Infant Discovered in Barn - Child Protective Services Launch Probe

Nazareth Carpenter Being Held On Charges Involving Underage Mother

(Dec 26) Associated Press. Bethlehem, Judea - Authorities were today
alerted by a concerned citizen who noticed a family living in a barn.

Upon arrival, Family Protective Service personnel, accompanied by
police, took into protective care an infant child named Jesus, who had
been wrapped in strips of cloth and placed in a feeding trough by his
12-year old mother, Mary of Nazareth.

During the confrontation, a man identified as Joseph, also of
Nazareth, attempted to stop the social workers from carrying out their
duty. Joseph, aided by several local shepherds and three unidentified
foreigners, tried to forestall efforts to rescue the child, but were
restrained by the police.

The three foreigners have been held for questioning under suspicion of
being terrorists, as they are illegal aliens from eastern countries,
were travelling without passports, and were in possession of gold and
other suspicious substances, possibly drugs.

They resisted arrest saying that they had been warned by their "God,
Father" to avoid officials in Jerusalem and to return quickly to their
own country. The chemical substances in their possession will be
tested. The owner of the barn is also being held for questioning.

The manager of Bethlehem Inn faces possible revocation of his license
for violating health and safety regulations by allowing people to stay
in the stable. Civil authorities are also investigating the zoning
violations involved in maintaining livestock in a commercially-zoned
district. The location of the minor child will not be released, and
the prospect for a quick resolution to this case is doubtful.

Asked about when Jesus would be returned to his mother, a Child
Protective Service spokesperson said, "The father is middle-aged and
the mother is extremely underage. We are checking with officials in
Nazareth to determine what their legal relationship is, and Joseph may
be charged with pedophilia. Joseph has stated that he took Mary from
her home in Nazareth because of a census requirement and is therefore
being charged with the abduction of a minor. As she was obviously
pregnant when they left, investigators are looking into other possible
reasons for their departure.

Joseph is being held without bond on charges of molestation,
kidnapping, child endangerment, and statutory rape. Mary was taken toEnvoyer
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the Bethlehem General Hospital where she is being examined by doctors.
Charges may also be filed against her for reckless endangerment. She
will also undergo psychiatric evaluation because of her statements
that she is a virgin and that the child is from God.

The director of the psychiatric wing said, "It's not so much the
paranoid delusions themselves that are problematical, but her
fantasies adversely affect the safety and well-being of others - in
this case her child - so we must consider her a danger to others. The
unidentified drugs at the scene didn't help her case, but I'm
confident that with the proper therapy regiment we can get her back on
her feet."

A spokesperson for the governor's office said, "Their treatment of the
child was inexcusable, and the involvement of these others
frightening. They appear to have been planning to start one of those
weird religious cults. There is much we don't know about this case,
yet, but for the sake of the child's welfare and the public safety,
you can be assured that we will pursue this matter to the end."