Arson, Vandalism, and Other Destruction at Catholic Churches in the United States
Summary
At least 68 incidents occurred across 25 states since May 2020. The cause of the fire at St. Charles Catholic School in the Diocese of Spokane is 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.
Statement, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, chairman, Committee on Religious Liberty, and Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, statement, “Bishop Chairmen Condemn Acts of Vandalism, Destruction at Catholic Sites,” July 22, 2020 http://usccb.org/news/2020/20-123.cfm
National Overview
“Desecration of Catholic Churches Across U.S. Leaves Congregations Shaken," https://www.wsj.com/articles/desecration-of-catholic-churches-across-u-s-leaves-congregations-shaken-11595451973
Advocacy
Responding to Recent Incidents of Vandalism, Bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty Joins Interfaith Coalition Calling on Congress to Increase Funding for Security Grants for Houses of Worship, October 5, 2020
https://www.usccb.org/news/2020/responding-recent-incidents-vandalism-bishops-committee-religious-liberty-joins
Beauty Heals
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.
- Videos: www.usccb.org/BeautyHeals
- Podcast Episode: Beauty Heals, with Bishop Robert Barron
Events
2021
May 2021
May 5: Statue of Polish priest vandalized (McCarren Park, Brooklyn, NY)
May 4: Update on fire at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles - “Man Charged with Arson in San Gabriel Mission Fire” - https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-05-04/man-charged-with-arson-in-san-gabriel-mission-fire
April 2021
April 26: Man smashed face of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a sledgehammer (St. Elisabeth Catholic Church, Van Nuys, CA) - https://ktla.com/news/local-news/man-caught-on-camera-vandalizing-van-nuys-church/
April 17 or 18: Statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Mary Magdalene, and St. John, spray painted (Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Woodland, CA) - https://catholic-sf.org/news/two-parishes-in-the-sacramento-diocese-vandalized
April 17 or 18: Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary spray painted (St. John Vianney, Rancho Cordova, CA) - https://catholic-sf.org/news/two-parishes-in-the-sacramento-diocese-vandalized
April 16 or 17: Face of statue of Jesus vandalized (St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fargo, ND) - https://www.twincities.com/2021/04/19/vandals-jesus-statue-fargo-cathedral-catholic/
April 15: Statues of three female saints vandalized (Holy Rosary Church,Woodland, CA) - https://fox40.com/news/local-news/saint-statues-at-woodland-church-vandalized/
April 1: Gunshots fired at abbey of Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles (Abbey of Our Lady of Ephesus, Gower, MO) - https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/missouri-nuns-targeted-in-multiple
March 2021
March 22: Fire at St. Charles Catholic School is being investigated as possible arson (St. Charles Catholic Church, Spokane, WA) - https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/mar/18/fire-at-st-charles-elementary-school-causes-signif/
March 12: Unkown substance inserted into locks, statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary knocked down (St. Teresa of Calcutta Church, St. John Paul II Academy, and St. Monica-St. Augustine Catholic Church, Boston, MA) - https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/03/14/two-boston-churches-vandalized-again-its-unsettling/
March 2: Vandals damaged statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Thomas the Apostle (St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Ft. Worth, TX) - https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article249629393.html
February 2021
February 27: Several statues vandalized (Basilica of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Youngstown, OH) - https://www.morningjournalnews.com/news/local-news/2021/02/vandals-destroy-religious-statues-at-youngstown-church/
February 25: Chapel doors and statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary vandalized (St. Mary of the Knobs Catholic Church, Floyds Knobs, IN) - https://www.newsandtribune.com/news/statue-chapel-doors-vandalized-at-floyds-knobs-church/article_1dc1ff24-779d-11eb-91f8-dbc430835938.html
February 16: Statue and flower pots around altar damaged (St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Denver, CO) - https://kdvr.com/news/video-shows-vandal-smashing-objects-inside-southwest-denver-church/
February 10: Three angel statues toppled and broken (St. Pius X, El Paso, TX) - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vandalism-outside-el-paso-catholic-church-damages-three-angel-statues-15588
January 2021
January 29: Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe shot six times (Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Houston, TX) - https://abc13.com/virgin-mary-statue-vandalized-church-vandalism-queen-of-peace-catholic/10127442/
