From the USCCB:<\/p>\n
At least 67 incidents occurred across 25 states since May 2020. The causes of the fire at Mission San Gabriel Arc\u00e1ngel in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the fire at St. Charles Catholic School in the Diocese of Spokane are still unknown. Incidents include arson, statues beheaded, limbs cut, smashed, and painted, gravestones defaced with swastikas and anti-Catholic language and American flags next to them burned, and other destruction and vandalism.<\/p>\n
Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, chairman,\u00a0Committee on Religious Liberty, and Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman,\u00a0Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, statement, \u201cBishop Chairmen Condemn Acts of Vandalism, Destruction at Catholic Sites,\u201d July 22, 2020\u00a0http:\/\/usccb.org\/news\/2020\/20-123.cfm<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDesecration of Catholic Churches Across U.S. Leaves Congregations\u00a0Shaken,”\u00a0https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/desecration-of-catholic-churches-across-u-s-leaves-congregations-shaken-11595451973<\/a><\/p>\n Responding to Recent Incidents of Vandalism, Bishops\u2019 Committee for Religious Liberty Joins Interfaith Coalition Calling on Congress to Increase Funding for Security Grants for Houses of Worship, October 5, 2020 The recent vandalism of churches and their sacred art gives us the opportunity to bear witness to our hope in the Lord whose beauty is revealed on the Cross. Beauty Heals invites us to learn about works of devotional art significant to local churches and how they inspire Catholics to live beautifully.<\/p>\n December 28:\u00a0<\/strong>Stained glass windows vandalized (Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Fall River, MA) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.heraldnews.com\/story\/news\/crime\/2020\/12\/28\/vandal-damages-windows-st-marys-cathedral-and-police-looking-person-interest\/4065801001\/<\/a><\/p>\n December 25:\u00a0<\/strong>Nativity scene vandalized on Christmas morning (St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Indianapolis, IN) –\u00a0https:\/\/fox59.com\/news\/downtown-church-nativity-scene-vandalized-on-christmas-day\/<\/a><\/p>\n December 11:<\/strong>\u00a0Front entrance to site graffitied (Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.foxla.com\/news\/vandals-strike-244-year-old-church-in-orange-county<\/a><\/p>\n December 6:<\/strong>\u00a0Church buildings and bathroom spray-painted (St. Louis Catholic Church, Houma, LA) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.houmatoday.com\/story\/news\/2020\/12\/09\/catholic-church-vandalized-bayou-blue\/6507201002\/<\/a><\/p>\n December 2:<\/strong>\u00a0Multiple incidents of vandalism including topping of statues, tearing down stations of the cross (St. Joseph Catholic Church, Derry, PA) –\u00a0https:\/\/triblive.com\/local\/westmoreland\/derry-church-is-target-of-repeated-vandalism\/<\/a><\/p>\n November 23:<\/strong>\u00a0Statue of Jesus smashed with rock,\u00a0two other statues decapitated and pushed into sewer drain,\u00a0garden\u00a0set on fire\u00a0with accelerant\u00a0(St. Bernard Catholic Church,\u00a0FL) –\u00a0https:\/\/wsvn.com\/news\/local\/broward\/man-destroys-3-statues-from-sunrise-catholic-church-shoves-2-down-sewer-drain\/<\/a><\/p>\n November 15:<\/strong>\u00a0Apparent arson attack (Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Brewster, WA) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/two-churches-in-washington-state-burn-in-apparent-arson-attacks-71032<\/a><\/p>\n November 10:\u00a0<\/strong>Portrait of St. Pope John Paul II defaced (St. Gabriel Elementary School, Milford, CT)\u00a0 –\u00a0https:\/\/www.ctpost.com\/policereports\/article\/Police-Pope-John-Paul-II-portrait-defaced-at-15717317.php<\/a><\/p>\n November 9:<\/strong>\u00a0Statue of