What is Behind the Rash of Religious Vandalism?

By Sonja Corbitt
5/27/2010
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Acts of religious violence serve as grim reminders that what is sacred to some is simply seen by others as an invitation to desecrate, and that in circumstances where the hatred is so obvious, there is nothing more powerful than prayer.

Vandalized statue.

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NASHVILLE, TN (Catholic Online) - St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Maywood, CA is cleaning up after extensive vandalism to its school kitchen and auditorium over the weekend. Security cameras caught two men breaking in through the kitchen, where most of the damage was perpetrated, and taped them ravaging the facility for almost an hour and a half.

A cross was burned and jammed, inverted, into a damaged stove. A knife was plunged into the face of a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Feces were left on the auditorium floor. The satanic number "666" was scrawled in various places throughout the facility. Condiments and food staples covered every surface. Butter was flung on the heavy, velvet auditorium curtains, staining them irreparably.

Because the damage was particularly pernicious, the police, who are in possession of the video, are characterizing the vandalism as a hate crime. "I can feel the sadness of spirit," said Fr. David Velasquez, the pastor of St. Rose of Lima, when speaking of those who came to help clean up the mess in an interview with KCAL 9 TV.

This is simply the most recent of what seems to be a rash of cases of religiously motivated vandalism. Last month, a statue of Mary was desecrated in Charlotte, NC. The statue was decapitated and her praying hands were shattered in the prayer garden at St. Matthew Catholic Church.

The vandalized statue provided a teachable moment for Monsignor John McSweeney when he and parishioners stopped in the rose garden where the statue was located; they took the opportunity to pray for the vandals teach their children that "nothing is immune from violence."

Two weeks ago, the pastor of Weymouth Catholic Church, in Weymouth Mass. Discovered a "heinous act" of destruction to a 66-year-old statue of the Virgin Mary outside his own church. The statue, placed in a grotto beside the church in 1944 by Boy Scouts to honor 16 men killed in World War II, was also decapitated and left in pieces.

Although each of these incidents was reported to police, there are no suspects and no arrests have been made. Such acts of religious violence, rather than merely vandalism, are felt to be attacks on people's faith and values by the members of the parishes in which they are perpetrated.

They also serve as grim reminders that what is sacred to some is simply seen by others as an invitation to desecrate, and that in circumstances where the hatred is so obvious, there is nothing more powerful than prayer.

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Sonja Corbitt is a Catholic speaker, Scripture teacher and study author and a contributing author for Catholic Online. She is available to speak on the New Feminism, current events and your preferred theme. Visit her at www.pursuingthesummit.com for information and sample videos, or www.pursuingthesummit.blogspot.com.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

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1 - 8 of 8 Comments

Mark Erickson
2 years ago
There's a good novel about this church that might explain some of the anger directed its way. Read On This Rock by Dave Leonard.
Brad
2 years ago
The cenacle itself in Jerusalem is even now often and horribly desecrated by thugs who are merely demoniacs. The fallen angels pull the strings of weak souls. This is less about the human hands that did this and more about the power of Legion. Oh, but we don't talk about that nowadays. Modern Western man is ashamed to admit to anything metaphysical. That's for pigs being driven off cliffs a long time ago. Anyway, if your head doesn't spin around, you're not actually possessed.
jane
2 years ago
I have noticed that the attacks of the devil are stepping up around the world and even in my own back yard. Methinks that maybe he knows his time is coming to an end soon and is getting desperate. Stay strong and pray all the time, everywhere.
Andy Holland
2 years ago
These are the kinds of activities enemies try when they are losing the battle of hearts and minds. Jesus Christ is the Victor, and these poor people are in slavery to sin He came to save us all from. Forgiving them and praying for them is the way to win the battle of hearts and minds to Jesus Christ and His Holy Body, the Church.
Mary
2 years ago
I am beginning to wonder. Why is Satan so angry all of a sudden against Christ's Catholic in so many places around the world? What has aroused his malevolent hatred to such a virulent level? What message is he sending out? As we try to decipher these questions let us intensify our prayers for our Holy Mother Church, her Shepherds and the sheep. Something malignant is disturbing Satan and he is using all manner of weapons to try and destroy the Church and since he can't destroy it, all what he can manage to do is confuse as many Christians as possible whose Faith is not very firm.
brandon
2 years ago
These fools are all so childish and pathetic. I didn't even do that type of nonsense when I was a satanist before coming home to Rome. They will be caught at some point, and i can guarantee that they will repent, because that kind of lifestyle does NOT last forever, trust me. Rosaries are our best weapon against this, let's use 'em!
Jason
2 years ago
The New York Times and their confederates have done a great job fomenting hatred for the Holy Father and the Catholic Church.
Jo
2 years ago
Unfortunately, incidences like these are nothing new. Having said that, the desecration of sacred symbols appear to be on the rise which is a grave cause for concern. Whoever did these evil deeds need our prayers, yes, and they need to be caught, tried, convicted and punished severely. When I saw those pictures, especially the one of Our Lady of Guadaloupe desecrated with a knife, I was reminded of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa. Her picture was slashed with a sword, she bled and those scars are still there. It breaks my heart.

The ones who did the damage at St Rose of Lima, and elsewhere, were not mindless. They knew exactly what they were doing when they upturned the Cross, sprayed the three 6s and defecated.

Questions remain: Were they proud of themselves after they did it? How have they been living their lives since then? Have they been comfortable with themselves? Will they repent?

I pray that St Rose of Lima's parish will become stronger than ever after this terrible episode with the prayers of the entire Roman Catholic Church to help them. That goes for other parishes who have suffered similar violence in other parts of the world, too.

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