Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mar 6, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).
In a message to parishioners, Father Ed Cimbala, pastor of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Parish in New York City, revealed that overnight on March 3 intruders entered his rectory and office, wrecking both while he was sleeping in an attack that has raised questions about the vandals’ motivations.
Apparently nothing was stolen in the intrusion. Cimbala wrote: “The detective identified the incident as a potential hate crime as there was no evidence that the intruder was looking for money.”
The incident appears to track with others in which the vandals’ main purpose appears to be to intimidate Catholics and wound their religious sensibilities.
Hostility and vandalism against churches, especially Catholic places of worship, have increased by several multiples since 2018, according to a February report by the Family Research Council (FRC).
The report found that attacks on churches are at an all-time high, occurring in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Specifically, the report documented more than 430 incidents in 2023, double the figure for 2022, amounting to an 800% increase since 2018 or an average of 39 attacks per month. These included vandalism, arson and attempts at arson, bomb threats, interruption of worship, and gun-related incidents.
According to the FRC report, from January 2018 to November 2023, there were 709 vandalisms, 135 arson attacks or attempts at arson, 22 incidents involving firearms, 32 bomb threats, and 61 incidents involving assaults, threats, and interruption of worship.
Commenting on the report’s findings, Arielle Del Turco, director of FRC’s Center for Religious Liberty and author of the report, observed: “Our culture is demonstrating a growing disdain for Christianity and core Christian beliefs, and acts of hostility against churches could be a physical manifestation of that.”
“When a statue of Mary outside of a Catholic church is beheaded, it is natural for congregants to feel disturbed and upset, and that may be the vandal’s aim,” the report noted. “Acts of hostility against churches can send the message — regardless of whether it is the perpetrator’s intent — that churches are not wanted in the community or respected in general. This may cause congregants or church leaders to feel unsafe.”
The symbolism of the vandalism is not lost on observers, who noted, for example, that the Christmas crèche at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish in the New York City borough of Queens was attacked twice on the same night in January.
Also during January, suspects broke a stained-glass window and attacked a cross at St. Columba Church in Brooklyn, New York.
Among the multiple acts of hostility and sacrilege was an arson attack at St. Edward Catholic Parish in Elmdale, Minnesota, that charred the sacristy and damaged the interior of the church, causing thousands of dollars in damage.
At St. John the Evangelist Parish in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, a pair of 12-year-old children burned a Bible and an altar in October 2023.
In their January report on religious liberty, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also observed that “recent years have seen an alarming rate of vandalism, arson, and other property destruction at Catholic sites.” The bishops’ report said that the majority of cases occurred at churches and often involved defacement of religious icons with pro-abortion messages, such as “If abortion isn’t safe, neither are you.”
The chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Religious Liberty, Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, pointed out that in 2014 when the committee was first formed, vandalism was not a pressing issue but has since become a significant concern.
In their report, the USCCB indicated that “opposition to Christians’ witness against abortion continued to motivate vandalism against churches and pro-life pregnancy centers.”
The USCCB report pointedly questioned “the general failure … of the federal government to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of such attacks, in contrast with the numerous charges brought against pro-life protesters outside abortion clinics.”
In its latest report, the FRC further indicated that “many acts of hostility against churches are likely not reported to authorities and/or are not featured in the news or other online sources …Thus, the number of acts of hostility is undoubtedly much higher than the number reflected in this report.”
In the case of the rampage at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Parish, pastor Cimbala wrote that New York police were “exceptional” in their response and took evidence and a deposition from him, along with fingerprints. Among the pieces of evidence police took were a switchblade and a fake gun, Cimbala wrote, as they investigated the strange incident.
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Back in the 90’s a US teenager committed vandalism in Singapore and was sentenced to be caned. This is a severe action. It is intended as a punishment not only to the criminal but also to serve as an example to ither would-be law breakers. Its a safe bet this kid did not reoffend. When crime is committed and there iis no consequence. You can be sure this criminal activity will be repeated. It may be time to re-introduce enforcing our laws in a strict manner. This may seem a strong statement but one only needs to look at the evident break down of civilization in our major cities we are now experiencing to see that something must be done. The kid gloves need to come off. Its time to end pious mouthings about second chances and mercy until criminals have paid a price for the crimes they have committed.
I am curious as to whether the vandalism against church buildings and church interiors is happening primarily in urban areas, where the big, old churches have decreased in membership and are often empty during much of the week, especially in the evening and night hours…OR…is the vandalism against suburban churches in areas where crime is fairly low and churches are often occupied during the day and evening hours with Bible studies, prayer groups, choirs, youth groups, women’s and men’s meetings, etc.?
Even though many of the pro-abortion movements are popular among a middle and upper class of people, do we actually see violence and vandalism against churches in the neighborhoods where middle- and upper-class people live?
Or is this just another crime, often gang-related, of the inner city filled with people who have despaired of ever escaping poverty, and have allowed their lives to be dominated by drugs/alcohol/involvement with street gangs and criminals?
Also, is this violence against churches just one aspect of violence against all types buildings and businesses in the poorer urban areas, or is it truly violence against just “churches” and religion?
I think this is important to know the answers to these question and not just assume that it’s only the churches that are being attacked. Vandalism and destruction of property is a crime no matter where it happens. But…we should not be too quick to assume that this is “religious persecution” rather than just plain ol’ violent crime committed by people who, often out of despair and lack of hope and help, have given themselves over to violence.