Christmas Weekend - Our celebrations

Christmas weekends here in Northern New England have taken on their own new traditions like a family gathering on Rob's side, and cookie baking with our friend Jeff the pastry chef. This is our second Christmas here and it was a festive white Christmas. 5 inches of snow had fallen on Christmas eve, and another inch fell the day after Christmas. Today's blog is about celebrating with family and friends.

(Photo: Rob and Jeff mixing up the Oatmeal cranberry/raisin cookies) 

Since Tom's family is a little over 1,000 miles south, we celebrate the Christmas holiday here in the north. After all, the snow makes it feel more like Christmas... while 75 degrees and sunshine does not! In addition, there's nothing like baking with a pastry chef who knows how to fix things if they go wrong.  

(Photos: The premade cookie mix, and the brand new, state of the art cookies sheet gift that came in handy!)

On Saturday, Dec. 27th, our friend Jeff and his dog Myrtle visited for our annual celebration. Earlier in the month when Jeff visited, he realized I'm lacking in baking tools, so that's what he surprised me with for Christmas- including a state-of-the-art cookie sheet with a silicon baking pad.So, we put it to use, and baked homemade oatmeal raisin/cranberry cookies from the gift of Sue and Jim's pre-measured jar of ingredients! Jeff added some flour to help the cookies structure and they were delicious!

(Photo: Rob's family photo- minus 4 who couldn't make it)

AWESOME EXTRA COOKIES! A big thanks to our friend Cindy from PA for sending 3 different kinds of homemade cookies, and to our neighbors and friends Kim and Jan for also sending delicious cookies!!  

HOLIDAY LUNCH TRADITION - It's become our new tradition to have a great lunch at a local establishment called Breakfast Station 319. So Rob's family each drives about 2 hours to get there. After lunch, it's back to the house for the family name grab event, supplemented with cookies, drinks, and more. 

 (Photos: Cody enjoying a new toy, and my nephew's Gf Corinna giving Dash a hug) 

DOGGONE FUN - Cody and Dash also got some lovin' with cookies, other treats and new toys. Auntie Dawn always spoils them, and cousin Brian found some great sqeaky toys, which Cody immediately took. Our neighbors Will and Cody also provided some fun new toys, so they were set. Of course, they also found time for a nap. 

(Photo: Dash summed up the day with a need for a nap!)

Idiot of the Week: Woman accused of negligence after child ingests THC gummies

This week's idiot is a woman who who told a witness not to cooperate with a police investigation after her 6 year old daughter consumed cocaine-laced gummies. The article doesn't indicate if she gave them to the child, or if the child ate them, but they shouldn't have been in a place where the kid could get them.

Nashua woman accused of negligence after child ingests THC gummies

By Dean Shalhoup, Union Leader, Dec 10, 2025

Police in Meredith< New Hampshire on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025 arrested 30-year-old Nashua resident Paige Goulet on a felony warrant that Nashua Police issued in November, accusing her of witness tampering in a case that also involves a 6-year-old child being hospitalized for ingesting a gummy laced with THC and cocaine.

Nashua Police later Monday took custody of Goulet from Meredith authorities. She is charged with one count of tampering with witnesses and informants, a Class B felony, as well as one count of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent, a Class A misdemeanor, police said.

Once back in Nashua, Goulet was booked on the charges and later released on $300 cash bail pending arraignment, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. Jan. 7 in Nashua district court.

The investigation that prompted police to issue a warrant for Goulet’s arrest began on Nov. 3, when the department received a report from the Division for Children, Youth and Families that a 6-year-old girl had been brought to a local hospital after ingesting a Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) gummy, police said.

THC gummies appear identical to regular candy Gummy Bears and other fruit chews, and can pose significant health risks to young children who are unable to tell the difference, according to internet searches.

Additional tests conducted at the hospital came back positive for the illegal drugs cannabinoids and cocaine, police said.

Detectives conducting the investigation learned that Goulet had allegedly told a witness “not to cooperate with the police investigation,” police said. At some point the detectives determined that Goulet had allegedly “neglected her duty to care for” the girl, resulting in the endangerment charge, police said.

Hero of the Week: Police K-9 leads officers to Maine man who'd been missing for hours

This weeks' hero is a  K-9 who helped find a missing man in Maine!

