Stolen St. Francis of Assisi Statue Is Returned — With ‘Sissy’ Makeover
- Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:49pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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Mary Jo Paul wrote a letter to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle in August, threatening the culprits that stole her 2-foot, 50-pound St. Francis of Assisi statue , that they would have a date with Karma.
The hoodlums seem unfazed.
The statue was returned to the Paul home Saturday with lipstick, eye shadow, and toenail polish transforming the saint into a “sissy.” Erik Peterson of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle took this picture of the vandalism:
Mary Jo Paul was upset about the theft of the statue which she had owned for nearly 40 years, warning whoever took it that “what goes around, comes around.”
However, the Billings Gazette reports that Paul and her husband laughed at St. Francis’ now-green robes, gold sandals and purple belt. While the Pauls first cracked-up at the sight of the statue and say that “now maybe he’s more beautiful,“ they still feel the theft was ”awful.”
“The person who did it is most ingenious, if unethical,” Mary Jo told the Chronicle. That said, they still appreciate the patron saint of animals and the environment.
“‘He’s just a symbol of all that’s gentle,’ Mary Jo said. ‘He reminds us to be good to each other, to be good to animals.’”
The Pauls will keep the painted statue and have moved it to a less conspicuous place in their yard.
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Comments (69)
mossbrain
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:26pmIs he the saint who inspired all the Francis the talking mule movies. Ii really love those movies. Any saint who endows a mule with the gift of speech is alright by me.
Report Post »Applehead
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 4:24amYes he is! The story was that they didn’t feed the mule for several days, one man stood with feed and the other with the Eucharist, on opposite side and mule went to the Eucharist and kneeled before it proving to the village the true presence of Jesus Christ!!! Thats the clift note version! He with St. Michael the Archangel are my 2 favorite Saints!!!
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 10:17amDon’t forget Mr Ed. The people dont look very annoyed do they? lol
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 11:58amZenpegs, the people said they WERE amused by the make-over and in the photo they are looking at the sissified statue.
Report Post »conservativewoman
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:22pmI’m glad that the couple laughed about it. Their sense of humor will keep them living longer, and they will have a story to tell thier friends and neighbors.
Report Post »I’m Catholic and Christian symbols also give me comfort, and statues in a garden like St Francis remind me that mear mortals can do miraculous things in this world.
Gatekeeper
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 12:01amI’m sure they are laughing at the irony of it. It’s really absurd. Catholicism is the last acceptable prejudice. As it will be, until the end of time.
Report Post »Applehead
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 4:39amLove the sinner but hate the sin! Pray for those who did this!
Report Post »Tomfang
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:48pmI went to school with a guy named Francis, and he WAS “a sissy”.
Report Post »AOL_REFUGEE
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:59pmIsn‘t that whole ’sissy’ thing an old, “kinney-gartener’s” joke?
Report Post »Wixom35
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:41pmMary Jo – You are right in your statement “what goes around, comes around.”
Making fun of someone’s religious belief is wrong! I wonder if these folks knew that St. Francis of Assisi is known as the patron saint of animals and even fought as a soldier for Assisi.
Keep the Faith MJ – God Bless You!
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 9:28amI guess it was wrong when Elijah made fun of the false prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel? (1 Kings 18:27)
Report Post »Danola
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:36pmHow can you be a Christian and believe in Karma?
Report Post »AOL_REFUGEE
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:05pmThe concept is not foreign to Christianity. A little open-mindedness might save you such additional shock in the future.
Report Post »Spiritglogal
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:36pmYou can’t. They are mutually exclusive. The whole point of Christianity is that Christ came, God become man, to suffer and die in place of sinful humans in order to reconcile us back to God because we COULDN’T pay for our own sins. By trusting in HIS sacrifice, God no longer sees our sinfulness, but His blood covers our UNrighteousness so that, as with the passover blood of the lambs that God called the Jews to cover their doors with in order that the angel of death would PASS OVER their homes, God sees JESUS’ righteousness and attributes it to US.
