A silent epidemic of vandalism against Catholic churches, tolerated by politicians turning a blind eye

The recent attack on St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn, where glass doors were smashed and statues of Mother Teresa and Pope John XXIII defaced with hammers, is yet another incident in a silent epidemic of attacks on Catholics and their faith.

The horrific disfigurement of these sacred statues and the shattering of the church’s glass doors are not just random acts of vandalism, they are direct attacks on the Catholic community, sadly tolerated by politicians who turn a blind eye.

Attacks on Catholic churches constitute a silent epidemic nationwide. Since May 30, 2020, there have been 435 attacks on Catholic institutions, with New York City leading the nation with 37. Attacks have steadily increased each year, with six in New York so far this year.

These crimes caused significant emotional and financial damage, with a total estimated cost of $2,228,000. It should be noted that these numbers only reflect attacks that received media coverage, suggesting that the true number could be much higher due to underreporting.

Despite the severity and increasing frequency of these attacks, there has been blatant silence from key political leaders. When in August 2022 a statue of Gandhi was toppled outside the Tulsi Mandir Hindu temple in Queens, Mayor Adams, along with state and local officials, couldn’t get on the microphone enough quickly. “We will not stand by and allow attacks on our places of worship…and we will not allow an individual to participate in this hatred without being apprehended,” Mr. Adams said at the time.

Yet the mayor has remained conspicuously silent on the attack on St. Dominic, not to mention previous incidents such as the beheading of statues at the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Manhattan or the destruction of a tabernacle in the St. Augustine Catholic Church in Park Slope.

Currently, the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating hate graffiti applied to the walls of the Park Avenue Synagogue, but prosecutors have decided not to pursue charges against those who applied the messages. haters on the wall of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 2020.

Some would argue that these actions stem from mental health issues rather than an intention to commit a hate crime. However, who in their right mind commits an act of hatred?

The double standard in prosecuting hate crimes and the selective outrage of government officials constitutes a second attack on the faithful. Accusations of “criminal mischief” reduce Saint Mother Teresa to the status of a flat tire. This is not just an attack on a religious object, it is an attack on the faith and identity of a community and on freedom of worship, which is one of the hallmarks of America .

The blatant silence from national, state and local politicians regarding attacks on Catholic churches must end. This sends a worrying message that attacks on some religious groups are not as concerning or worthy of attention as others.

We must not forget that America has a sad history of anti-Catholicism stretching from the “Know Nothing” of the 19th century, the Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s, and anti-Catholic rhetoric during the election of President Kennedy.

Unfortunately, there are still echoes of this today, with reports of the FBI conducting secret investigations into Catholic parishes and judicial candidates being asked whether they would renounce their Knight of Columbus membership.

The Catholic community deserves the same level of protection and respect as other religious communities. It is time for our leaders to take an unambiguous stand and say unequivocally that hatred and violence against any religion will not be tolerated.

Political leaders must respond to these attacks and ensure that the perpetrators are appropriately charged, reflecting the true nature of their crimes and sending an unambiguous message of condemnation. Ignoring these attacks undermines the fundamental values ​​of religious freedom and equality that our nation stands for.