Who knew? Apparently every year there's a rash of thefts involving one particular holiday item: the baby Jesus in outdoor nativity scenes.
To prevent the rampant thievery, and keep the heavenly infant all tender and mild, etc., some churches and organizations are turning to technology, from security lights and cameras to a baby Jesus Lo-Jack device that tracks the location of the purloined Newborn King.
According to the Associated Press:
So far in 2008, Baby Jesus has appeared in several police reports. At
First United Methodist Church in Kittanning, Pa., a baby Jesus was
stolen and replaced with a pumpkin. In Eureka Springs, Ark., someone
who absconded with a plastic baby Jesus from a public display last week
also took the concrete block and chain that was supposed to act as a
deterrent.
Not surprisingly, the theft of a baby Jesus from a nativity scene, while typically receiving lots of media attention (some bemused, some outrage) may actually be less common (per capita, or per Baby Jesus display) than the defacement and theft of other religious symbols, particularly Menorah. So, what's the verdict? Is stealing the Baby Jesus amusing, or enraging? And are GPS devices to protect it a good use of church funds, or would it be better to spend that money on a food pantry, in this time of peace on earth, goodwill toward men?
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