January 19: Graffiti and arson at Cathedral (Rosary Cathedral, Toledo, OH) - https://www.13abc.com/2021/01/18/officials-investigating-arson-case-at-rosary-cathedral/
January 1: Cathedral tagged with anti-police graffiti (St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, NY) - https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nypd-vandals-tagged-st-patricks-cathedral-during-new-years-protest/2807917/
- Timothy Cardinal Dolan, “The Radicals Who Defaced St. Patrick’s Cathedral Are Pure Bigots,” New York Post, 5 January 2021: https://nypost.com/2021/01/05/the-radicals-who-defaced-st-patricks-cathedral-are-pure-bigots/
2020
December 2020
December 28: Stained glass windows vandalized (Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Fall River, MA) - https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/crime/2020/12/28/vandal-damages-windows-st-marys-cathedral-and-police-looking-person-interest/4065801001/
December 25: Nativity scene vandalized on Christmas morning (St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Indianapolis, IN) - https://fox59.com/news/downtown-church-nativity-scene-vandalized-on-christmas-day/
December 11: Front entrance to site graffitied (Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA) - https://www.foxla.com/news/vandals-strike-244-year-old-church-in-orange-county
December 6: Church buildings and bathroom spray-painted (St. Louis Catholic Church, Houma, LA) - https://www.houmatoday.com/story/news/2020/12/09/catholic-church-vandalized-bayou-blue/6507201002/
December 2: Multiple incidents of vandalism including topping of statues, tearing down stations of the cross (St. Joseph Catholic Church, Derry, PA) - https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/derry-church-is-target-of-repeated-vandalism/
November 2020
November 23: Statue of Jesus smashed with rock, two other statues decapitated and pushed into sewer drain, garden set on fire with accelerant (St. Bernard Catholic Church, FL) - https://wsvn.com/news/local/broward/man-destroys-3-statues-from-sunrise-catholic-church-shoves-2-down-sewer-drain/
November 15: Apparent arson attack (Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Brewster, WA) - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/two-churches-in-washington-state-burn-in-apparent-arson-attacks-71032
November 10: Portrait of St. Pope John Paul II defaced (St. Gabriel Elementary School, Milford, CT) - https://www.ctpost.com/policereports/article/Police-Pope-John-Paul-II-portrait-defaced-at-15717317.php
November 9: Statue of Mary graffitied, “God is dead” spray-painted on church exterior (St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Chicago, IL) - https://abc7chicago.com/saint-marys-catholic-church-south-side-vandalized-vandals/7786481/
November 8: Head of Jesus stolen from crucifix (Mother Cabrini Catholic Church, Shamokin, PA) - https://fox56.com/news/local/vandals-ruin-statue-at-shamokin-catholic-church-police-investigating
October 2020
October 25: Altar vandalized (St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, Louisville, KY) - https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2020/10/27/man-broke-into-louisville-catholic-church-vandalized-altar/3749162001/
October 22: Statue of Mary toppled (St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Scranton, PA) - https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/statue-mary-st-peter-and-paul-scranton-vandalism/523-c6aa82e9-7a12-4388-a804-691f576781df
October 21: Statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ found toppled; gardens surrounding the statues were also damaged. (St. Germaine Catholic Church, Prescott Valley, AZ) - https://gcmaz.com/prescott-valley-police-looking-for-information-into-recent-church-vandalism/
October 20: Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary found vandalized; left hand was cut off, and there was a crack along her head. (Resurrection Roman Catholic Church, Brooklyn, NY) - https://brooklynreporter.com/2020/10/virgin-mary-statue-vandalized-outside-church/
October 19: Pro-life display vandalized. The display consists of 150 small white crosses and a banner, which were knocked down. (Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Magnolia, AR) - http://www.magnoliareporter.com/news_and_business/local_news/article_40c24c66-138b-11eb-9d34-87aaf5ed6624.html
October 12: Statue of Junipero Serra defaced and pulled down ((Mission San Rafael Arcángel, San Rafael, CA) - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/st-junipero-serra-statue-defaced-pulled-down-on-indigenous-peoples-day-48874
September 2020
September 29: Statues of Joseph, Mary, and infant Jesus decapitated, heads carried away (St. Joseph Cupertino Catholic Church, Fall River, MA); rocks, cinderblocks thrown through windows of Catholic church, decapitated heads of holy family statues found on site (Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Fall River, MA) - https://www.heraldnews.com/news/20201001/fall-river-man-charged-in-cathedral-break-in-also-suspected-of-decapitating-holy-statues