Police K-9 leads officers to Maine man who'd been missing for hours

Oct 31, 2025 , Russ Reed, WMTW-TV

YORK, Maine — The York Police Department is crediting one of its K-9s for finding a man who went missing the overnight hours.

Police said they received a report early Thursday that a 79-year-old man, who suffers from cognitive impairment, was missing and had last been seen at his home around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

York police Sgt. Jon Rogers was called to the scene and brought his partner, K-9 Günther, to help find the missing man.

(Photo: York police Sgt. Jon Rogers was called to the scene and brought his partner, K-9 Günther) 

Günther and Rogers started searching at 4 a.m. Thursday and after 30 minutes, the K-9 began showing signs that the missing man was nearby.

Police said Günther led Rogers and another officer directly to the man, who had been down on the ground for an unknown amount of time.

The man appeared to be unharmed, according to police. He was taken to York Hospital for an evaluation.

No Longer Doing Pet Spirit Readings

 No Longer Doing Pet Spirit Readings 

After 20 years of doing pet spirit readings, I've decided to focus on other amazing projects and appearances. I will finish out the readings I have through September 2026. 

I'm glad that I have been able to bring comfort to many around the world. Several stories appear in my books. 

You can learn how to recognize the signs yourself by reading my "Pets and the Afterlife" series of books.  - Rob

Book of the Week: T-Rex in Magic Metal Town: Book 2 (Children's book)

This week's book of the week is "T-Rex in Magic Metal Town" by Ethan Howatt. It's a children's book with a fun story and great, colorful illustrations! It features a boy who lives in Magic Metal Town (which is explained in various artifacts from a magic shovel to a school bus) and who goes on a dig for dinosaur bones.    I bought a copy of this book for our neighbors' kids because they love dinosaurs and enjoy reading. Dinosaurs and magic are two things that also fascinate me, so I HAD to read this, and it was a really fun story to read as an adult! In fact, I hope he writes a sequel involving the magic and dinosaurs because I want to read it! 5 of 5 stars! 

I learned about this fun book because I taught a class on self-publishing and marketing your own book and one of the students in the class is the author!  He also authored another book in this series (for ages 5 to 10) and another series for teenagers. The teenage Sci-fi books include Z.O.M.B.I.E. Games, True Beauty and the Optimal Mind.

His 6 year old son also authored a book for his younger brother called "My Mom is ABC" with illustrations by his 6 and 4 year old boys. 

ABOUT THE BOOK: Ian loves dinosaurs and gets to meet one in Magic Metal Town! 

The first book in this series is called School Day in Magic Metal Town

School Day in Magic Metal TownSchool Day in Magic Metal Town

To Get the paperback:  LINK ON AMAZON

Published today! New Book "Haunting of Hunt Memorial Library"

 It's Here!!! My 14th true paranormal book published today!!  Please order a copy and help it go to #1! Thanks, Rob

RELEASE: 25-07                                                                         January 1, 2026

New Book "Haunting of Hunt Memorial Library” Uncovers Ghostly Secrets

NASHUA, NH – The #1 selling authors of "Haunting of Emery Estate" announce their follow-up true-paranormal book, “Haunting of Hunt Memorial Library,” publishing on January 1, 2026. Together with other paranormal professionals and members of the public they uncovered a haunted secret love, illicit trysts, a ghostly teenage accident victim and haunted paintings. When reading this, you’ll feel like you’re on the paranormal investigation!

Rob Gutro, author, renowned pet medium and paranormal investigator joined Monique Toosoon, New England’s paranormal drag queen and para-technology wizard with a sensitivity to earthbound ghosts conducted a 3-hour public paranormal investigation that uncovered secrets of three ghosts in an historic building in Nashua, New Hampshire.

The team encountered three ghosts who chose the building as their residence: a century old rebellious teenager, a lost lover and another who wanted to keep his past indiscretions secret. After the initial investigation, Monique and Rob had to return to uncover the secret of the third-floor ghost with a secret past.

“Monique is one of the most talented investigators and a technical wizard,” Gutro said. “She knows how to operate countless pieces of equipment from a Phasma Box to EMF trip wire. Various pieces of equipment were used to confirm medium impressions and provide answers that unlocked the secret past of the ghosts!”