Mary graffitied, \u201cGod is dead\u201d spray-painted on church exterior\u00a0(St. Mary\u2019s Catholic Church, Chicago, IL) –\u00a0https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/saint-marys-catholic-church-south-side-vandalized-vandals\/7786481\/<\/a><\/p>\n November 8:<\/strong>\u00a0Head of Jesus stolen from crucifix (Mother Cabrini Catholic Church, Shamokin, PA)\u00a0 –\u00a0https:\/\/fox56.com\/news\/local\/vandals-ruin-statue-at-shamokin-catholic-church-police-investigating<\/a><\/p>\n October 25:<\/strong>\u00a0Altar vandalized (St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, Louisville, KY) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.courier-journal.com\/story\/news\/local\/2020\/10\/27\/man-broke-into-louisville-catholic-church-vandalized-altar\/3749162001\/<\/a><\/p>\n October 22:<\/strong>\u00a0Statue of Mary toppled (St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Scranton, PA) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.wnep.com\/article\/news\/local\/lackawanna-county\/statue-mary-st-peter-and-paul-scranton-vandalism\/523-c6aa82e9-7a12-4388-a804-691f576781df<\/a><\/p>\n October 21:<\/strong>\u00a0Statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ found toppled; gardens surrounding the statues were also damaged. (St. Germaine\u00a0Catholic Church, Prescott Valley, AZ) –\u00a0https:\/\/gcmaz.com\/prescott-valley-police-looking-for-information-into-recent-church-vandalism\/<\/a><\/p>\n October 20:<\/strong>\u00a0Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary found vandalized; left hand was cut off, and there was a crack along her head.\u00a0 (Resurrection Roman Catholic Church, Brooklyn, NY) –\u00a0https:\/\/brooklynreporter.com\/2020\/10\/virgin-mary-statue-vandalized-outside-church\/<\/a><\/p>\n October 19:<\/strong>\u00a0Pro-life display vandalized.\u00a0\u00a0The display consists of 150 small white crosses and a banner, which were knocked down. (Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Magnolia, AR) –\u00a0http:\/\/www.magnoliareporter.com\/news_and_business\/local_news\/article_40c24c66-138b-11eb-9d34-87aaf5ed6624.html<\/a><\/p>\n October 12:<\/strong>\u00a0Statue of Junipero Serra defaced and pulled down ((Mission San Rafael\u00a0Arc\u00e1ngel, San Rafael, CA) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/st-junipero-serra-statue-defaced-pulled-down-on-indigenous-peoples-day-48874<\/a><\/p>\n September 29:\u00a0<\/strong>Statues of Joseph, Mary, and infant Jesus decapitated, heads carried away\u00a0(St. Joseph Cupertino Catholic Church, Fall River, MA); rocks, cinderblocks thrown through windows of Catholic church,\u00a0decapitated heads of holy family statues found on site (Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Fall River, MA) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.heraldnews.com\/news\/20201001\/fall-river-man-charged-in-cathedral-break-in-also-suspected-of-decapitating-holy-statues<\/a><\/p>\n September 26:<\/strong>\u00a0Churches\u00a0graffitied with\u00a0swastikas, \u201cWhite Power,\u201d upside down crosses, \u201cBLM,\u201d and \u201cBiden 2020\u201d\u00a0(St. Peter\u2019s Chaldean Catholic Cathedral and\u00a0Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church,\u00a0El Cajon, CA) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/chaldean-catholic-cathedral-vandalized-in-san-diego-with-white-power-blm-and-swastikas-29343<\/a><\/p>\n September 24:<\/strong>\u00a0Man with baseball bat damages crucifix, doors at Catholic seminary (Assumption Seminary, San Antonio, TX) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/vandal-takes-baseball-bat-to-catholic-seminary-in-texas-but-none-harmed-63146<\/a><\/p>\n September 23:<\/strong>\u00a0Man breaks church windows, sets pews on fire (Incarnation Catholic Church, Town \u2019n\u2019 Country, FL) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/pastor-urges-prayer-forgiveness-after-florida-man-tries-to-burn-down-incarnation-catholic-church-71890<\/a><\/p>\n September 15:<\/strong>\u00a0Statue of Jesus topped, beheaded (St. Patrick Cathedral, El Paso, TX) –\u00a0https:\/\/kvia.com\/news\/crime\/2020\/09\/15\/jesus-statue-decapitated-in-brazen-vandalism-attack-at-el-pasos-st-patricks-cathedral\/<\/a><\/p>\n September 13-14:<\/strong>\u00a0Statue of St. Therese toppled, beheaded; parish office burglarized\u00a0(St. Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Church, Midvale, UT)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.fox13now.com\/news\/local-news\/icon-symbol-at-midvale-church-vandalized<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.abcactionnews.com\/news\/national\/catholic-church-parish-in-utah-vandalized-burglarized-on-back-to-back-nights<\/a><\/p>\n September 11:<\/strong>\u00a0Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe toppled (Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace, Brooklyn, NY) –\u00a0https:\/\/newyork.cbslocal.com\/2020\/09\/16\/caught-on-video-man-topples-statue-of-virgin-mary-outside-brooklyn-church-in-broad-daylight\/<\/a><\/p>\n September 9:<\/strong>\u00a0Statues damaged and beheaded, windows broken (Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Tioga, LA) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.thetowntalk.com\/story\/news\/2020\/09\/10\/tioga-louisiana-crime-catholic-church-vandalism-destruction\/3458492001\/<\/a><\/p>\n August 25:<\/strong>\u00a0Anti-religious graffiti spray-painted on Catholic Church site during protests over police shooting of Jacob Blake (St. James Church, Kenosha, WI) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/kenosha-catholics-praying-for-peace-after-third-night-of-violence-37993<\/a><\/p>\n August 24\u00a0(approximately):\u00a0<\/strong>Attempted beheading of statute of Mary (Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Allentown, PA) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.mcall.com\/news\/local\/mc-nws-allentown-virign-mary-statue-vandalized-20200903-tq62vv3pefffvi5fpa6klaj7fu-story.html<\/a><\/p>\n August 17:<\/strong>\u00a0Statue of Mary beheaded, swastika spray-painted on Ten Commandments\u00a0(Holy Family Parish, Citrus Heights, CA) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/news\/local\/crime\/article245142440.html<\/a><\/p>\n August 9:\u00a0<\/strong>Statue of St. Jude beheaded (Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, Denver, CO) –\u00a0https:\/\/kdvr.com\/news\/vandals-behead-st-jude-statue-outside-historic-denver-church\/<\/a><\/p>\n August 8:\u00a0<\/strong>Deconsecrated church\u00a0destroyed in suspected arson (Sacred Heart Catholic Church,\u00a0Wounded Knee, SD) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.newscenter1.tv\/ostdps-investigating-possible-arson-in-burning-of-wounded-knee-churches\/<\/a><\/p>\n August 3:\u00a0<\/strong>Fires set at church entrance (Sacred Heart Church, Weymouth, MA) –\u00a0https:\/\/whdh.com\/news\/firefighters-believe-molotov-cocktail-was-thrown-at-weymouth-church\/<\/a><\/p>\n July 18-19:<\/strong>\u00a0Abortion monument toppled (Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, Bloomingburg, NY) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/weekend-sees-more-attacks-on-catholic-church-statues-across-us-26486<\/a><\/p>\n July 15:<\/strong>\u00a0Satanic\u00a0and anarchist\u00a0symbols\u00a0painted on the front door\u00a0of the church\u00a0(St. Joseph\u2019s Catholic Church, New Haven, CT)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/satanic-symbol-painted-at-church-in-parish-where-knights-of-columbus-began-17819<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nhregister.com\/news\/article\/Archdiocese-New-Haven-Catholic-church-vandalized-15415375.php<\/a><\/p>\n July 14-15:<\/strong>\u00a0Outdoor statue of Jesus\u00a0knocked