SANTA FE, New Mexico (AP) – Three CD players hidden under a cathedral’s pews blared sexually explicit language in the middle of an Ash Wednesday Mass, leading a bomb squad to detonate two of the devices.
Authorities determined the music players were not dangerous and kept the third one to check it for clues, said police Capt. Gary Johnson.
The CD players, duct-taped to the bottoms of the pews, were set to turn on in the middle of noon Mass on Wednesday at the Roman Catholic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.
The recordings, made on store-bought blank discs, featured people using foul language and "pornographic messages," Johnson said. He would not elaborate because of the ongoing investigation.
Church staff members took the CD players to the basement and called police, who sent the bomb squad, Johnson said.
The bomb squad blew up two players outside and kept the third one to test for fingerprints or DNA and trace its components, he said.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, which marks a 40-day period of fasting and penitence before Easter.
[Via A Wing and a Prayer]
I once found a copy of Environment & Art in Catholic Worship in my parish library. I never thought to call the bomb squad, but I should have, or at least a hazardous material team. This document has been rather explosive in many parishes blowing the Communion rail to smithereens and knocking the Tabernacle into a whole new section. Luckily though someone might have disarmed this copy since it had never been used in any way in my parish.
10 comments
Your pastor needs to speak with his janitor about putting the toilet paper in the parish library.
I’ve been looking for the news release on how the ACLU is outraged over this terrible violation of civil rights (the interference of a religious service). I won’t hold my breath though.
LOL!
Fortunatly it’s toxic effects seem to be waning. How lucky your parish was never hit by the EACE bomb. (I envy you.) On the other hand, it has provided me with lots of projects.
A nice note, our bishop is requesting that we consider moving our tabernacles out of closets and back rooms and other various and sundry hidden places and put them in the church. What a novel idea. And it turns out that we just happen to have room there. It was like the church was designed for it. Hmmm.
My wise old pastor as I was growing up said not to worry about all the silliness going on. “As soon as somebody has made all the money possible ruining the churches, they will discover that should never have been touched and we will spend twice as much putting it all back.” It looks to be happening somewhat. We sold our gold for tupperware and now we want the gold back.
The best thing that could have happened to the Church is that they should have had put Slovenians in charge of everything. We never throw anything out. (Just ask my current pastor. I drive him nuts.) Everything would have been stored in the basment or attic wrapped in toilet paper and well marked. A little dusting and we would be Okay.
Steve, the ACLU does not respond and issue a press release for every little prank or violation of your civil rights. They ignore the repeated acts of tresspass by Christians trying propagate their beliefs 🙂
I must be hungry but your patron saint reminds me of Jared from Subway.
I wonder how they got them to kick on during Mass. Maybe a half hour of dead space followed by the noise?
Now while this is atrocious, a more common yet ignored indignity is that of cellphones going off. You’d think that in my alma mater’s church where I go for noontime Mass intelligent academically-minded people would have the sense to at least put their phones on silent mode, but nooooo.
That’s right hoodlum, the ACLU is far too busy defending NAMBLA to bother with such things.
I’ve been looking for the news release on how the ACLU is outraged over this terrible violation of civil rights (the interference of a religious service). I won’t hold my breath though.
Actually, I think civil rights violation the ACLU is talking about is the Church’s censorship of pornography and obscenity within church precincts.
Sheesh! First “Of Beagle’s Things”, then porn on CD’s. What next? DVD’s of porno scenes with “Of Beagle’s Things” playing in the background?
Nah. I don’t think the ACLU would take this case. However, I do think they’ll take the case of the sheep squad that opened fire at Barney the big purple ugly. 😛
BMP
step 1. Find out the perpetrators
step 2. Plan same prank
step 3. Use Haugen songs instead.
step 4. Enjoy!
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