Virgin Mary window vandal "was just mad at the world," says lawyer

[matcom]

<snip>

CLEARWATER - The small, white-haired woman emerged from the courtroom gallery Monday morning with a cross dangling from her neck and a message to deliver to the judge.

On the other side of the aisle stood an equally undaunting figure: a wiry young man with blue eyes and a tight haircut that made his ears look big.

The woman was Rosie Reed, the site leader for Shepherds of Christ Ministries, which owns the mirrored building on U.S. 19 that many think holds the rainbow-hued image of the Virgin Mary.

The youngster was Kyle Maskell, the teen who slung steel balls into the top windows of the image, shattering the image and beheading one of Clearwater's most beloved figures.

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/13/Tampabay/Virgin_Mary_vandal_re.shtml

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Congress to pass new law only allowing Mary to manifest in unbreakable...

..objects such as titanium and basalt.

"Mary is partly to blame for this tragedy", said one congressman. "By only manifesting her image in potato chips, windows, and tortillas she is just asking for vandalism."

[truthspeaker]

2. Not mad at the world,

just mad at gullible morons who see apparitions in windows.

[Rowdyboy]

3. The ministry did not press charges...the state did...

Breaking $1200 of glass in a privately owned building is a crime and is punishable. If you want to do the crime, be prepared to do the time.

If he had vandalized a Muslim or Hindu or Buddist religious site, he should be held accountable, shouldn't he? Why should he not be held acountable for this act, which is essentially a hate crime?

[truthspeaker]

4. is anyone arguing otherwise?

I'm not sure what's motivating your post.

[Rowdyboy]

5. No, I just have a different take on the issue...

Not trying to start a fight...Just pointing out that, regardless of your opinion of Christianity (which for most DUer's is very low), the young man created a very nasty and expensive act of vandalism against a religious institution. He did so because he was angry. Actions have consequences and now he gets a few days in jail and has to pay $1200. I think its totally fair.

Next time he's angry, maybe he'll find a more socially-acceptable way to channel his anger.

[TeacherCreature]

6. it's not nice to decapitate the Madonna

An anonymous benefactor hired Futerman to represent Maskell and bailed him out. Maskell has since been living in a foster home in Clearwater and working day labor jobs, Futerman said.

I'll bet it was the church itself or someone from the church who did this kind deed.