Jesus stolen from Bridgeport, West Virginia school

[KurtNYC]

This dispute (a public school with a huge Jesus portrait outside the Principal's office) was the subject of a thread 2 weeks ago so I thought I would post this follow-up story:

A portrait of Jesus Christ was stolen from a West Virginia high school yesterday, two days after a local school board agreed to fight efforts in court to remove it.

A school official says the picture was the only thing taken, so it's pretty clear that's what the thief wanted. Police say the suspect broke a window, went straight to the portrait and left the school within five minutes.

The painting, which depicts Jesus in sepia tones on a large canvas, hung on the wall outside the principal's office and had been at the school for 37 years.

http://www.nbc-2.com/News/stories/weirdnews.shtml

Edit to add this from the original story:

"This board is moving forward," Queen told a cheering audience of about 50 people, many of whom wore white T-shirts that read, "You can't take our Jesus down."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14366479/

[Dr.Phool]

1. Satan works in mysterious ways.

Probably godless liberals.

[IChing]

5. How do you know if the painting didn't leave the building by itself?

sorry not a religious slam.

[Crankie Avalon]

2. The devil made him do it...or else it was god's will. n/t

[longship]

3. Well, I guess that ends that controversy.

The only question now is, "How long before the school board puts up a new Jesus picture?"

Of course, they will then not be able to say that the new picture was up for 37 years.

This is so ridiculous. Public school is not church.

[pepperbear]

4. That will open up a huge can of whoop ass in that town

I mean their priorities were so well sorted already that I can't imagine this in the news for more than...oh, say, 5 or 6 weeks.

[Hubert Flottz]

6. Raptured?

Shit like that happens in WV.

[Dr.Phool]

7. Never thought of that!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. It's that really cheesy picture too.

The same one you find in homes with velvet Elvises and dogs playing poker.

[Kutjara]

9. The painting probably ascended to heaven.

Now the school can become a pilgrimage site for the sort of reality-challenged faithful who worship Madonna-shaped sandwiches, bleeding statues, and burst water-mains bubbling up through trees.

If somone in the area can spin that story in the press, the fundies will demand the painting never be replaced, it's absence being positive proof of God's plan.

Problem solved.

[sui generis]

12. IT'S A MURACLE!

ascended to heaven

:rofl:

I say he's partying on a yacht with Elvis somewhere. He'll be back, rested and ready for another 37 years on sepia velvis sportin' a brand new glowy velvis tunic and halo, with a tan and only the tiniest of hangovers to furrow his brow.

[gratuitous]

10. Don't steal vs. Make no images

Boy, that's a toughie commandment-wise. Which one comes first?

[Hubert Flottz]

11. Now some lucky old cuss will probably really...

"Find Jesus"...Prolly at a flea market!

[TlalocW]

13. The Virgin Mary appeared

Chucked a rock through the window and took the portrait.

TlalocW

[KurtNYC]

16. That's close.

Police released surveillance video on Thursday from inside the high school. Friday, the police have released more video, this time from the middle school. The man wearing some type of white coat in the distance in the new video. Police believe he walked through the middle school's parking before busted into the high school. He apparently took off the coat and used it to cover the broken glass as he climbed the window into the school.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14414616/

The dude should have dressed as Jesus then they would have to put out a description like: "The man wearing a white toga and sandal, long hair and a crown of thorns was last seen walking across the school's swimming pool with the portrait under his arm...."

[ComerPerro]

14. shouldn't have been there in the first place

[baldguy]

15. Someone should donate a portrait of the Buddha to replace it.

[MountainLaurel]

17. Link to a recent thread on this case

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1949205&mesg_id=1949205