Thousands of Italians have flocked to a small southern town after witnesses claimed to have filmed a miraculous “walking statue” of the Madonna with their video phones. Acerra, near Naples, is now likely to become a Roman Catholic shrine. Rumours began at the weekend when several people at the modern church of San Pietro shouted out that a statue by the altar was moving. The hands and feet of the Madonna had begun to “take human form, flesh and blood”. The knees then appeared to move beneath her white robes, “as if she wanted to move closer to the faithful” and a cross appeared on her breast. Parishioners said that the movement had first been noticed by cleaners, who had kept silent for fear of being disbelieved. The 160cm (63in) high statue, made of plaster and marble dust, was installed at the church last December. Father Oreste Santoro, the parish priest, said that he had not seen the statue move but a number of parishioners had allegedly taken footage of the “miracle” with their mobile phones.

These had been forwarded to the local bishop, Monsignor Giovanni Rinaldi, who would decide whether to refer the apparition to the Vatican for authentication. Mgr Rinaldi said that he was sceptical by instinct but would evaluate the evidence. “The true miracle is when the Virgin Mary succeeds in converting men to God,” he said. Mgr Antonio Riboldi, the retired bishop of Acerra, also urged caution, saying that “these matters are often difficult to comprehend. The Church proceeds with great prudence where apparitions of the Virgin Mary are concerned”.

View: Full Article | Source: Times Online

Yes... isn't it just. Great PR for the church, make up a story and watch em' roll in by the thousands... .

This kind of reminds me of an only fools and horses episode when in the church a statue of the Virgin Mary started and it ended up being a leak in the roof.

I wouldn't mind seeing the video for that.

I won't be really impressed unless the statue starts break dancing.

I don't think anyone cares unless we see the video *yawn*

This is the funniest thing I've ever read on this forum.


Anyway, apparently those people are extremely stressed out to the point where they hallucinate. Instead of them going to church, they should go to a psychiatrist because this religion stuff is totally driving them nuts.

LOL

I think if I saw a statue move on it's own I would not tell anyone. People think I am strange as it is!

Anything coming out of Wisconsin is inherently a little strange.

Yep!




I'm a little strange... and I'm from Wisconsin.

I do believe in the supernatural and in God. But this making a statue walk or appear to turn flesh and so on, it is creepy, I personally don't believe this act to be devine. This will only cause more people to worship the statue instead of bringing them to God.

Actually there is nothing new about this. Just look at Fatima and probably a hundred other such 'miracles'. They even had some hooplehead who bought a slice of toast that was claimed to have the image of Christ burned into it! I'll bet you can find something like that on E-bay on just about any given week and the strange thing is people will try to buy it.

There have been claims of God given miracle and signs for a several thousand years. People just seem to want to see this sort of thing. I don't know if they need this to affirm their faith or to try to prove the validity of their faith to others. I do know that it just seems to keep happening.

Now I'll go try to burn some more toast...

Well until I see unaltered video-footage of this, I will remain sceptical!

this is just weird, how do you even know this is holly
people believe in just about everything nowadays.

i mean if people are told Michal Jackson is still a virgin====they would believe it



oh BTW I'm new...this is my first post here ever

where are the mobile videos located? If there is evidence someone ought to go get it for us to see.

Wasn't a MTV JackAss wind up was it?

Why exactly do they release these stories if their not going to release the videos?

How do you expect them to release a video of it when they don't have any?

You would think some news organisation or somebody would drag their digital video camera out for this one!

I know it's not the same thing but in a town near me there is an old 17 and 1800's cemetery with some really nicely made statues. One that's situated in a family plot is of the Virgin Mary. People have claimed that at night the head moves to follow you as you walk around it.

A local myth buster finally looked it to it, and it was an Optical Illusion. But a tribute to the creator who made it.

I have in my possession an apple core that is dried and it looks like Mary. If you squeeze it a little it crys out of its left eye. I was going to put it on display and charge, maybe 4 or 5 bucks to look at it. Opinions? Should I, shouldn't I? Should I make this a poll question.....? I will ponder it and return in the morning.

nothing on google, but news. AND, this topic. cool. lets hope this hits big, and more people will search on google, thus coming to us!

OH GOD! I FOUND IT! Its crap though. See if you can catch her move.

This is supposed to be it: http://www.sol.com/videocolumn/johanna17.asp

I completely agree!!

isnt there a topic like this some where else ?

Hey, I saw a UFO in the sky. They do exist!

Oh, it's a religious "miracle", so let's doubt it.

I'm sure if it was a Bigfoot or Nessie sighting, everyone wouldn't have nearly as much doubt about it.

Ever see the footage of the moving chair? It was moved by a demon spirit that was plaguing a little girl. They showed it on television, it also showed the little girl being shoved around by it too.

Now back to the walking statue......perhaps an exorcism is needed here

LOL

Not to sound crazy but it's the idiot demons doing this.All aliens,ghost,evil spirts,fallen angels they're all the same.And i think its dangerous cuz people will start worshipping the idol, which is very wrong.

I know what your saying, but the odd thing is that when statues within a religious faith start doing something "unusual and unexplainable" it seems that most do not worship the statue, but the faith/religion it symbolizes.
Still, there is the danger as you pointed-out.

Shouldn't the title be: "1000s flock to witness robotic 'walking statue"?

Hey Jackson might be a virgin.... Nevermind no defense here