Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men … Except for the Priests Beating Each Other With Broomsticks

This is both the funniest and most depressing Christmas-related news item I’ve read all week:

Clergy from two Christian sects came to blows in the Church of the Nativity on Wednesday morning, prompting police to storm the Bethlehem holy site.

Several dozen Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests were cleaning the interior of the church Wednesday morning when, according to witnesses, two of them began fighting.

The fight quickly escalated, and soon, 50 to 60 priests were exchanging blows with broomsticks.

Bethlehem police were sent in to quell the fighting, Palestinian police Maj. Ahed Hasayen said.

Read more . . .

UPDATE: I didn’t realize that this is something of a holiday tradition at the church. Here is a video of the incident:

YouTube video

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