over\u00a0and\u00a0beheaded\u00a0(Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Miami, FL)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/catholic-church-statues-continue-to-be-attacked-in-florida-and-colorado-38551<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.americamagazine.org\/faith\/2020\/07\/21\/jesus-statue-beheaded-catholic-churches-vandalism<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/apnews.com\/c6f626d09dbf183d6bed915314e333c5<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/news\/local\/crime\/article244268782.html<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/wsvn.com\/news\/local\/statue-of-jesus-christ-decapitated-knocked-off-pedestal-outside-sw-miami-dade-church<\/a><\/p>\n July 14:<\/strong>\u00a0Statue of St. Mary painted red (St. Mary\u2019s Cathedral, Colorado Springs, CO) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/catholic-church-statues-continue-to-be-attacked-in-florida-and-colorado-38551<\/a><\/p>\n July 13:<\/strong>\u00a0Statue of St. Mary beheaded (St. Stephen\u00a0Catholic Church,\u00a0Chattanooga, TN)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/statue-of-virgin-mary-beheaded-at-tennessee-catholic-parish-74407<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.timesfreepress.com\/news\/local\/story\/2020\/jul\/15\/statue-mary-chattanoogchurch-vandalized-serie\/527553<\/a><\/p>\n July\u00a011-12:<\/strong>\u00a0Outdoor statue of St. Mary burned (St. Peter\u2019s Parish, Dorchester, MA)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/statues-of-mary-vandalized-in-weekend-of-church-attacks-24779<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.boston.com\/news\/crime\/2020\/07\/15\/virgin-mary-statue-arson-investigation-dorchester-update<\/a><\/p>\n July 11:<\/strong>\u00a0Man crashed\u00a0minivan through church door, poured\u00a0gasoline on the foyer and lit\u00a0it on fire. People were inside the church, preparing for Mass. (Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Ocala, FL)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/arrest-made-in-ocala-florida-catholic-church-burning-21535<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.orlandodiocese.org\/e-scroll\/archive\/ocala-parish-damaged-by-crash-and-fire<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.ocala.com\/news\/20200717\/more-details-about-fireattack-at-queen-of-peace-catholic-church-in-ocala<\/a><\/p>\n July 11:<\/strong>\u00a0Fire at\u00a0249-year-old\u00a0church\u00a0destroyed\u00a0the roof, pews, and more\u00a0(Mission\u00a0San Gabriel\u00a0Arc\u00e1ngel,\u00a0San Gabriel, CA)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/california-mission-founded-by-st-junpero-serra-burns-in-overnight-fire-28627<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/angelusnews.com\/local\/la-catholics\/after-a-devastating-fire-mission-san-gabriel-community-vows-to-rebuild<\/a><\/p>\n July 10:\u00a0<\/strong>Outdoor statue of St. Mary spray painted with word \u201cIDOL\u201d (Cathedral Prep School and Seminary, Elmhurst, NY)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/statues-of-mary-vandalized-in-weekend-of-church-attacks-24779<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/qns.com\/story\/2020\/07\/10\/diocese-reports-vandalization-of-virgin-mary-statue-outside-of-catholic-school-in-elmhurst<\/a><\/p>\n July 5-6:<\/strong>\u00a0Crucifix\u00a0at roadside shrine\u00a0smashed (St. Bernadette\u00a0Catholic Church,\u00a0Rockford, IL)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/weekend-sees-more-attacks-on-catholic-church-statues-across-us-26486<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/observer.rockforddiocese.org\/article?id=1808<\/a><\/p>\n July 3:<\/strong>\u00a0Outdoor statue of St.