Church Vandal Receives Forgiveness
In a display of remarkable compassion and adherence to his faith’s teachings, Father Timothy Furlow, the priest of Portland, Oregon’s oldest Roman Catholic church, addressed his congregation urging prayers for the vandal who recently defaced their place of worship with profane pro-abortion graffiti.
During his Sunday sermon at St. Patrick’s Church, Father Furlow emphasized the importance of forgiveness, citing it as a fundamental tenet of the Gospel. He chose not to cover up the vulgar messages spray-painted on the church walls, believing it essential for the congregation to confront the vandalism directly.
In his homily, Father Furlow articulated the core message of Christianity, emphasizing humanity’s reliance on God for goodness. While acknowledging the desire for justice, he expressed a deeper hope that the perpetrator would experience a transformative encounter with the divine, ultimately finding redemption.
Drawing a stark contrast between the principles of Christianity and the prevailing logic of the world, Father Furlow underscored the radical nature of faith, which challenges conventional wisdom and worldly desires.
Addressing his parishioners, Father Furlow implored them to offer sincere prayers for the vandal and others like him who are grappling with inner turmoil. He urged the congregation to pray for their conversion and eventual reconciliation with God, envisioning a future where the perpetrator might embrace faith and even attend Mass as a fellow believer.
The incident at St. Patrick’s Church, documented by journalist Andy Ngo, reflects a disturbing trend of attacks against religious institutions, particularly those associated with pro-life advocacy. Vandalism against Catholic churches has become alarmingly prevalent, with Portland experiencing multiple incidents since 2020, as documented by the advocacy group CatholicVote.
Despite the challenges posed by such acts of aggression, Father Furlow’s response exemplifies a profound commitment to the principles of love, forgiveness, and spiritual redemption. His call to prayer and compassion serves as a beacon of hope amidst a climate of division and hostility, reaffirming the transformative power of faith in overcoming adversity.
!st corinthians is not an old testament book
Even though I was well aware of 1 Corinthians’ location in the New and NOT the Old, the choices eliminated any of the other books from consideration.
I Corinthians is in the New Testament.
Agree with the above.
Second possible error found. Exodus is the most common place for finding the Ten Commandments, but they are also found in Deuteronomy chapter 5
I think Father Furlow is taking a bad path in dealing with the filth written on the church walls. Leaving it there does not represent forgiveness to me but almost a victory for the culprit. Every time he passes the church he’ll have a good laugh.
To ignore the nastiness will only look to the perpetrator as if the church is weak and vulnerable to another such attack. Paint over it and leave a forgiveness sign on the lawn. Why? Because this person or persons do not understand the principles you speak of or they would never have committed this atrocity in the first place.