Butler prides itself in being a church-going community, but the spate of purse thefts at St. Paul Catholic Church on North McKean Street during the past week has added a troubling dimension to attendance at services. People can no longer feel confident that they and their belongings — as well as their vehicles outside — are safe as they pause from their regular routines to worship God.

They can no longer feel confident that what they choose to leave in the church pew will be there when they return from Communion or other forms of religious participation.

Three of four purse thefts over eight days beginning on Nov. 20 occurred within the church, while the fourth was from a car parked in a lot outside the church while the owner was attending Mass Sunday evening.

The situation is not only sobering for the priests and parishioners of St. Paul parish, but also to pastors and parishioners of every other church — Catholic as well as all other denominations — in the Butler area. There can be no guarantee that the person or persons responsible for the St. Paul thefts will not move on to other unsuspecting congregations.

There is a criminal — maybe more than one — in and around a House of God. Those responsible have no reluctance to victimize others — and, in the process, cause hardship and evoke fear in others. This person, or these persons, must be apprehended quickly.

In the meantime, churches must take whatever precautions they can to ensure that their parishioners can devote full attention to the worship that is at the heart of their attendance. Likewise, churches must take more stringent security steps to safeguard money that is collected during Masses and other services.

A person bold enough and desperate enough to steal within close proximity of others praying in church — and, actually, in plain sight of others — is bold enough and desperate enough to devise a way to gain access to collection baskets.

For many area residents familiar with the region's dedication to religion and religious ideals, the St. Paul situation would have been regarded as unimaginable. That is, prior to priests of that parish making the situation known to their parishioners and to pastors of other churches, Catholic and non-Catholic alike.

People of this area also should appreciate the fact that St. Paul's pastor and assistant pastor have been so open in regard to discussing the situation with the news media. Silence about what occurred would only have provided an uninhibited opening for further thefts.

The knowledge about what has occurred doesn't tarnish Butler's reputation as a church-going community; it only asserts that, like in other aspects of living, people must be careful in regard to their personal safety and well-being and must be alert in regard to protecting their belongings.

Fortunately, up to now, there haven't been any physical injuries tied to the incidents in question, although the anxiety and stress experienced by the victims cannot be regarded as insignificant. In at least one of the incidents, credit cards belonging to the victim apparently were used by the thief, and the victim found it necessary to have the locks on her house changed.

The people of St. Paul Parish are forgiving, kind and compassionate. The Rev. F. Raymond Trance, St. Paul assistant pastor and parochial vicar, put those positive attributes in the right perspective when he said, "We obviously pray for the people who did it, but we hope the cops catch them."

If the person or persons responsible are in desperate straits, they shouldn't have opted to steal. They should have asked St. Paul or other area churches for help. There are numerous help options available inside and outside the religious community.

But regardless of the motive behind the crimes, the thief or thieves deserve punishment, regardless of what forgiveness the victims and their parish are willing to bestow. There is a price to pay for breaking the law, even if desperation was at the root of the law-breaking.

As the Christmas holiday approaches, people should be focusing on prayer, joy and giving, rather than on stealing. Casting off the dark aspect of their lives would open the possibility for the St. Paul purse thieves to experience some of what the coming holiday is all about.