September 26: Churches graffitied with swastikas, “White Power,” upside down crosses, “BLM,” and “Biden 2020” (St. Peter’s Chaldean Catholic Cathedral and Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, El Cajon, CA) - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/chaldean-catholic-cathedral-vandalized-in-san-diego-with-white-power-blm-and-swastikas-29343
September 24: Man with baseball bat damages crucifix, doors at Catholic seminary (Assumption Seminary, San Antonio, TX) - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vandal-takes-baseball-bat-to-catholic-seminary-in-texas-but-none-harmed-63146
September 23: Man breaks church windows, sets pews on fire (Incarnation Catholic Church, Town ’n’ Country, FL) - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pastor-urges-prayer-forgiveness-after-florida-man-tries-to-burn-down-incarnation-catholic-church-71890
September 15: Statue of Jesus topped, beheaded (St. Patrick Cathedral, El Paso, TX) - https://kvia.com/news/crime/2020/09/15/jesus-statue-decapitated-in-brazen-vandalism-attack-at-el-pasos-st-patricks-cathedral/
September 13-14: Statue of St. Therese toppled, beheaded; parish office burglarized (St. Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Church, Midvale, UT)
https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/icon-symbol-at-midvale-church-vandalized
September 11: Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe toppled (Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace, Brooklyn, NY) - https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2020/09/16/caught-on-video-man-topples-statue-of-virgin-mary-outside-brooklyn-church-in-broad-daylight/
September 9: Statues damaged and beheaded, windows broken (Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Tioga, LA) - https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2020/09/10/tioga-louisiana-crime-catholic-church-vandalism-destruction/3458492001/
August 2020
August 25: Anti-religious graffiti spray-painted on Catholic Church site during protests over police shooting of Jacob Blake (St. James Church, Kenosha, WI) - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/kenosha-catholics-praying-for-peace-after-third-night-of-violence-37993
August 24 (approximately): Attempted beheading of statute of Mary (Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Allentown, PA) - https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-allentown-virign-mary-statue-vandalized-20200903-tq62vv3pefffvi5fpa6klaj7fu-story.html
August 17: Statue of Mary beheaded, swastika spray-painted on Ten Commandments (Holy Family Parish, Citrus Heights, CA) - https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article245142440.html
August 9: Statue of St. Jude beheaded (Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, Denver, CO) - https://kdvr.com/news/vandals-behead-st-jude-statue-outside-historic-denver-church/
August 8: Deconsecrated church destroyed in suspected arson (Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Wounded Knee, SD) - https://www.newscenter1.tv/ostdps-investigating-possible-arson-in-burning-of-wounded-knee-churches/
August 3: Fires set at church entrance (Sacred Heart Church, Weymouth, MA) - https://whdh.com/news/firefighters-believe-molotov-cocktail-was-thrown-at-weymouth-church/
July 2020
July 18-19: Abortion monument toppled (Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, Bloomingburg, NY) - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/weekend-sees-more-attacks-on-catholic-church-statues-across-us-26486
July 15: Satanic and anarchist symbols painted on the front door of the church (St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, New Haven, CT)
- Statement, Archdiocese of Hartford: (“This follows an apparent trend of desecrating Catholic spaces throughout the nation, as evidenced by incidents in Chattanooga, Queens, Boston, Sacramento, and Ocala.”) https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3244843232238777&id=424801330909662
July 14-15: Outdoor statue of Jesus knocked over and beheaded (Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Miami, FL)
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/07/21/jesus-statue-beheaded-catholic-churches-vandalism https://apnews.com/c6f626d09dbf183d6bed915314e333c5
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article244268782.html
- Statement, Archdiocese of Miami: “Archbishop Thomas Wenski is requesting that police investigate this incident as a hate crime.” https://www.miamiarch.org/CatholicDiocese.php?op=Article_15954448196450
July 14: Statue of St. Mary painted red (St. Mary’s Cathedral, Colorado Springs, CO) - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholic-church-statues-continue-to-be-attacked-in-florida-and-colorado-38551
