Dead cat found tied to cross outside Florida church

FLORIDA -- Clermont police are investigating a dead cat that was left hanging on a cross at Real Life Church on Steve Road over the weekend.

Victor Lopez Jr. lives near the church and said he's visited a half dozen times with his family.

"God have mercy on their souls for doing something like that,” Lopez said. “To do something like that is inexcusable.”

Clermont police said it was an employee who found the cat on the west side of the building along with the message, “Thou shalt not make my father's house a den of thieves read Matthew 7:3 ye hypocrites."

It was written on one of the sticks used to make the cross.

Dwight Hutchinson has been a member of Real Life Church for a year. He said it's growing fast, and he's sharing a message some people may not want to hear.

“Where there's good, there's bad,” Hutchinson said. “I'd expect to have push and pull, especially when it comes to Christ.”

“We are truly saddened by this inhumane act against one of God's creatures," the church wrote in a statement to Local 6. "While we have no idea what would prompt someone to do something like this, we are praying for them and for those affected by it.”

Clermont police said they are still investigating and don't have any updates.

(Click Orlando - Feb 3, 2015)