Jesus-clad man kicked out of church

DES PERES, Mo., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- A Missouri man who wears a Jesus costume to a different church every week said he was asked to leave a service Sunday by police.

Neal Thompson, who said he visits a different church every Sunday in his Jesus costume to spread the message of his Christian faith, said members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Des Peres refused to allow him to enter, KTVI-TV, St. Louis, reported Thursday.

"One of the deacons saw me," he said, "and when I went in the church he met me and he said, 'Can I help you? What do you want?' I said, 'I want to go to church here today.' And he said, 'What do you believe in? Are you Christian? What religion are you?' I said, 'I'm a Christian.'"

Thompson said church members would not let him into the sanctuary and he was told to wait in the hallway. He said he tried to argue and parishioners called police.

Des Peres police said Thompson left the church peacefully when asked. A report was not filed.

"I forgive them," Thompson said of the church.