Posted on 04/14/2009 6:12:09 AM PDT by NYer
CALIFORNIA AVE. — Santa Monica Police are investigating an alleged hate crime after officials with St. Monica Catholic Church discovered a statue of the Virgin Mary beheaded shortly before Easter services commenced.
A priest found the 55-year-old marble statue, which stands on the corner of Seventh Street and California Avenue, decapitated around 5:45 a.m. on Sunday, spotting the head on the ground just a few feet away. The top of the statue was covered with a white plastic bag before service began.
“Even though it was a sad event, it didn’t take away from the joy of Easter and celebrating Christ’s resurrection,” Jason Farmer, the church spokesman, said. “The joy was still sustained and celebrated throughout the day.”
Police have not identified any suspects.
“Anytime a church or school is targeted, we look at it as a possible hate crime,” SMPD Lt. Darrell Lowe said. “In this case, since the vandalism was of a very important figure within the Catholic religion, we’re classifying it and investigating it as a hate crime.”
Authorities said they are not sure how the head was removed, but Farmer said that the top is not detachable.
The statue, which stands at about 5.5 feet tall and is mounted on a 3.5-foot-tall pedestal, was dedicated in 1954 in memory of Monsignor N. Conneally, who was the head of the church from 1923-1949.
The statue was vandalized in 2002 when both hands were taken off. The perpetrator was never caught, Farmer said.
The statue will be repaired and restored, Farmer said. A cost estimate was not available at presstime.
“The church considers it to be sad and there are certainly questions about why this was done,” Farmer said. “But our sadness is brief, especially in the celebration of Easter.
He said the church considers the incident as a challenge to be more welcoming and caring to those who are struggling or hurting in the community.
“What has happened to the statue is an invitation for us to live out a deeper, more profound love for others,” he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contacted the SMPD at (310) 458-8419.
melodyh@smdp.com
Men like Luther, Calvin, Henry VIII, Zwingli, Machen, Smith, Young, Hubbard, et al.
They didn't have to move it. The head was probably severed with a hydraulic pipe cutter. One person could have done it easily, in less than 20 seconds.
“The subject is Mariolotry.
Correction:
Mariolotry is a myth born of ignorance and malice, in varying blends.”
Agree about the ignorance part; and the malice, too has been on the Catholic side. Just ask the tens of thousands of Christians labeled “heretic” and then burned at the stake.
Oh, wait a minute. You can’t ask them.
Again with the changing of the subject. It's quite bizarre, really.
But the misogyny just drips from a comment about how a FEMALE (gasp!) was involved.
Your next step would be to stop.
According to whom?
“How deliciously misogynous”
LOL.
It does seem odd doesn’t it?
How seemingly angry some people get that Christ chose to be born of a woman?
It might just be some jacka— vandals. Years ago a convent was sold from the local diocese and lay vacant for a long time. Eventually, vandals came in — some claiming ghost stories— and the first thing I noticed was the Virgin Mary statue was beheaded. I felt sick seeing that. My dad was part of the construction crew that worked on it when the main building was made into a part of a store front that still stands. He said some of the destruction in that building was horrific.
Some folks simply can’t contain their anti-Catholic rage.
Thankfully the internet protects me from the spittle.
Ewwww! A FEEEE-MALE!
“I have dubbed this “The Game,” although since I began pointing it out, it has become more obvious and thus less common.
But it still happens. “
I like that...”The Game”...will pass that on to my son who just got ambushed by one of these types.
“Hey mom - so and so says we believe such and such!”
“Well son - it’s news to me!”
To clarify, I am not jumping into the argument. Sincerely, I wish to know what you view as the correct church on earth?
They can't mock the real thing, so they make stuff up and mock that.
Kinda pathetic, really.
“..Christ chose to be born of a woman?
Ewwww! A FEEEE-MALE!”
You’re going off on a tangent.
I’m pointing out the misogyny of your post. I would not expect you to like it.
“Some folks simply can’t contain their anti-Catholic rage.
Thankfully the internet protects me from the spittle.”
Too bad. Jesus made clay from dust and spittle and made the blind to see. Oh well - you may remain blind if you wish.
Are you saying it's too bad Jesus did that, or did you just compare yourself to Christ?
Oh well - you may remain blind if you wish.
I am not blind to anti-Catholic bigotry. I know it when I see it.
“Just ask the tens of thousands of Christians labeled “heretic” and then burned at the stake.
According to whom?”
The judge before whom you will stand, for as they’ve done it unto the least of these his brethren, they have done it unto him.
That's where you got your information: Christ?
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