The Hunt Memorial Building was a former library location for the City of Nashua, New Hampshire. Today, the building is used for events.

The book walks you through the investigation from the beginning to the end, as the investigators and members of the public try to piece together the identities, stories, and reasons why the ghosts remained behind. There were also several emotional imprint hauntings in the building, too.

“One surprise happened when I connected with one of the public investigator’s friends in spirit who passed in a recent accident,” Gutro said.

“Haunting of Hunt Memorial Library” is Gutro’s fourteenth true paranormal book. He has four series of true paranormal best-selling books: "Pets and the Afterlife," "Ghosts on a Medium’s Vacation,” “Ghosts versus Spirits,” and the “Haunting Of” series of which this new book is a part. He is the first in the paranormal field to make the distinction between earthbound ghosts and spirits who have crossed over. Rob has encountered ghosts everywhere he has traveled. He has crossed many ghosts over and is known for sketching them.

Monique Toosoon is a captivating force in the world of drag and paranormal exploration. With a career spanning 2 decades and named New Hampshire's “Ghostess with the Mostest,” she was crowned Best Local Entertainer for four years. Monique's ascent knows no bounds, from sold-out extravaganzas across New England to riveting appearances on esteemed paranormal showcases like Dark Echoes Paranormal Show and Ghost Finders. Monique also graced the grand finale of Ghost Finders in the Fall of 2024. She is also the host of a YouTube and podcast program, “Ghosts and Glitter,”and the host of Scared Toosoon Tours.

TO ORDER - CLICK HERE- for paperback or Kindle

                                                            ###

Rob Gutro Contact Information:

www.robgutro.com or www.petspirits.com

Email: Rob@robgutro.com

Monique Toosoon Contact Information:

www.moniquetoosoon.com

Email: moniquetoosoon@gmail.com

DISCOVERY! Nanotyrannus isn't a 'mini T. Rex' after all — it's a new species, '

Here's another amazing scientific finding- a NEWLY discovered species of dinosaur called the Nanotyrannus. As someone who loved dinosaurs as a kid and had a little fossil collection and tons of plastic dinosaurs, I love palentology. So each time I read about a new species discovered, I have to share it!

(IMAGE: An illustration of a pack of Nanotyrannus dinosaurs attacking a young Tyrannosaurus rex. A new study finds that the controversial Nanotyrannus is a real species and not simply a juvenile T. rex. (Image credit: Anthony Hutchings)

Nanotyrannus isn't a 'mini T. Rex' after all — it's a new species, 'dueling dinosaurs' fossil reveals

By Chris Simms, Live Science, October 30, 2025

An argument over whether fossils from several small dinosaurs represent a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex or smaller adults of a separate species may finally be settled.

A pivotal new dinosaur study is finally settling a fierce, four-decade-long debate: Was the small tyrannosaur Nanotyrannus a distinct species or merely a teenage Tyrannosaurus rex? Now, a remarkably complete fossil reveals that Nanotyrannus was real.

For years, key fossils were thought by many paleontologists to be juvenile examples of Tyrannosaurus rex, which lived between 67 million and 66 million years ago in western North America. Rather than settling all arguments, however, this "nano" discovery opens a new chapter in understanding T. rex biology and further debate.

A key source of the argument has been a small 67 million-year-old tyrannosaur skull found in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana in 1942. It was given its own species name Nanotyrannus lancensis, in 1988, meaning that the species was based on a single skull, and no one knew what the rest of its body looked like.

"This has been one of the most controversial topics in all of dinosaur paleontology," study co-author Lindsay Zanno, a paleontologist at North Carolina State University and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, told Live Science.

Apart from the isolated skull, the best skeleton of one of these small-body tyrannosaurs came from the Hell Creek Formation, which also spans parts of North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. This specimen, known as Jane, was still rapidly growing and aged about 11 when it died, and differed in several ways from the lone skull.

Now, Zanno and study co-author James Napoli, an anatomist at Stony Brook University in New York, have described a complete tyrannosaur skeleton that is part of the "Dueling Dinosaurs" fossils, the 67 million-year-old remains of what seemed to be the most complete, yet small, T. rex on record and a Triceratops, possibly locked in combat when they died.

