Reward Offered After Churches Vandalized in several (three) towns

[Breeze54]

Reward Offered After Churches Vandalized

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/15665658/detail.html

Building Spray-Painted Overnight, Police Say

UPDATED: 1:06 pm EDT March 22, 2008

BOSTON --

A $1,000 reward has been offered for information leading to arrests, after several churches
in Gardner were targeted by vandals overnight Thursday.

A parishioner attending a service Thursday night at the Sacred Heart Church on Cross Street
found the front door of the church vandalized at about 11 p.m. The door was spray-painted
with words deemed a blasphemous reference to Christ. The paint had not dried and was quickly
removed. At the time, the act appeared to be an isolated incident.

Video: Churches Vandalized | Video: Parishioners Upset With Damage

But on Friday morning, police received several other reports of vandalism at city churches of various denominations.
The Bethany Baptist on Ryan Street, the Holy Spirit on Lovewell Street, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary on Nichols Street,
St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Cross Street, and the United Methodist Church on Chestnut Street were spray-painted
with vulgar, anti-Christian remarks, officials said.

The messages included "Jesus is dead" and "You brainwashed zombies."

"These people knew what they were doing. It appears that this goes beyond just mere vandalism. It is some type of hate crime. I don't know if it has anything to do with devil worship, but these people were out to cause a big shock factor," Gardner Police Lt. Gerald Poirier said.

Black spray paint was used in all of the incidents, and it appears from the writing style used that a lone person is responsible for all of the incidents. With the exception of the Congregational Church located in Philipston, all the crimes happened in Gardner.

"Apparently, the person has to be a coward if he is running around during the night hours and graffiting not only this church but other churches -- all different kinds of religions," said Gardner resident Giles Arsenault.

Police are requesting the public's help in the identification of the person who committed these crimes.

The Gardner Knights of Columbus, Council 396 is offering the award.

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Strangers Help In Church Graffiti Cleanups

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/15677367/detail.html

Graffiti Stains Several Churches On Holy Weekend

UPDATED: 6:55 pm EDT March 22, 2008

GARDNER, Mass. --

Acts of hate in three towns have spurred an outpouring of kindness and support.



Vile graffiti stained several churches on the holiest weekend of the year, and police
said the timing was no coincidence.

“It’s Easter and I wouldn’t want my kids looking at this,” said Kenneth Peters.

“This one here said ‘Jesus is dead’ with an upside-down cross.”

Peters, a South Shore power-washer, hit the road to volunteer his services in the cleanup.
On Friday, members and staff of six Gardner churches and two in nearby towns found their
houses of worship desecrated with graffiti.

“It’s either hate, or young kids who don’t have any religion,” said church member
Doreene Wilson. “When I first saw it and everything, the first thing that came to my mind
was anger,” said church janitor Les Whitney. “I think it takes somebody sick to do something
like this.”

NewsCenter 5’s Lynn Jolicoeur reported members of the community in Gardner and even
total strangers came forward to help in the healing process.

More...

[mac2]

1. Keep religion in the news as a distraction?

[Breeze54]

2. No, the news is also reporting about the attacks and deaths in Iraq & Afghanistan too...

But this is also one of the stories being reported on my local news stations.

[mac2]

3. Constant chaos and fear.

[Breeze54]

4. Yeah.... but it wasn't reported like that. I didn't hear "the fear' meme in the report.

But I did hear the outrage and I think some of the comments made by parishioners were sort of comical.