That's actually how the local news opened, with a "miracle of God".
No "allegedly" or "some people claim" or any of that namby pamby objectivity. Just a simple statement of fact. That's just how things work here.
The story was about an icon at a local Orthodox church, a painting of the Virgin Mary. Parishioners claim it began to weep an oily substance that smells like roses. They claim it's Myrrh. As in "gold, frankincense and myrrh" from the Bible.
OK, first of all, how many people have actually ever seen Myrrh, much less smelled it? A show of hands? I'm pretty sure if there was an oil that smelled like roses we'd be seeing Myrrh scented candles and Glade® Renuzit® Myrrh Room Deodorizers. And that isn't the case, is it?
The crack reporting staff interviewed members of the congregation, who all claimed it was miraculous and a "window to heaven". Ever skeptical, the reporter said "OK, if you say so".
They also interviewed another pastor who was surprisingly dubious. But then he was identified as being from one of the more radical Evangelical churches, and we all know how they feel about the Mary Worshippers. Gotta throw cold water on the whole "miracle" thing before it cuts into profits.
But the weirdest part of the story was when the cut back to the studio for the wrap-up, where the anchor informed us that it isn't actually a painting. It's a reproduction, manufactured by a company in Montreal. There are other copies of the same painting all over the world, and evidently they ALL weep oil.
Did anyone think to turn the thing over and check for the refillable Myrrh dispenser? It seems to me it's nothing but a fancy room air freshener.