(IMAGE: Study co-author Lindsay Zanno, a paleontologist at North Carolina State University and and head of paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, sits next to the famous "Dueling Dinosaurs" specimen from the Hell Creek Formation of eastern Montana. (Image credit: N.C. State University)

The case for Nanotyrannus

Zanno and Napoli say this "Dueling Dinosaurs" skeleton of a tyrannosaur, also from the Hell Creek Formation, isn't a T.  rex and instead shares features with the N. lancensis skull. Crucially, their analysis of growth rings in the bones, spinal fusion data and developmental anatomy indicates that the fearsome dinosaur was about 20 years old and almost fully grown when it died, rather than being a juvenile.

Pet Medium Reading: A Dog's sign comes in 5 days

Today's blog is something that is just too cool not to share from my paranormal blog and website.  I did a pet medium reading on Dec. 7th and 5 days later the dog's mom wrote me back with a confirmation AND a photo of it!!

In a reading I did for a dog named Jackson the week of December 7th, 2025 and I wrote to his mom, "He keeps talking about the paw print. - You may see a paw print in a number of ways from him. Whether in snow, sand, mud, or even in the shape of a cloud. "

His mom wrote me back on December 12th and said, “Thank you. Thank you for the incredible reading. I am shoveling away the snow from my front porch and I shoveled a few times over this spot only to uncover this…..!!!!????”

To learn how to recognize MORE signs from your pets in spirit read the "Pets and the Afterlife" series of (4) books by Rob Gutro. Available on Amazon in paperback, kindle or Audiobook!

Our dog Dash's Excessive Peeing: Causes and Managing with Diapers!

If you have a dog who has aged and has become incontinent, there are several reasons why they may be drinking a lot of water and peeing excessively. There are also things you can do to keep them comfortable and keep your house pee-free. We're working through these things with  Dash, our 17 1/2 year old Chihuahua-Dachshund mix and did with our senior Weimaraner, Dolly in 2020. Dash has a lot of life in him. I don't believe a dog should be euthanized because of this - if that's the case , EVERY HUMAN over 40 who gets up to pee at night should be. So, Take these steps to help your dog! That's today's blog!

(Photo: Dash wears his washable dog diaper) 

STEP 1: DETERMINE THE REASON: Sometimes whenever a dog starts peeing in the house there are things that need to be checked. Check for a urinary tract infection (UTI). That's often a cause for frequent urination. If not that, get your dog assessed for kidney faillure, Cushing's disease and diabetes. **BEHAVIOR NOTE: If you have another dog in the house, as we do, Cody - sometimes they also pee in the house as a marking thing, and because they smell the other dog's accidents. So, Cody is also in a diaper and is being re-trained with treats to pee outside.

(Photo: a washable diaper with a paper towel liner, and a woman's pad on top for maximum absorption)

1. URINARY TRACT INFECTION - Will pee a lot, but it's usually frequent, small urinations, accompanied by straining, whining, accidents in the house, licking the genital area, or even bloody/smelly urine, indicating an urgent need to go but difficulty emptying the bladder. This frequent urination happens because the infection irritates the bladder, making your dog feel the constant urge to pee, even when it's not full.  
2. KIDNEY FAILURE - Dogs with kidney disease often pee a lot (and drink a lot) because their damaged kidneys can't concentrate urine, leading to dilute urine and increased thirst, creating a cycle of frequent urination and fluid loss, though in severe cases, they might urinate less as kidneys fail. ***DASH's Urine tested with HIGH PROTEIN, thus, he needs to drink more..***
   


3. DIABETES- Dogs with diabetes pee a lot (polyuria) because high blood sugar spills into the urine, pulling extra water with it, making them drink more (polydipsia) and need to go outside more often, sometimes having accidents. This increased urination and thirst are hallmark signs of diabetes, along with increased appetite, weight loss, and lethargy.)
4. CUSHING'S DISEASE - In this hormonal disease, excess cortisol interferes with the kidneys' ability to concentrate urine, leading to increased urine production. As they lose more water through urination, dogs become extremely thirsty to compensate, leading to more drinking. 
5. 

(Photo: Our Weimaraner, Dolly in April 2020 with her washable diaper. We put a dog diaper and maxi-pad inside and just changed them out). 

