Jesus statue the target of vandalism

[RedEarth]

Roman Catholic church in Rehoboth Beach has been repeatedly attacked

By MIKE BILLINGTON / The News Journal

12/08/2004A statue of Jesus holding two small children was discovered decapitated outside a Rehoboth Beach Roman Catholic church Tuesday morning.

The faces of the two children also were defaced, church officials said. The head of the statue of Jesus was smashed repeatedly with a blunt instrument until it was knocked off, they said.

Officials at St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church said the act of vandalism is the third in the past several weeks. Earlier, a window behind had been smashed. A church sign also was damaged, the Rev. Ray Forester said.

.......

Church Deacon John Smith, a retired New York City police officer and Korean War veteran, said the vandalism was so savage that it approaches the level of a hate crime, "against the church or maybe against religion in general."

Smith said the church has not received any hate mail or other communication that might have warned them about the attack.



http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2004/12/08jesusstatuethet.html