JANET JOHNSON-TREMBLAY
Vandals in the U.S. targeted the building sanctuary of First Church of the Nazarene in Bakersfield, California.
Police in California were called to the church on Sept. 21, 2022 after graffiti, broken windows and overturned pews were discovered at the house of worship.
Volunteers from other congregations have helped clean up most of the damage.
Police in Bakersfield have not yet determined who is responsible for the criminal attack on the church.
JEFF TURNER SR.
A California man who pleaded to felony charges related to vandalism of two churches will spend 208 days in jail.
Omar Rico Olivardes, 34, entered the guilty pleas on September 29, 2022. According to court documents the charges of vandalism of religious property are related to smashing windows at the Gospel Churh of God and the Templo Sinai Church in Santa Anna, California. He was also ordered to stay away from two other churches in the area.
Texas Gospel Canada file stories do not list a motive given at the time of the vandalism.
DAVID INGRAM
A Minnesota congregation is facing thousands of dollars in repairs after an act of vandalism over the weekend.
Police in Sauk Centre, Minnesota issued the following news release on Monday:
On 9/17/2022 at approximately 1308 hours officers were called to Our Lady of the Angels church in Sauk Centre for a report of some vandalism. When the officer arrived, he found extensive damage to the inside of the church entrance area and sanctuary, including tipping over a statue, urinating on the carpet, damaging candle holders and other items. The officer was able to review video surveillance from the church showing two males entering the church at 0627 hours and leaving at 0638 hours, carrying a candle holder. Suspects were later identified as Corey Allen Drouillard, age 28 of Sauk Centre and Cheyenne Marcus Budreau, age 19, of Cass Lake. Both suspects were arrested and booked in Stearns County Jail on charges of burglary and criminal damage to property. The congregation Friday will celebrate a Mass of Reparation for the desecration of a Holy Place.
JEFF TURNER
The pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California says an arrest has been made in connection to a fire that destroyed the church’s main building. But Pastor Edward Jenkins also said the church is not going anywhere and they will rebuild.
Last week a fire at the church left the church’s nearly 80-year-old building in ruin. Since then, items that could be saved have been pulled from the ashes including a pulpit and piano.
Authorities in Los Angeles have not released the suspect’s name or announced a motive behind the fire.
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE FIRE FROM THE U.S.:
JEFF TURNER
The congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Franklin Lakes, Jew Jersey, held a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for a sanctuary to replace one destroyed by arson in 2019. Rebuilding has been delayed while the church worked out details with its insurance company.
Congregation members have worshipped in a nearby Christian School since the fire.
Construction is expected to be complete by March 2023.
Fire officials in 2019 reported there were no injuries from the fire. A suspect arrested in the case was later found not guilty by reason of insanity and ordered to confinement at a state mental health facility.
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