Posted on 02/19/2004 11:15:27 PM PST by quietolong
Congregation still missing stolen religious sculpture
By Renee Gundlach Staff Writer
BOYCEVILLE WI.- The congregation of St. Luke's Catholic Church is still diligently searching for the metal sculpture that was ripped from the-outer wall of their church and stolen last December.
According to a police report, the figure was stolen sometime between 2:15 p.m. on December 30 and 5:40 p.m. on New Years Eve.
Boyceville Chief of Police, Dan Wellumson, said that despite investigation efforts, there are currently no leads on the case. "We've run up against dead ends," said Wellumson.
Wellumson said a few suspicious Automobiles were investigated in the area. He also said that some scrap metal businesses were contacted to see if the figure had been spotted.
Hundreds of footprints from church-goers made finding suspicious tracks impossible. In addition, nothing else was disturbed that night near the church, said Wellumson.
Not a week goes by where someone in the congregation doesn’t inquire about the metal figure, said Sister Judy Kramer, Pastoral Minister at St. Luke's.
According to Kramer, St. Luke's has never been vandalized before. She said that many in the congregation are “ baffled “ by it. The five foot, metal figure of Saint Luke was formerly affixed to the outside of the 40 year old church for the past 35 years according to Kramer.
The lighted figure hung approximately six feet above the main entrance of the church. It was attached to the building with four anchors that were cemented into the outer wall of the building. "It had to have been forcibly pulled from the church,” said Kramer.
Kramer speculates that the vandals may have wrapped a chain or rope around the figure and then used a vehicle, such as a pickup, to rip the statue off the church. Kramer said that it's hard to say why anyone would want to steal the figure. She said that the motive was probably not monetary related.
It is not exactly certain what the figure was made out of. However, Kramer is quite certain that it was not made of any precious metal or other material that would be of any large value.
Efforts are being made to find out the value of the figure,. Kramer said that she has conducted research on the worth of the metal sculpture. Most religious retailers sell figures of Saint Luke, but they are generally very showy, intricate figures that cost about $5,000, said Kramer.
The church’s figure showed a robed Saint Luke holding a feather in one hand and a scroll in the other. Kramer described the figure as “very plain ... [and] simple,”. The church has filed a claim with an insurance company. If a quote for the value of the figure is produced, the process of getting a replacement figure could begin. However, the church is holding off on starting the replacement process. Some would like to find the original statue instead of getting a new one.
"We would rather find the other one,” said Kramer. Currently, the church is waiting until the snow melts, with hopes that the figure will be found, before making a decision about where or how to get a replacement.
It is believed that perhaps the statue was discarded somewhere in the vicinity of the church and then covered with subsequent Snowfalls. “Hopefully we'll find it in the spring “ said Joe Pieters, church member.
Members of the church continue to keep an eye out for the figure and seek information about it. Anyone who has information about the stolen figure should call the Boyceville Police at 643-2215
This happen right after Bishop Burke issued his statements ( St. Luke’s was in his Diocese) against the AIDS walk down in Milwaukee, his letter to Catholic politicians.
I have listened to Bishop Burke say Mass a few times. And have enjoyed his sermons and him for standing up and kicking ass!
It is my opinion that Sodomites and or some of the CINO ( like RINO’s) we have around here. Did this as a way to “ Get back “ at the Church. Hopefully the sculpture will be found. But it is probably being desecrated as the centerpiece of some satanic ritual.
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