<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;">--- On <B>Mon, 12/22/08, Catholic League <I><lg@catholicleague.org></I></B> wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">From: Catholic League <lg@catholicleague.org><BR>Subject: NATIVITY SCENES VANDALIZED NATIONWIDE<BR>To: arthurkelly@yahoo.com<BR>Date: Monday, December 22, 2008, 1:50 PM<BR><BR>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">December 22, 2008</DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B> </B></DIV>
<P class=MsoHeading7><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">NATIVITY SCENES VANDALIZED NATIONWIDE</SPAN></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal>Every year we are flooded with reports from across the nation about nativity scenes being vandalized. This year was no different. </DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal>Here is a list of some of the incidents that came to our attention:</DIV>
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<LI class=MsoNormal>In Sandusky, Ohio a 50-year old figure of the Baby Jesus was stolen from a downtown park; it was found a few days later hanging from a ceiling fan in the apartment of the thief who stole it</LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal>A Christian pastor in Loma Linda, California was beaten and left in critical condition while decorating his church</LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal>In Orange County, Florida a Christian church’s drive-through nativity scene was completely demolished by vandals</LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal>The Blessed Virgin figure was stolen from a nativity scene in front of a home in Colorado Springs, Colorado</LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal>Twice within a couple of weeks, the crèche in Norwood, Massachusetts was vandalized</LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal>A drive-through nativity built by a Christian church in Stone Mountain, Georgia was destroyed</LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal>In Waggaman, Louisiana, a 38-year old man, accompanied by two boys, trashed Christmas decorations at five homes</LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal>A 50-year old statue of a shepherd was beheaded in a nativity scene in downtown Kingsport, Tennessee</LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal>The Holy Family was stolen from a crèche outside of a home in New Albany, Indiana</LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal>The nativity scene in front of a Christian church in Christoval, Texas was splattered with red paint</LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal>Figures of the Baby Jesus were stolen from homes or churches in Memphis, Tennessee; Littlestown, Pennsylvania; Valrico, California; Akron, Ohio; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Andover, New York; Sumter, South Carolina; St. Charles, Illinois; Moberly, Missouri; Lehighton, Pennsylvania; Bismarck, North Dakota; Omaha, Nebraska; Paw Paw, Michigan; North Richland Hills, Texas; Eureka Springs, Arkansas; and Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania<I></I></LI></UL></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Susan A. Fani<BR>Director of Communications<BR>The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights<BR>450 Seventh Avenue<BR>New York, NY 10123<BR>212-371-3191<BR>212-371-3394 (fax)</SPAN> </DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
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