Police: Man sets fire to nativity scene

[rodeodance]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-01-07-nativity-fire_x.htm

Police: Man sets fire to nativity scene
Updated 1/7/2007 2:41 AM ET

RICHMOND, Calif. (AP) — A man walked into a church, doused a nativity scene with a flammable liquid and set it ablaze in front of a practicing choir, police said.

Robert Mills, 40, of San Pablo, was arrested Friday night while hiding in a park minutes after police said he walked into St. Cornelius Parish and announced he was going to set the church on fire.

Mills told everyone to leave but blocked the doorway until he began showering the sanctuary with the liquid, giving choir members a chance to escape, said Richmond Police Lt. Enos Johnson.

The fire destroyed the nativity scene, a lectern and carpeting, and caused extensive smoke damage. No one was injured.

Prosecutors will likely charge Mills with arson and possibly false imprisonment because the building was occupied when the fire occurred, police said.

[JeffR]

1. Wow, talk about the War On Christmas

[dubeskin]

4. Really!

[ck4829]

2. He could be charged with a hate crime

I wonder what the 'christian' Right is going to say about that.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Is baby Jesus okay?

Baby Jesus was a Democrat, do you know why? Every Nativity scene has at least one donkey, the Democratic mascot. You never see any elephants around!

[AZBlue]

5. The nativity scene was inside, only visible to those already in the church?

Yeah, good idea. And a false justification for the Religious Right - way to go, handing them this on a silver platter.