And a Merry Christmas to all from Haverhill, Mass., where some “pranksters” replaced a likeness of the Baby Jesus with a severed pig’s head in a nativity scene in front of a church.
From the Eagle Tribune:
Police Detective Lt. Robert Pistone said during a press conference no arrests were made as of late Friday morning. Pistone said that in addition to investigating this incident as a larceny, police are also looking at it as a possible hate crime that he said may have been motivated by “prejudice to a religion.”
Pistone said police also hope to learn whether those responsible tortured or killed the animal to use for this purpose.
“Somebody put some thought into what they were going to do,” Pistone said. “It was certainly and intentional act, a symbolic act.”
Fortunately, Sacred Hearts Pastor the Rev. John Delaney reports the disgraceful act of defilement probably went largely unnoticed. That is because a Plexiglas panel in front of the manger scene fogged over as the temperature changed. If it likely, Delaney said, that few parishioners on their way to the 7:30 a.m. Christmas Day Mass noticed that anything out of place.
Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said he was outraged and that the hateful stunt “doesn’t represent our community.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 978-373-1212.
(h/t The Blaze)
