Man charged with vandalizing pro-gay church

A 30-year member of a Unitarian Universalist church in New York State was arrested for vandalizing its property with antigay messages. Matthew Fox, 49, of Binghamton, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and ordered to have no contact with church officials. But police said he contacted the Reverend Douglas Taylor by phone on Saturday, prompting a second-degree criminal contempt charge. The church discovered that a banner on the front lawn that read "Civil marriage is a civil right" had been vandalized. An antigay statement had also been chiseled into the sidewalk. Investigators said Fox admitted to committing the vandalism Tuesday night. Taylor said Fox had spoken to him about his objection to the church's being open to those of all sexual orientations. "Earlier this week I was angry. But that has shifted to deep sadness," Taylor said. "Maybe there was something more I could have done." (AP)