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
Thanks, love fish.
Rose, God’s word not only omits all praying to Mary, but Jesus positively discourages it. Man, in the form of Popes and councils, innovates with prayer to Mary.
Jesus is the only Intercessor, according to the Bible. Are you going to put man’s word on a level with God’s, when He has put His Word above His Name?
I wouldn’t be that audacious because such a move is groundless and Jesus is your Judge. He said He would judge each one of us by His Words, not Popes’ words.
The Catholic Church is the whore in Revelation 17, and the Pope is Antichrist with the names of blasphemy, like “Holy Father”, “Vicar of Christ”. He is none of those things. This stuff is downright ungodly. Get out of her lest you share in her judgements, for she shall be burned in one hour.
I bet that was said with the tongue flicking in and out of the mouth.
Be careful. I’ve given you nothing but the word of God. When Jesus was accused of having a devil, he pointed out that that’s an unpardonable sin, speaking against the Holy Spirit.
If you insist on doing that, you’re on yur own from here on in.
your, not yur”
LOL..yeah right.
I do not feel sorry for you for you know what you do. I feel sorry for what you do not know and what you think you know. The whore of Babylon. Really, you are so ignorant, God forgive you. If you only knew the real Church history and all her Saints and what is written. It would blow you away with the beauty and joy.
All I can witness to is Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the Holy Trinity.
I believe in Scripture and Tradition. They are one.
I love God, I truly do, my soul proclaims Him, I am passionate about Him. I could not live without Him. I will die with Him.
Sick hearts, filled with hate by the deceiver, are not open to the Truth of Jesus Christ proclaimed by His Church. They cling to a fragment of the Truth and frantically attempt to discredit the fullness of Truth to justify their “no”.
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