A Season For Giving And Taking Scrooges Steal Everything From Baby Jesus To A 5-Foot Tall Santa

The Grinch didn’t just steal Christmas. He swiped Mary and the baby Jesus Tuesday and went back for the crucifix Wednesday night.

That was at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene. And it’s part of a Christmas season trend that bandits appear to be pursuing with religious zeal.

Last week, someone took a 4-foot statue of Joseph from in front of a Colbert, Wash., home and tried to also take Jesus and a wise man. In Athol 10 days ago, thieves cut down a 5-foot tall Santa that was lashed to an arch above Sherry Baker’s home. That’s the last anyone has seen of St. Nick.

Three Washington State University students took the baby Jesus from the Nativity scene in American Legion Park in Colton, Wash., on Dec. 11 and put it atop the tree in their apartment.

All of this is not unusual. “We’ve had thefts of Christmas decora tions every season I can remember for the past 23 years,” said Capt. Carl Bergh, of the Coeur d’Alene Police department.

The Rev. Roger LaChance, of St. Pius, doesn’t expect to get the 32-inch high statue of Mary and the baby Jesus back.

Someone went into the church’s small chapel Tuesday afternoon and pried the hand-carved Madonna and son off of the wall. Wednesday night the accompanying crucifix also was pulled from its wall anchors, but was left on the altar.

“It’s crazy,” said a disgusted LaChance. The statues were given in memory of a woman who was murdered by her husband, by her family.

“It is somebody who has a latent hate for the role of Mary, someone who hates Catholics or hates statues,” LaChance said.

The chapel always is unlocked because people from around the community come there at all hours to pray, he said. He doesn’t want to see that change.

He hopes someone will come forward with information. Meantime, “We’re going to pray about it and see what comes up.”

, DataTimes