Man says a vision led him to tip over altar at Catholic church

Published: 2005-10-06

DECATUR, Ala. (CNS) -- A man who claims that Pope Benedict XVI is the Antichrist and that Catholics worship idols said a vision led him to tip over and break the marble altar in Decatur's Catholic church Oct. 2. Adam Joseph Turgeon and three companions were arrested and charged with first-degree criminal mischief in the incident, which took place shortly before the end of the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass at Annunciation of the Lord Church. A fifth person reportedly with them was not charged. "This was a sad day for our entire parish," said the pastor, Father Joseph Culotta. "No faith community, in the solace of their sanctuary, should have fear that their prayer might be interrupted and their belief in religious symbols attacked," he told One Voice, the Birmingham diocesan newspaper. Witnesses said two men and three women came into church during the Communion song. A man and woman came forward screaming "this is idolatry" and "the end times are near." The man went into the sanctuary and overturned the marble altar, sending it crashing to the floor. The black and white altar top broke in two and two pedestals it rested on were knocked over and broke apart.

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