\u00a0Mary\u00a0beheaded\u00a0and hands severed\u00a0(St. Ann Catholic Parish, Gary, IN)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/weekend-sees-more-attacks-on-catholic-church-statues-across-us-26486<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.bluemountaineagle.com\/life\/national\/virgin-mary-statue-vandalized-church-leaders-say\/article_90dbbb5e-5d18-5f17-bb89-19aa77850456.html<\/a><\/p>\n June 22:<\/strong>\u00a0At a\u00a0Catholic college\u2019s on-campus\u00a0cemetery for deceased priests who taught at\u00a0the school, a\u00a0man defaced gravestones\u00a0by painting swastikas and anti-Catholic language, burned some American flags that were next to the graves, and assaulted a\u00a0college\u00a0security guard (Providence College,\u00a0Providence, RI)<\/p>\n \u201cA man who believes he encountered Gomera\u00a0[the suspect who was arrested and \u2018charged with\u00a0vandalism and assault with intent to commit a felony\u2019]\u00a0before the assault told local NBC affiliate WJAR that Gomera was carrying a bucket of paint and accused Providence College of \u201cbeing part of the slave plantations\u201d and said he was going to light an American flag on fire. Providence College was founded in 1917, several decades after the Emancipation Proclamation, and nearly a century after the abolition of slavery in Rhode Island.\u201d<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/cross-and-graves-vandalized-with-swastika-at-catholic-university-cemetery-78172<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.thericatholic.com\/stories\/providence-college-cemetery-reconsecrated-following-vandalism,11740?<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/turnto10.com\/news\/local\/man-accused-of-defacing-gravestones-on-college-campus<\/a><\/p>\n May 30-31:<\/strong>\u00a0Church exterior damaged over multiple nights, including\u00a0smashed gates,\u00a0grafitti\u00a0with messages such as\u00a0\u201cGod is dead\u201d\u00a0and\u00a0\u201cThere is no God,\u201d and windows\u00a0shattered by rocks (Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Denver, CO) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/cathedrals-in-6-states-damaged-by-violent-protests-91111<\/a><\/p>\n May 30:<\/strong>\u00a0Church exterior graffitied with \u201cprosecute killer cops,\u201d \u201cACAB\u201d [All Cops Are Bastards], \u201cKill all cops,\u201d and \u201cMake America pay for its crimes against Black lives\u201d (Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon-St. Peter Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.the961.com\/lebanese-church-los-angeles-vandalized<\/a><\/p>\n May 29:\u00a0<\/strong>Thrown rocks shattered rectory windows (Cathedral of the Assumption, Louisville, KY) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.americamagazine.org\/politics-society\/2020\/06\/01\/louisville-cathedral-damaged-protests-over-floyd-death-turn-violent<\/a><\/p>\n May 29:<\/strong>\u00a0Exterior damaged, including thrown rocks shattering windows (St. Jude Chapel, Dallas, TX) –\u00a0https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/news\/2020\/05\/30\/dallas-businesses-hit-in-violent-protests-over-racial-injustice<\/a><\/p>\n May 28:<\/strong>\u00a0Someone broke into the church and poured flammable liquid under the pews, lighting a fire that damaged pews and the floor (Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis, MN)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.mary.org\/blog\/202006\/message-fr-john-bauer-justice-reconciliation-and-peace#.XxscoJ5KgdU<\/a><\/p>\nNational Overview<\/h3>\n
Advocacy<\/h3>\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.usccb.org\/news\/2020\/responding-recent-incidents-vandalism-bishops-committee-religious-liberty-joins<\/a><\/p>\nBeauty Heals<\/h3>\n
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Events<\/h2>\n
2021<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
2020<\/h3>\n
December 2020<\/h2>\n
November 2020<\/h2>\n
October 2020<\/h2>\n
September 2020<\/h2>\n
August 2020<\/h2>\n
July 2020<\/h2>\n
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June 2020<\/h2>\n
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May 2020<\/h2>\n