Posted on 11/22/2024 8:22:20 AM PST by ChicagoConservative27
A “lone ranger” thief barged into a Midtown Catholic church Wednesday and stole a $3,000 gold-plated rose from a memorial honoring the lives lost on 9/11 in a brazen “act of desecration,” according to cops and the pastor of the parish.
The suspect walked into the Church of St. Francis of Assisi on West 31st Street near Seventh Avenue around 2:30 p.m. and grabbed the rose – created out of the steel from Ground Zero – a cherished part of the 9/11 Memorial Shrine, according to authorities and the Rev. Brian Jordan.
“This was not only a robbery, as far as I’m concerned, it’s an act of desecration,” Jordan said.
The church’s memorial shrine is meant to honor all lives lost on 9/11 – especially the Rev. Mychal Judge, who then served as St. Francis’ pastor as well as the FDNY Chaplain.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
True: He should rot in jail.
Regards,
But Jordan said he does not want to see the alleged thief “wallowing in the jail cell,” because “that’s not going to help him.”
“I hope and pray that this troubled man turns himself in to the police and he gets the proper psychiatric care that he needs,” the priest said. “I want this man, after he’s arrested, not going to jail but going to a psychiatric center to get some help, to get a second chance at life.”
He can go to jail and the priest can talk to him there.
> pastor prays he doesn’t wallow in jail <
The pastor should consider what a thief who is not properly punished will do next. He will probably rob again, or worse.
Our church has a large concrete statue of Jesus in a garden area next to the church. There are are couple of benches, flowers, etc.
The statue was defaced a few years ago, the vandal(s) breaking off the hands of the statue.
Rather than repairing the damage, our pastor instead had a brass plaque created and bolted to a boulder in the garden.
I don’t recall the exact wording, but basically the text relates to forgiveness, and more importantly- that we were put on this earth to do God’s work - we are his hands. The statue remains unrepaired as a reminder.
No. Let him wallow in his cardboard box, high from the dope he bought with the $25 he got for the gold rose.
He won't try that again. No, sir.
Has the thief undergone a true Christian conversion? Has he sincerely repented of his sins, and in particular, this crime?
If yes, then its right for the pastor to declare the thief “should not wallow in jail.”
If NO, then the pastor should simply let the State, and God, judge him.
If yes, then its right for the pastor to declare the thief “should not wallow in jail.”
Is that how God operates? Please explain. I was told that God forgives all sins if one truly repents.
The State and Courts may not care, which I accept. But a pastor should always ask for leniency for someone to whom sin has become repugnant.
Let's dive into an FR theological debate. Those are always fun!
Lets begin with that God MUST BE JUST.
There are and should be consequences for sin. In the case of Jesus, He paid the consequences. The consequences did not go away.
The idea that all you have to do is say you are sorry (worldly repentance) and you are free to go is worldly/liberal thinking.
I thank God for every consequence for my sin, else I would not have learned and understand what Jesus did.
You confuse love also. The ones that let me skip by, didn’t love me. The ones who held be accountable to tough standards, did love me. God disciplines the ones he loves.
Just because you are forgiven doesn’t meant there are no consequences to be paid.
Very nice. Thank you.
No. If he’s repentant the priest can and should forgive him and even help him to reform.
However, he committed a crime and for that he deserves the full punishment of the law.
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