the same type of slimeballs that spray-paint swastikas on synagogues.

[MEGoody]

If something like this happened in a black Baptist church, it would be called a hate crime, and the cops (and media) would be all over it.

[xone]

'Clergy have no better idea of God than anyone else.'

Really, that's a Christian idea.

' True faith is found in the heart'

How does it get there if they haven't heard?