Marines Scare Churchgoers
California churchgoers called the cops on three strange men they thought were skinheads but the bald trio turned out to be Marines looking for a buddy.
"They have short Marine haircuts, and someone perceived that they were skinheads, and that they were intimidating people," said San Bernardino County (search) sheriff's Sgt. Frank Gonzales. "It turns out that was not the case, and they were very polite."
It all began April 24 at Spanish-language mass at St.Peter and St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Rancho Cucamonga (search), about 40 miles east of Los Angeles.
During the service, three bald men in civilian clothes came in and sat down.
Before Mass had even finished, the three suddenly got up, walked to the front of the room, turned and faced the congregation in silence for a few moments and then left.
"It was very disrespectful," said parishioner Aida Nordahl, who said she and her fellow congregants were put ill at ease.
The next Sunday, May 1, the three men came back, sitting among worshippers and talking to each other during Mass.
That's when someone in the congregation called the sheriff's department.
The three men told deputies that they'd just returned from service in Iraq and were looking for a friend they thought might attend services at the church.
When they didn't see him in the congregation the first time, they came back a week later.
The Rev. Patrick Kirsch explained what had happened to relieved parishioners, and said he considered the matter closed.
"We don't want to make it more than it is," he said. "I was reassured by the police that [the men] wouldn't be back."
*FW Note: So, everone is welcomed in God's house except for those who try to ensure that we're allowed to have and visit such places.
:roll:
