Bridgeport, Conn., Jan 5, 2019 / 06:22 pm (CNA).- The Bishop of Bridgeport condemned anti-Semitism Saturday, after a swastika was found painted on the doors of Bridgeport’s cathedral.
“I am appalled and outraged by this act of vandalism against the Mother Church of our Diocese and this brazen and disgusting display of anti-Semitism which is morally abhorrent and an affront to our Catholic faith,” Bishop Frank Caggiano said in a statement Jan. 5.
“To use a clearly anti-Semitic symbol is participating in unspeakable evil.”
The swastika was found painted on the doors of St. Augustine’s Cathedral on the morning of Jan. 4. Caggiano said that because he is on retreat, he had only learned of the vandalism Saturday afternoon.
Bridgeport police have not yet named a suspect in the crime, Caggiano said.
Anti-Semitic incidents are reported to be on the rise in the U.S. and internationally. The number of anti-Semitic incidents rose 57 percent in 2017, the Anti-Defamation League reported. In October, 11 people were killed in a Pittsburgh synagogue by a man who said he “wanted all Jews to die.”
A recent survey of Jewish people living in the European Union found that over a quarter of respondents had been the victims of anti-Jewish harassment in 2017 or 2018.
“It is deeply distressing to see such a display of hatred at a time when we need to strengthen our efforts to come together as a community in mutual respect and support,” Caggiano said.
“My thoughts and prayers are with our Jewish brothers and sisters in the city of Bridgeport and beyond. We stand with you and condemn every form of anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry wherever it may be found.”
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This act of violence was anti-Catholic as well as antisemitic. I hope the perpetrator(s) are arrested soon.
Sadly these acts are all too often committed by the very people who supposedly abhor them. The word is stunt.
I for one would love to see this happen: Catch them in the act, force them to disrobe and spray paint them top to bottom (after covering their eyes and mouths) then spray paint their clothes. Put their clothes back on, call the police to tell them where they are, then depart.
Violent? Yes, but these people are cowards and bullies and people like that only understand one kind of language – force and the willingness to use it. IMO were something like this to be done the word would then go forth – enough is enough.