Randi was a bit off, but so was I (Chicago).

[Abdul Alhazred]

The end of the apparition is prematurely reported.

It seems that the seepage of 'Our Lady of the Underpass' has broken through the coat of paint, as might be expected.

The nonsense is going on as strong as ever. Candles, flowers, and yes teddy bears, honor the apparition.

http://skepticalcommunity.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=6009&highlight=

Click the link, and the links at the link. I reported this on SC as it broke on WLS radio Chicago (ABC affiliate). Roe Conn rocks, even if his network colleagues are stinkers.

[CFLarsen]

Randi was a bit off?

I dunno, man...he is of ripe old age....but off?

;)

[dann]

"But the faithful turned out, and one or more people somehow began to remove the paint. It was not known how they did it, but by afternoon, the image was back largely intact and apparently with no sign of the graffiti that had marred it."
Isn't this a misdemeanor? Removing paint from a public building?

[Abdul Alhazred]

Originally posted by dann
"But the faithful turned out, and one or more people somehow began to remove the paint. It was not known how they did it, but by afternoon, the image was back largely intact and apparently with no sign of the graffiti that had marred it."
Isn't this a misdemeanor? Removing paint from a public building?

It's not a public building like with offices and such in it. It's an underpass.

Cracks in underpasses are generally no big thing. It happens all the time, and IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) repair them all the time. Buses and trains are another question, dealt with by the RTA (Regional Transit Authority).

But this time it is the Holy Mother of God! Gotta place a candle, a bunch of flowers, and above all a teddy bear. The pile of teddy bears is truly astounding.

Yes, I have personally taken the time to see it. Folks are caressing and kissing it.

No crapola. That's sh----t for you non-USAians.

[jmercer]

Originally posted by Abdul Alhazred

Yes, I have personally taken the time to see it. Folks are caressing and kissing it.


God, that's sad. How desperate can these poor people be? :(

[Abdul Alhazred]

Originally posted by jmercer
God, that's sad. How desperate can these poor people be? :(

It is a wretched as can be.

I heard about it on the radio, with Roe Conn snickering, but that does not comunicate the pure wretchedness of the worshippers.

I went and took a look. I came to laugh but stayed to, no not pray. I stayed to feel bad about such people. As I do not generally feel bad about the religious.

Teddy bears for the mother of God in a salt stain. It really isn't funny, though I started it that way.

Why doesn't the Roman Catholic Church (real powerful hearabouts) denounce this? They certainly don't endorse it as a genuine apparition. Why not say something?

A denunciation from the church, and IDOT does their usual job, and all back to normal.

Strange that this can happen in a nominally secular and generally Protestant country.

Please click the link to the thread in the other forum (OP) for all details

[NoDeity]

Others have also noted that, more than anything else, it resembles a vagina. Think about it... What could be more holy than the vagina of the Mother of God?
http://www.nodeity.com/pics/emoticons/smirk.gif

[Gr8wight]

Originally posted by NoDeity
Others have also noted that, more than anything else, it resembles a vagina. Think about it... What could be more holy than the vagina of the Mother of God?
http://www.nodeity.com/pics/emoticons/smirk.gif

Holy, or holey?

[Lisa Simpson]

Originally posted by Abdul Alhazred
Why doesn't the Roman Catholic Church (real powerful hearabouts) denounce this? They certainly don't endorse it as a genuine apparition. Why not say something?


I doubt that the Catholic Church denouncing it would have any effect at all on the number of faithful showing up.

[sackett]

Originally posted by Lisa Simpson
I doubt that the Catholic Church denouncing it would have any effect at all on the number of faithful showing up.

Does the RCC really have a motive for denouncing this pathetic thing? Miracles are part of the cult; is there any theological reason for rejecting Our Lady of the Cracked Concrete? Hey, anything that bolsters belief is ultimately good for the church, and that means $$donations$$.

Then too, priests are as superstitious as anybody else; they aren't all cynical hypocrites in it for the catamites. Some of them may be as awed as any.

Any miracles yet? Just wait.

[Lisa Simpson]

Originally posted by sackett
Does the RCC really have a motive for denouncing this pathetic thing? Miracles are part of the cult; is there any theological reason for rejecting Our Lady of the Cracked Concrete? Hey, anything that bolsters belief is ultimately good for the church, and that means $$donations$$.

Then too, priests are as superstitious as anybody else; they aren't all cynical hypocrites in it for the catamites. Some of them may be as awed as any.

Any miracles yet? Just wait.

Occasionally they do denounce this sort of thing, but I think that's usually in the case of outright fraud, as in someone making a statue "cry" with oil.

[sackett]

Lisa observes perceptively, "Occasionally they do denounce this sort of thing, but I think that's usually in the case of outright fraud, as in someone making a statue 'cry' with oil."

IOW, the Church gets humphy if somebody else is making a penny or two.

I try to be cynical enough, but it's hard to keep up. Who first said that?

[jmercer]

There's also a tendency when the RCC denounces something for it to become controversial, especially among RC's. I suspect the RCC is expecting this thing to simply die down, just as the window incident did many years ago.

[treble_head]

Look, everyone. This is being dealt with in a very sensible way. I can think of no better recourse to a holy vision than to throw a bunch of teddy bears at it.

I know for a fact that if I saw a supernatural vision, holy or unholy, I would definately launch a barrage of beanie bears toward it. Everyone knows that Jesus needs a fluffy cuddle now and then.

And of course vampires, gremlins and indeed, Dick Cheney pile into dust at mere mention of a Steiff bear. I don't understand the whole brouhaha surrounding this situation. Jeez. And you call yourself rational...