This time in St. Augustine...
From staugustine.com: Local News: Vandals strike, uproot hundreds of crosses at church 03/02/04:
"When Al Wolff saw more than 200 uprooted crosses Monday morning at the Mission of Nombre de Dios, he wasn't enraged.
Instead, he felt sorry for the people who did it.
Wolff is the caretaker of the 4,500 white 18-inch crosses that have been placed at the church annually for the past 16 years. The crosses signify the number of fetuses aborted each day, he said. The exhibit is sponsored by St. Augustine's St. Gerard Campus, an agency aimed to help pregnant, unwed mothers.
Along with the uprooted crosses, Wolff said he saw about 20 wire coat hangers around some of the crosses and in the ground.
'They're not educated,' Wolff said about the vandals. 'They don't understand. I pray for them.'
It is clear that pro-abortionists made the statement, Wolff said.
'They were prepared. They had the hangers,' he said. 'They're trying to show they're view.'"
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
Tuesday, March 2, 2004
Lenten Meditations
I continue to post Lenten Mediations on the page that you can access by clicking on the image of the gate to the right. I've changed the focus a bit. The post will be reflective of the day's Gospel reading, on Sundays it will be reflective of the Gospel for cycle A. The overall focus is the "power of the cross." All of this eventually will be a book, so comments, critiques of various entries are appreciated.
Image of Jewish Woman Destroyed in Clearwater, FL
Might this act of anti-Semitism be the result of the movie The Passion of the Christ? I'll bet when they catch the culprit they'll find a connection.
Believers, believe that the image will reappear if the window panes are replaced. Now, if that happens, let me say that I'll also believe!
From the Tampa Tribune:
Reed said a group of a half- dozen of the faithful were at the site until about 9 p.m. Sunday, leaving the site unattended for roughly 10 hours until the volunteer arrived.
Clearwater police spokesman Wayne Shelor said investigators discovered among the shards of glass one with the imprint of a ball bearing.
They are surmising from this and other evidence that the bearings did not cause the panes to shatter immediately. Rather, they caused weblike cracks in the three panels, which over time caused the glass to fall to pieces.
All three ball bearings have been recovered, Shelor said. Because there are no signs of black powder on the ball bearings, or any evidence of rifling, detectives don't think a firearm was used, Shelor said.
``The operating premise is it is something like a slingshot,'' Shelor said. It is also believed, Shelor said, that the culprit fired the bearings from the site, where many have come to say the rosary, light a candle, or leave flowers or donations.
Investigators have viewed images from a Web camera on the property that is aimed at the image of Mary so the faithful can view the visage on computers worldwide. But at least until 5:15 a.m., the image is intact, Shelor said. That means the vandal took his shots afterward, or the glass hadn't disintegrated yet, Shelor said.
Investigators also are aware that neighboring businesses at the busy intersection of Drew Street and U.S. 19 have surveillance cameras that might provide clues, he said.
Behind the panes was a prayer room where Shepherds of Christ holds occasional religious services. Visitors witnessing the destruction Monday from the outside could look in and see the altar from which the services have been held. A piano also stood in the room, one of its legs partly buried by shards of glass.
Reed called the panes of glass ``irreplaceable.'' Still, the broken pieces of glass will be preserved, she said.
``Only God can replace the window,'' she said. ``If he wants it replaced, it will happen.'' Some at the site Monday speculated that if the mirrored glass were replaced, Mary's head would instantaneously reappear and attach itself to the rest of the image.
Believers, believe that the image will reappear if the window panes are replaced. Now, if that happens, let me say that I'll also believe!
From the Tampa Tribune:
Reed said a group of a half- dozen of the faithful were at the site until about 9 p.m. Sunday, leaving the site unattended for roughly 10 hours until the volunteer arrived.
Clearwater police spokesman Wayne Shelor said investigators discovered among the shards of glass one with the imprint of a ball bearing.
They are surmising from this and other evidence that the bearings did not cause the panes to shatter immediately. Rather, they caused weblike cracks in the three panels, which over time caused the glass to fall to pieces.
All three ball bearings have been recovered, Shelor said. Because there are no signs of black powder on the ball bearings, or any evidence of rifling, detectives don't think a firearm was used, Shelor said.
``The operating premise is it is something like a slingshot,'' Shelor said. It is also believed, Shelor said, that the culprit fired the bearings from the site, where many have come to say the rosary, light a candle, or leave flowers or donations.
Investigators have viewed images from a Web camera on the property that is aimed at the image of Mary so the faithful can view the visage on computers worldwide. But at least until 5:15 a.m., the image is intact, Shelor said. That means the vandal took his shots afterward, or the glass hadn't disintegrated yet, Shelor said.
Investigators also are aware that neighboring businesses at the busy intersection of Drew Street and U.S. 19 have surveillance cameras that might provide clues, he said.
Behind the panes was a prayer room where Shepherds of Christ holds occasional religious services. Visitors witnessing the destruction Monday from the outside could look in and see the altar from which the services have been held. A piano also stood in the room, one of its legs partly buried by shards of glass.
Reed called the panes of glass ``irreplaceable.'' Still, the broken pieces of glass will be preserved, she said.
``Only God can replace the window,'' she said. ``If he wants it replaced, it will happen.'' Some at the site Monday speculated that if the mirrored glass were replaced, Mary's head would instantaneously reappear and attach itself to the rest of the image.
Monday, March 1, 2004
Vandalized!
From BayNews9.com - News:
"Someone has defaced an internationally known religious landmark.
The top three panels of the nine-panel glass window were broken at the Clearwater building with the Virgin Mary image. Police believe it happened between 5:15 and 6:45 Monday morning.
