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College Student Arrested for Urinating on Church Steps
College Student Arrested for Urinating on Church Steps - Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 10:15PM EST
Reported by: Mark Hiller
Sunday, Feb 21, 2010 @ 10:15pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY - It's happened again in Wilkes-Barre. Someone has urinated on a place that people hold in religious regard. This time it's a church and once again it's a college student who stands accused.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church holds weekend worship services after what many call a disgusting and despicable act. Someone urinated on the front church steps late Friday night.
Police say 19-year-old Noah Svoboda of Wilkes-Barre was relieving himself in plain view when they caught him. An officer identified him by his Wilkes University ID. "Hearing that a person urinated on our church steps primarily is one of disappointment for that individual," said church co-pastor Peter Kuritz.
While upset someone would do this, he doesn't think it's an act of malice. "I don't see it as anything directly attacking our church. It's just someone who isn't thinking and acting out of convenience at a darkened corner on a late night," said Rev. Kuritz.
Hearing about the incident was upsetting to the Good Shepherd's Director of Music Sandra Keator. She said, "I was immediately disgusted and actually a little bit angry that anybody could be so ignorant."
Young parishioners like 13-year-old Joey Siewell are also offended. He said, "I think it's just disrespectful to the church and to actually society by itself."
This incident comes just 1-month after a 22-year-old King's College student urinated on a nativity scene on Wilkes-Barre Public Square.
Some say this behavior shows a lack of family values. "They should have more respect," said parishioner Shirley Estus. "I think that's the whole thing with today's society. They have left God out of their lives. "
A faith lesson that some say the suspect behind this latest incident needs to know. "To be respectful and to love each other and to try and take care of each other and that's something this young man obviously has a great deal to learn about," said Keator.
Svoboda is charged with desecration of venerated objects, open lewdness and underage drinking. Wilkes University tells Eyewitness News that the sophomore engineering student will be subject to disciplinary action that will remain confidential. | |
Comments:
miles davis - Monday, February 22, 2010 [22:06:37] EDT
Winter Weekend, WOOOOOOO! |
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