July 13: Statue of St. Mary beheaded (St. Stephen Catholic Church, Chattanooga, TN)
July 11-12: Outdoor statue of St. Mary burned (St. Peter’s Parish, Dorchester, MA)
- Statement, Archdiocese of Boston: https://www.bostoncatholic.org/news/july-13-2020-statement-regarding-vandalism-virgin-mary-statue-st-peters-parish-dorchester
July 11: Man crashed minivan through church door, poured gasoline on the foyer and lit it on fire. People were inside the church, preparing for Mass. (Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Ocala, FL)
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/arrest-made-in-ocala-florida-catholic-church-burning-21535 https://www.orlandodiocese.org/e-scroll/archive/ocala-parish-damaged-by-crash-and-fire
July 11: Fire at 249-year-old church destroyed the roof, pews, and more (Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, San Gabriel, CA)
- “Firefighters have not determined what caused the fire which started in the choir loft spread to ceiling then the roof” https://www.sgvtribune.com/2020/07/21/probe-continues-into-fire-that-gutted-mission-san-gabriel-archangel-church
- Letter, Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose Gomez https://uccla.org/news/letter-from-archbishop-gomez-regarding-the-mission-san-gabriel-fire
July 10: Outdoor statue of St. Mary spray painted with word “IDOL” (Cathedral Prep School and Seminary, Elmhurst, NY)
- Press release, Diocese of Brooklyn https://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/news/statue-of-blessed-mother-vandalized-at-cathedral-prep
July 5-6: Crucifix at roadside shrine smashed (St. Bernadette Catholic Church, Rockford, IL)
http://observer.rockforddiocese.org/article?id=1808
July 3: Outdoor statue of St. Mary beheaded and hands severed (St. Ann Catholic Parish, Gary, IN)
June 2020
June 22: At a Catholic college’s on-campus cemetery for deceased priests who taught at the school, a man defaced gravestones by painting swastikas and anti-Catholic language, burned some American flags that were next to the graves, and assaulted a college security guard (Providence College, Providence, RI)
“A man who believes he encountered Gomera [the suspect who was arrested and ‘charged with vandalism and assault with intent to commit a felony’] before the assault told local NBC affiliate WJAR that Gomera was carrying a bucket of paint and accused Providence College of “being part of the slave plantations” 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.”
https://turnto10.com/news/local/man-accused-of-defacing-gravestones-on-college-campus
- Statement by Providence College President, Rev. Brian J. Shanley, OP, and President-elect, Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, OP: “…we condemn this action in support and solidarity with the Jewish members of our community, many of whom enjoyed the friendship of those late Dominican friars. PC has a long and proud history of collaboration with the Jewish community in Rhode Island. Our Jewish-Catholic Theological Exchange is a significant part of campus life, and has promoted interreligious learning, understanding, and friendship between Christians and Jews for decades.” https://news.providence.edu/statement-on-vandalism-at-dominican-cemetery
- Comment, Bishop of Providence, Thomas Tobin https://twitter.com/ThomasJTobin1/status/1275518695297748998
May 2020
May 30-31: Church exterior damaged over multiple nights, including smashed gates, grafitti with messages such as “God is dead” and “There is no God,” and windows shattered by rocks (Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Denver, CO) - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cathedrals-in-6-states-damaged-by-violent-protests-91111
May 30: Church exterior graffitied with “prosecute killer cops,” “ACAB” [All Cops Are Bastards], “Kill all cops,” and “Make America pay for its crimes against Black lives” (Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon-St. Peter Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA) - https://www.the961.com/lebanese-church-los-angeles-vandalized
May 29: Thrown rocks shattered rectory windows (Cathedral of the Assumption, Louisville, KY) - https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2020/06/01/louisville-cathedral-damaged-protests-over-floyd-death-turn-violent
May 29: Exterior damaged, including thrown rocks shattering windows (St. Jude Chapel, Dallas, TX) - https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2020/05/30/dallas-businesses-hit-in-violent-protests-over-racial-injustice
May 28: Someone 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)
https://www.mary.org/blog/202006/message-fr-john-bauer-justice-reconciliation-and-peace#.XxscoJ5KgdU
May 6: Pulpit, altar, and statue damaged (St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Casper, WY)
https://oilcity.news/crime/2020/05/08/suspect-arrested-in-25000-casper-church-vandalism/
