Category: News affecting the Church

Hate crimes charges filed after man screams obscenities and exposes himself at church in Edmonton

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David Ingram, Music Director & Reporter

The Archdiocese of Edmonton Thursday issued a statement announcing that charges have been filed against an individual who disrupted Mass on December 13 at Santa Maria Goretti Church. Edmonton police have charged the individual, who is not named, with mischief to religious property. The charge is a hate crime. The suspect is also charged with mischief.

The website of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton says police have banned the suspect from all archdiocesan property.

The Archdiocese is not releasing further comment while the case remains before the courts.

Police in Massachusetts seek answers in vandalism of 168-year-old Cathedral

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A Cathedral built in Massachusetts in the mid 1800’s has been vandalized.

Police in the US say someone broke stained glass windows and caused other damage at the Cathedral of Saint Mary in Falls River.  A priest at the cathedral told WLNE television he learned of the damage on Saturday. He also told the TV station it was not the first time criminals have damaged the building. It is unknown if a previous act of vandalism is related to Saturday’s incident.

“I think it’s maybe crazy people, maybe people who hate the church,” Congregation member Claudia Mendoza told WCVB television.

A report from WPRI television estimates the damage done to the Cathedral at around $25,000 US.

The Cathedral’s website says construction on the building began in 1852 and it was completed in 1856.

Church arson

US offers $50K reward in church arson

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Officials in the US are offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person (or persons) who burned a church building.

A press release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation says the arson attack happened Sept. 17, 2020 at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in San Francisco.

“This act of violence was not just an attack on a building, but on a congregation. This was an attack on a community,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig Fair. “We are counting on assistance from members of the community to keep our city safe. Every lead will be thoroughly investigated. Regardless of how insignificant you think your information might be, we strongly encourage you to come forward and we welcome your information and assistance.”

The FBI has jurisdiction to investigate fires set at houses of worship under the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for those who wish to donate to the church.

Vandals damage 244-year-old church site

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A church building that was constructed in the United States when the country was still a British colony has been damaged by vandals.

Mission San Juan Capistrano, located in California, was built in 1776 by Spanish Catholic missionaries. It was the 7th of 21 Spanish missions built in California according to the Mission’s website. Church officials Friday said someone had tagged the historic structure with graffiti.  Officials have not yet said if the vandalism was a random act or if the mission was targeted.

The mission has been temporarily closed until further notice.

“Mission San Juan Capistrano remains committed to preserving the religious and historical significance of the site,” says a post on the mission’s Facebook page. 

‘What is real will prosper’ Vandals tag church building with secularist graffiti

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Jeff Turner – Music Reporter

A congregation in Louisiana is cleaning up after it was targeted by vandals who used spray paint to leave secularist messages inside and outside of the church building.

A spokesperson for the Lafourche Parish, Louisiana Sheriff’s Office said the vandalism was found on Dec. 7, 2020 at St. Louis Catholic Church. The criminal or criminals are believed to have done the damage sometime the evening of Dec. 5 and the morning of Dec. 6. The spokesperson said a reward of up to $1,000 is offered for information leading to an arrest.

No other information has been released.