Four men say decision to remove the sword from a crucifix at the Toowong cemetery was inspired by a peace message delivered by the pontiffFour men accused of desecrating a Brisbane war memorial say the words of Pope Francis inspired them to remove a brass sword from a stone crucifix. James Joseph Dowling, 61, and three other men are on trial in Brisbane magistrates court for allegedly vandalising the monument at the Toowong cemetery on Ash Wednesday. Dowling told the court on Monday their decision to remove the sword was inspired by a peace message delivered by the pope. Man accused of desecrating cemetery war memorial says he had God's permission Read more“We were influenced by Pope Francis’s words ... where he said religion can never be used to justify war, and peace alone is holy,” Dowling said. “We didn’t set out to destroy or damage it, we wanted to transform it and improve it, which is what we did,” he said.

Source: The Guardian July 24, 2017 01:52 UTC