Report Post »Now, if this is the case, as Christ followers have believed for 2,000 years, why would we NEED to depend on endless cycles of death and rebirth (in this life) in order to EARN our way to heaven? In the New Testament book of Ephesians (2:8, 9), Paul writes this (and there are MANY similar passages): “for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” The tragedy of this kind of wrong theology comes from not reading and knowing what you say you believe. Christians, before it‘s too late and we’ve lost our freedom to read the Bible, it’s time to read and learn what it says NOW, so that we are not easily confused and deceived. The Bible warns that many WILL be. As with so much else going on and Glenn’s warning on those levels, the same applies here: WAKE UP and KNOW what you believe, Christians!
Catholic Convert Mom
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 8:55amCareful reading will show you the actual quote was, “what goes around, comes around,” which the author of the article interpreted as a belief in Karma.
Report Post »DLG123
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 10:46amSpiritual
Catholics don’t “earn” our way. We just follow the scriptures. Not just a single verse but in context…
James 2:14-14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?i 15If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?j 17So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. 19You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble. 20Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works. 23Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called “the friend of God.” 24See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route? 26For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Report Post »P
mrsmileyface
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:36pmIm actually suprised that these gutless freaks who did this didnt shove a crucifix up the statues bum. What amateurs.
Report Post »stereojoe
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:04pmI just fail to understand their proverbial orgasm at defaming Christian symbols. It only leads me to believe this is the work of pure evil. What else is there to blame? Only pure evil would target the one true God and leave Islam alone.
Where are the cretins who would defame Mohammed or Allah in this way? It takes an act of desperation by those with nothing left to destroy the faith of those whom they do not know. As Christ would, I weep for them because they are truly suffering.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:04pmPink swans would look better.
Report Post »vtxphantom
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:24pmPink flamingos
Report Post »loadingmyclips
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:58pmWhat’s Rose-Ellen think of this?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 10:35amShe’s busy building bombs today.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:53pmSaint Leonard of Noblac.
Report Post »Warrant their arrest.
stereojoe
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:51pmTo this, Oh Lord, I have strength. They can defame our symbols and destroy our mortar but they cannot take our faith in you. They burn our Churches, they abolish our religion but they cannot take our faith in you. They take break our will, they can take our lives but they cannot take our faith in you. They can mock and tease, joke and plunder but they cannot take our faith in you. They can banish us, sacrifice us but they cannot take our faith in you. What they can do is awful, what you can do is awesome. There are no double standards in Heaven and I shall enjoy it.
Report Post »hockeyfighter21
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:43pmGood chance it is the typical homosexuals attacking the One True Church.
Report Post »loadingmyclips
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:50pmMay they burn in hell
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:28pmJesus is just some imaginary dude in the sky that dumb bi-bull thumpers made up according to most homosexuals.
So how can an imaginary guy hurt them. Not possible, if what they say us true.
What they are trying to do is to Force us to believe he does not exist. They will keep it up until we believe as they believe.
No doubt the LGBT community was quite scandalized when the statues of Hermes were defaced in ancient Athens (pre-Christian era I believe). The slighted all the phallic symbols of Hermes one night.
JZS would have been mortified. Wait, didn;t he say he worshipped Zeus? Never Mind,
Report Post »Merrymix
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:42pmI hope the owners DON’T just put the statue somewhere less visible. It is an AFFRONT to St. Francis for him to appear as a different type of a man than he was. He would not want to be seen like that. PLEASE have the statue repainted. I’m sure someone would donate their time and effort to do it at no charge to the owners. Glad the statue was returned; hope this story inspires someone to come forward and really make it beautiful in a good way.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:32pmThis is totally unacceptable in a “civilized” society.
We have “empowered” people to such a point that they think they are ENTITLED to RIP religion out of people’s lives.
Time to TAKE BACK AMERICA ! ! !
Now, for some kind artist to offer to repaint the statue in a respectful manner.
Report Post »I’m sure there are still artists that do not consider a crucifix in a jar of urine to be art !
Anyone in that area know of anyone?
Roditore
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 3:31amYes, there are still artists who don’t see a crucifix in urine as art. Art is pleasant to the senses, like music pleasant to the ear, so are sculptures and paintings pleasant to the eye. No need to be rude or cruel to others’ senses for the purpose of displaying your disagreement. On what happened here about the steal, that was vandalism. But yes, very disrespectful.
Report Post »South Philly Boy
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:32pmNothing is sacred
Report Post »JustMel71
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:26pmThis makes my blood boil. Being that I am Catholic and holding Saint Francis of Assisi to high regards makes me see how much sickness is in this world and can‘t help but noticing some of God’s children have turned their backs to Him. For me this is unforgivable but luckily I can’t smite someone for this. =)
I have read the Blessing Of The Animals when one of my beloved extended family members was stricken with an illness and it saddens me to see such disregard for one of our saints. We will all stand before God one day, hope some get their comeuppance a bit harsher. Sorry I know I shouldn’t feel that way, but I believe some have their souls controlled not by God but by evilness. Oh well.. I said my peace.
Report Post »kalayaan
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:24pmThis is sad…I don’t agree to this..
Report Post »ying
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:22pmlol, St Francis of a sissy…….Clue: it’s very common for Asians to paint their statues, as they think it makes the statues look better. In their minds, the statue sat there “unfinished”, and they saw it as an invitation for someone to paint it for them.
Report Post »Plan B
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:21pmTwelve years ago we woke up in the middle of the night to orange lights flashing right outside our bedroom window. I went to look thinking it was the power company working right outside our house. As a prank-probably to one of my teenage daughters, the kids from school had spent the evening stealing signs, lawn ornaments, barricades etc. and planted them in our front yard. We called all the politicians, realtors, businesses who’s numbers where on the sign. We put an ad in the paper describing yard geese, deer etc and most were returned to the owners. Unfortunately, in the back of my barn still sits a cement donkey with a straw hat that we have yet to find the owner for…..
Report Post »randy
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:29pmHey That’s my DOnkey and I Want him back :) LOL
Report Post »I love tacky lawn ornaments
Wixom35
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:27pmYou always tease the ones you love! These folks truly like and respect your teenage daughters!
Report Post »I have done pranks like this as well in HS. Wrong = Yes! But what does a male 15 – 17 year old think about – except impressing his peers!
!
I SPY
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:21pmLOL you Liberal Losers are seriously going to pay for this one as well. And not from any judge and jury, but the real Judge and only Real Jury. Liberal Losers, keep on losing.
Report Post »metalurgy
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:19pmShould be easy enough to lift a few prints off the statue to apprehend the vandals.
Liberals are so stupid.
I got $20 that says a college professor is involved.
Report Post »ying
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:26pmIt was an Asian person, and most likely a female due to the “blush” and “eye shadow” on the face. Whoever it is will likely drive by the house alot to look at their art.
Report Post »ARealCharliesAngel
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:14pmI’d bet the vandals are flaming liberals with NO clue what St. Francis represents.
Report Post »Joisey
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:08pm“Sissy”? Get real and speak the truth: The statue was painted to look Gay!
Report Post »ying
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:23pmSt. Francis of A Sissy.
Report Post »Sharon Rose
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:07pmI guess someone got their thrills doing this, shame, shame, shame on whoever did it.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:58pmTighten it up, CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH GOD. Stand strong and clothe yourselves, your children, your spouses, your pets, your property and your homes (and your cars) with the protection of the HOLY SPIRIT. The bad stuff is getting ready to hit the fan.
May our LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, BLESS AND PROTECT YOU AND YOURS this night and forever more. In JESUS’ PRECIOUS AND MIGHTY NAME, AMEN.
Report Post »IvanK
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:09pmThat may well be all well and good but one thing is for sure – don’t screw with old people! That old lady would likely pull the trigger faster than you can say Amen!
Report Post »TruthSpeaker
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:59pmto IVANK, this one would.
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