Nun Had No Money

Man arrested after trying to rob a nun
August 15, 2007


MADISON, Wis. --A would-be thief came up empty-handed after trying to rob a nun who had taken a vow of poverty. Madison police arrested the man later in the day. They gave the following account:

The man broke into the 61-year-old Catholic nun's home shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday. When she told him she had no money, he forced her to drive him around in her car for almost an hour in search of money.

As they drove, the robber apologized "to the victim and wonders if he's going to be forgiven by her and the Catholic Church," police spokesman Joel DeSpain said.

The two did not stop at a bank or cash machine because the Sinsinawa Dominican sister continued to tell the man she did not have any money or access to any.

Eventually, the man gave up and had the nun drop him off on Madison's south side. She then drove to the Catholic school where she works and called police.

"It was a very traumatic experience for sister, and we're grateful she is just fine and we're grateful that the person has been apprehended," said Monsignor Thomas Baxter, pastor at St. Joseph Catholic Church, where the nun is director of religious education. "She was extraordinary this morning."

Police arrested the 41-year-old Madison man later Tuesday on a probation violation and tentative charges of kidnapping, burglary, battery and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has not yet been formally charged.