In New York City, two outer borough toughs

have been charged with a hate crime for beating up a teenage Satanist. This

conclusion to the Times’ account is too bizarre to make up:

“My allegiance is to Satan and I hate Christianity, Judaism and Islam, but I

don’t hurt anyone,” Mr. Romano said. “I take out my anger in mosh pits and

S-and-M clubs. I think it’s ironic that the Christians got violent with the

Satanist.”

His mother, Debbie Romano, 48, said, “I’m a Christian, but he went the other

way; I don’t understand his beliefs, but he doesn’t hurt nobody.”