MANAGING WITH EXCESSIVE PEEING  - DIAPERS AND PADS

WASHABLE DIAPERS -  Chewy.com sells several brands of Washable diapers for small and medium sized dogs. There are Male and Female Versions of the diapers. 

1. Pet Parents Washable Belly Band Male Dog Diapers, Dog Wraps & Extendrs, Gentlemen, Medium: 16 to 20-in waist, 3 count

2. For Larger dogs- Get one with suspenders- Like "Paw Inspired" brand. -  Paw Inspired: Known for ultra-protection, DrySpeed Tech, and options for "diaper Houdinis" with suspenders.    (CLICK FOR STORY OF HOW WE MANAGED WITH OUR 75 POUND WEIMARANER, DOLLY in 2020) 

OTHER BRANDS: 

• Barkertime: Offers escape-proof overalls for unique body types.
• Four Paws (Wee-Wee): Features Foam-Fit Tail Holes and wetness indicators.
• Simple Solution: Offers various sizes for different needs. 

HOW TO BEST USE THEM - **Put in absorbent Pads! 

With our Dachshund mixes, we put in 2 small folded paper towels against the diaper, and on TOP we use a woman's maxi-pad.  We bought a package of 24 for about $5.00. 

(There are Absorbant pads that are sold - but they're about 3 times more expensive- Like Paw Inspired Brand "Booster Pads" are $14.99) 

(Right: Maxi pads tend to be much less expensive than the dog-specific pads (left)  by about 66%)

3 Min. Video: Rob talks about loss in the holidays

I made this short video on Christmas eve, thinking about all of the people and beloved dogs I'm missing. Tyler's passing hit me especially hard this year.

3 Min. Video: Rob Gutro -Author, Medium talks about loss in the holidays

This was a difficult video for me. I talk about loss of people and pets over the holidays. The loss of my dog, Tyler on July 29, 2025 has devastated me and I'm still working through it. LINK: https://www.youtube.com/live/YC0rkm73r5k

Ooops of the Week: Russia accidentally destroys its only working launch pad as astronauts lift off to ISS

No idiot of the week this time, but there is a big "Oops!" This week's OOOPS comes from Russia... destroying their own launchpad by accident!

 

Photo:  A Soyuz rocket that took off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 27 safely carried two Russian cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut to the ISS, but damaged the launch pad in the process. This photo shows a similar launch from March 2024. (Image credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA )

Russia accidentally destroys its only working launch pad as astronauts lift off to ISS 

By Harry Baker, Live Science, Dec. 2, 2025

The recent launch of a Soyuz rocket carrying three astronauts to the International Space Station has caused significant damage to Russia's only launch pad capable of sending humans into space.

Russia's only working launch pad has been temporarily knocked out of action after sustaining significant damage during the recent launch of three astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). This leaves the country unable to send humans into space for the first time in more than 60 years, experts say.

On Thanksgiving (Nov. 27), the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft lifted off from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at around 2:30 p.m. local time (4:30 a.m. EST). The rocket was carrying Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev alongside NASA astronaut Chris Williams, who all successfully arrived on the ISS, where they will remain for the next eight months, Live Science's sister site Space.com reported.

However, shortly after the launch, Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, revealed that something had happened to the launch pad during the rocket's take-off: "The launch pad was inspected, as is done every time a rocket is launched," Roscosmos representatives wrote in a translated statement on Telegram. "Damage to several launch pad components was identified."

Russian officials did not reveal which parts of the launch pad had been impacted or how they were damaged, writing only that the damage was "currently being assessed" and would be "repaired shortly."

However, Ars Technica reported that an unnamed eyewitness noticed that during the launch, a roughly 22-ton (20 metric tons) service platform used to access rockets' engines fell into the "flame trench" — the section below the launch pad where the rocket's fiery plumes are vented. (If confirmed, this likely means that the platform was not properly secured in place before the launch.)

 It is unclear how long it will take to fix Site 31/6 or if another decommissioned pad could be retrofitted to take its place. But, until this happens, Russia has no way of launching astronauts.

"In effect, from this day, Russia has lost the ability to launch humans into space, something that has not happened since 1961," Vitaliy Egorov, a Russian space journalist, wrote on Telegram, as reported by CNN. "Now it will be necessary to quickly repair this launch table or modernize another one."

