Two statues of Jesus Christ were vandalized in a month on the exterior of Santa Martha Catholic Church in Miami Shores, United States. And the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver was spray painted with anti- Catholic slogans on Sunday.These are the latest examples in a series of vandalism incidents against Catholic buildings and Churches.
In the US, The first statue of Jesus was vandalized on August 29, leaving it without a hand, while the second, located across the street in a parish office, had its head and hands broken exactly one month later.”As a Catholic, it is certainly disheartening to see statues of Christ attacked. As a human being, as person who has CAtholic faith, be it Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or Muslim or not, it is disheartening that any faction of the symbolism of religion is attacked,”said Mary Ross Augusta, the spkeswoman for the Archdiocese of Miami.
“It continues to be troubling to see the increased reports of vandalism at Catholic Churches, both across the country and in our archdiocese, and it is certainly unfortunate when our parishes are targeted simply because of our beliefs,” said Mark Haas, the spokesman of Archdiocese of Denver.
The graffiti has since been cleaned off with the help of parishioners and other volunteers. It was written in bright red spray paint on the outside of the cathedral building, sidewalks and the base of the statue of St. John Paul II.