Statue in ND prayer garden destroyed, motive for attack unknown

2018-08-04 Statue damaged

FARGO – A congregation in Fargo, North Dakota is praying for the vandal or vandals who destroyed a statue on church property.  Someone this week destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.  The damage was discovered on Aug 1.

The statue stood in a prayer garden at the church according to a report from KVRR. It was a memorial erected by a parishioner about two years ago in memory of her husband, according to WDAY television.

Father Raymond Courtright told KFGO television his parish community views what happened to the statue as an opportunity for prayer and forgiveness.

Police have not determined a motive for the crime. Anyone with information about the criminal or criminals responsible for the vandalism is asked to call the Fargo Police Department at 701-235-4493. Those with information may also text a tip to 701-730-8888, or call our the department’s tip line at 701-241-5777.

 

Four teens arrested for NC church vandalism

Mug
James LaGrange Murphy

UNION, SC – Four vandals have been arrested for an attack at a South Carolina Baptist church on July 7.

According to a report from The State, the vandals who damaged the building of the Welcome Baptist Church are all in their teens; three are juveniles.

A Union County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said the Family Life Center had “Hail Satan” carved into one of the columns, and two plastic columns were burned.  The spokesperson identified James LaGrange Murphy, 18, as the non-juvenile who participated.  The names of the other three are not released because of their age.

The damage to church property is estimated at less than $600. It has not yet been determined if the attack will be classified as a hate crime.

California man arrested for arson and vandalism of church building

A California man has been arrested for arson of a church building.

According to a report from KTLA5, Russel Congleton, 58, is accused of breaking into St. Charles Borromeo Church and lighting three fires in the building. He is also said to have smashed stained glass windows, statues and damaged religious texts.

Congleton was arrested July 30.

The church is a well-known landmark in the San Fernando Valley as a church built by Bob Hope and his wife, according to ABC7.

Damage to the church building is estimated at approximately $100,000, according to KCAL.

The Los Angeles Times says police believe Congleton committed vandalism to nearby non-church owned properties.

A motive for the vandalism has not been announced.

 

State-Sanctioned Church in Shandong Province of China Demolished

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on July 17, more than 70 police officers and workers forcibly demolished Liangwang Catholic Church in China’s Shandong province. Liangwang Catholic Church is a state-sanctioned church and had been registered since 2006.

CLICK HERE for the complete story