Heroes of the Week: Dedham, Mass. church Nativity scene protesting ICE & Idiots: The Catholic Archibishop

This is a 2 for 1 post: Heroes and Idiots.   This week's heroes are Father Stephen Josoma and members of a church in Dedham, Massachusetts who used a nativity scene to prove a point that the actions of ICE are illegal, immoral and horrendous, stealing parents away from children, and vice versa, based on their race.  The Idiots: The Catholic Church Archbishop AND CJ Doyle, head of the Catholic Action League.

(Photo: The annual nativity at St. Susanna’s Parish replaces the religious figurines with an “ICE Was Here” sign on Dec. 12. Below the display, reads another sign that says, “The Holy Family is safe in our Church ... If you see ICE please call LUCE at 617-370-5023.” (Jesse Costa/WBUR)" Credit: WBUR-TV)

 

(EDITOR NOTE- By protesting this church's scene, the Catholic Archbishop is also agreeing with ICE. Think about that. Glad I left the Catholic church decades ago). 

 

Dedham church keeps anti-ICE nativity scene despite pushback

December 05, 2025,Rachell Sanchez-Smith, WBUR-TV

Leaders at St. Susanna’s Parish said they will keep the “ICE was here” sign in a half-empty manger outside of the church despite condemnation from some Catholic leaders and community members.

Statues of Jesus, Mary and Joseph are missing from the Dedham church’s annual nativity scene this year. In their place was the sign about ICE, implying that immigration agents had taken the religious icons.

Below it was a smaller sign that read “The Holy Family is safe in our Church ... If you see ICE please call LUCE at 617-370-5023.”

Father Stephen Josoma said he chose to focus the nativity on immigration after speaking with several of the refugee families the church has worked with in the past few years. Several of his congregants, who come from countries like Honduras, Guatemala and Afghanistan, expressed fear about what the stepped-up deportations could mean if they were sent back to the violence they fled.

“These are folks who carry a lot of scars with them. Some of them are physical scars, but most are emotional. They’ve seen their folks killed in front of them,” Josoma said.

He said the display is meant to show “the context Christmas is happening in this year,” adding that current immigration policies feel “brutal” and threaten the status of people who have already settled in the U.S.

The Archdiocese of Boston on Friday called the sign and missing figures a “politically divisive display” and said the parish should restore the créche to its “proper sacred purpose.”

“The people of God have the right to expect that, when they come to church, they will encounter genuine opportunities for prayer and Catholic worship — not divisive political messaging,” the statement read.

The Archdiocese also said St. Susanna did not request or receive permission for the display and said church norms “prohibit the use of sacred objects” for purposes other than worship.

A spokesperson for the Archdiocese, Terrence Donilon, pointed WBUR to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ long-standing statements on immigration, which call for more humane treatment of migrants — especially in detention — while also recognizing a country’s right to regulate its borders. The bishops oppose mass deportation and condemn dehumanizing rhetoric toward both immigrants and law enforcement.

This isn’t the first time St. Susanna’s has clashed with critics over its nativity messaging. For more than a decade, the parish has turned the display into a form of political art, tackling issues like gun control, climate change and other immigration policies.

In 2018, under Josoma’s leadership, the nativity featured a baby Jesus figure in a cage, protesting the Trump administration’s policy that separated immigrant families at the border.

(EDITOR NOTE- Here's the IDIOT):  CJ Doyle, head of the Catholic Action League, said he was furious about this year’s scene after receiving complaints from local residents. He accused the parish and Josoma of creating “sacrilegious” political theater.

“This is a case of a dissident priest who has a long history of these crackpot, publicity stunts,” Doyle said. “He’s politicizing Christmas, he’s exploiting the Holy Family, he’s trivializing it and he’s using his position as a pastor to promote his left-wing political ideology.”

*************************************

Josoma rejected those criticisms, and said this is exactly the kind of moral witness churches should take up.

“I think the role of all churches is to speak out on issues, that’s what the Gospel is about,” he said. “How we treat the least among us is how we ultimately treat Christ.”

He said religious art is meant to provoke reflection, even discomfort, and that critics’ anger toward the display says more about people’s priorities than the installation itself.

“A lot of responses haven’t been anywhere near civil conversation,” he said. “If you ignore the facts, that’s fine, but you can’t have a real dialogue if you don’t accept the reality of what is there.”