The damage was discovered by a woman who came to pray. Clearwater police say they think a vandal used a sling shot to propel ball bearings at the window, causing the glass to splinter and break. "
"Someone has defaced an internationally known religious landmark.
The top three panels of the nine-panel glass window were broken at the Clearwater building with the Virgin Mary image. Police believe it happened between 5:15 and 6:45 Monday morning.
The damage was discovered by a woman who came to pray. Clearwater police say they think a vandal used a sling shot to propel ball bearings at the window, causing the glass to splinter and break. "
Clearwater Image of Mary Destroyed
Not sure what happened...but its clear that three window panes have been knocked out where the image once was...some are claiming to see the image of Jesus in the missing panels.
The Shepherds of Christ were at the Christian Bookseller's Association book show last year in Orlando handing out cards that showed pictures of the image that they say went dark days before 9/11 and then returned to their normal appearance.
This appears to be vandalism.
Live web cam image
The Shepherds of Christ were at the Christian Bookseller's Association book show last year in Orlando handing out cards that showed pictures of the image that they say went dark days before 9/11 and then returned to their normal appearance.
This appears to be vandalism.
Live web cam image
Accused Clergy had Influential Posts
In Springfield, Mass. Of course, this is one of the greatest dangers in a system that is modeled more on the monarchies of the middle ages then the Church of the first millenium.
From Accused clergy had influential posts:
"The vast majority of 14 local priests recently accused of sexual misconduct held positions of considerable power in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, some ascending steadily through the ranks while they allegedly engaged in sexual misdeeds with minors.
Among them were the recently retired bishop, a secretary to two bishops, the executor of one bishop's estate and the head of diocesan schools. Another was the chief recruiter of young seminarians, a man who was later entrusted with diocesan records.
The exceptional proximity to power - and documents that may show some clerics abused it - have triggered questions about whether personnel files and other paperwork that may have revealed a pattern of abuse were destroyed or mishandled.
And, while their numbers represent just a fraction of the 120 priests in the diocese, the accused provide evidence that a powerful 'cabal' of abusers had free reign to prey on victims over decades, according to lawyers for alleged victims. "
From Accused clergy had influential posts:
"The vast majority of 14 local priests recently accused of sexual misconduct held positions of considerable power in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, some ascending steadily through the ranks while they allegedly engaged in sexual misdeeds with minors.
Among them were the recently retired bishop, a secretary to two bishops, the executor of one bishop's estate and the head of diocesan schools. Another was the chief recruiter of young seminarians, a man who was later entrusted with diocesan records.
The exceptional proximity to power - and documents that may show some clerics abused it - have triggered questions about whether personnel files and other paperwork that may have revealed a pattern of abuse were destroyed or mishandled.
And, while their numbers represent just a fraction of the 120 priests in the diocese, the accused provide evidence that a powerful 'cabal' of abusers had free reign to prey on victims over decades, according to lawyers for alleged victims. "
Cardinal Mahony's Cross
Quo vadis?
I'd say he's done a pretty good job of fleeing it.
From heraldtribune.com: Southwest Florida's Information Leader:
"Cardinal Roger Mahony called on parishioners Sunday to accept their personal crosses, noting he has accepted the sex abuse crisis in the Roman Catholic Church as his burden.
During Mass on the first Sunday in Lent at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, Mahony called the allegations of sex abuse against some clergy 'a horrible chapter in the life of the church' and said he often wished God had sent him a different challenge.
'In my own life, the last couple of years have been very difficult because of the sexual conduct problems of some clergy,' he said. 'Very often I (say) 'Anything but that, Lord. Change this cross to something easier to bear, change this cross for me.''
Mahony, 68, made no reference to a report released Friday that found the Los Angeles archdiocese had 656 sexual abuse claims and 244 clerics accused of abuse - the highest numbers in both categories in California.
The cardinal did not mention a related report that called Los Angeles a 'troubled diocese' and singled Mahony out for resisting subpoenas seeking priest personnel files.
The reports were both released by the National Review Board, a panel of Catholic lay people charged by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops with investigating the abuse crisis.
Mahony was one of only four bishops - there are 195 bishops who run dioceses in the United States - criticized by name in the report. The others were former Boston Cardinal Bernard F. Law, Cardinal Edward M. Egan of New York and Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien of Phoenix."
I'd say he's done a pretty good job of fleeing it.
From heraldtribune.com: Southwest Florida's Information Leader:
"Cardinal Roger Mahony called on parishioners Sunday to accept their personal crosses, noting he has accepted the sex abuse crisis in the Roman Catholic Church as his burden.
During Mass on the first Sunday in Lent at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, Mahony called the allegations of sex abuse against some clergy 'a horrible chapter in the life of the church' and said he often wished God had sent him a different challenge.
'In my own life, the last couple of years have been very difficult because of the sexual conduct problems of some clergy,' he said. 'Very often I (say) 'Anything but that, Lord. Change this cross to something easier to bear, change this cross for me.''
Mahony, 68, made no reference to a report released Friday that found the Los Angeles archdiocese had 656 sexual abuse claims and 244 clerics accused of abuse - the highest numbers in both categories in California.
The cardinal did not mention a related report that called Los Angeles a 'troubled diocese' and singled Mahony out for resisting subpoenas seeking priest personnel files.
The reports were both released by the National Review Board, a panel of Catholic lay people charged by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops with investigating the abuse crisis.
Mahony was one of only four bishops - there are 195 bishops who run dioceses in the United States - criticized by name in the report. The others were former Boston Cardinal Bernard F. Law, Cardinal Edward M. Egan of New York and Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien of Phoenix."
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