‘He Can’t Damage Our Faith’: Texas Priest Responds After Man Destroys Jesus Statue By Tré Goins-Phillips for Faith Wire
A man barged into the Catholic Diocese of El Paso and destroyed a 90-year-old statue of Jesus Tuesday morning, when the sanctuary was open for prayer.
While the crime did “feel like an attack on our faith” and “on our community,” said Father Michael Lewis, he told KTSM-TV suspect Isaiah Cantrell “can’t damage our faith.”
“We can’t let our reaction to it forget what that statue symbolizes,” Lewis explained, “which is, again, the enduring love and mercy of Jesus Christ.”
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“He can damage the statue, but he can’t damage our faith, he can’t damage our faith in what that statue represents,” the priest continued.
Congregant Doris Gurss said she and her fellow parishioners “will forgive” 30-year-old Cantrell for the destruction, “because that’s what Jesus would do.”
Bishop Mark J. Seitz told the El Paso Times the statue was among his “favorite representations of Jesus.” While he’s sad to see its demise, Seitz told the newspaper he is praying for Cantrell.
“He certainly must be a person who is greatly disturbed to have attacked this peaceful place in our city and this image of the King of Peace,” said Seitz. “I hope this might be the impetus for him to receive the help he needs.”
Local law enforcement officers arrested Cantrell Wednesday, charging the suspect with criminal mischief and possession of marijuana, according to the Times. He was soon thereafter booked into jail with bonds totaling $20,500.
