Police arrested a man who allegedly burst into St. Matthew Church in Crown Heights on Nov. 21 — interrupting a prayer service that was taking place that morning — and knocked over numerous religious items.
Church vandalism
Far Rockaway, Queens Parish Vandalized for Second Time in 4 Days: ‘We’re Under Attack’
Father Francis Shannon said he was shocked to find out that St. Mary Star of the Sea Church was vandalized on Oct. 5 — the third time in one week that his parish, which also includes St. Gertrude Church, was targeted.
Parishioners ‘Disturbed’ After Tabernacle Cross Stolen From St. Mary, Mother of Jesus Church
A sacred cross was stolen from the tabernacle at St. Mary, Mother of Jesus Church in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, on August 8. Police say the suspect who walked into the parish and took the cross is still at large.
Vandal Charged With Hate Crime After Defacing Queens’ Parish Statue
Around 8 p.m. on June 21, Holy Family Church in Fresh Meadows was vandalized for the fourth time in recent years. This time, a statue of the Holy Family and the church’s two front doors were damaged.
UPDATE: Astoria Man Indicted for Destruction of Baby Jesus Statue at Queens Church
Police have made an arrest of a suspect who walked into Immaculate Conception Church in Astoria and smashed a statue of the Baby Jesus following Mass on April 6.
The incident is being investigated as a hate crime by the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force.
Man Charged with Hate Crime for Vandalism at Holy Family Catholic Church
A man has been charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime for the vandalism of a statue outside Holy Family Catholic Church in Fresh Meadows on June 30, the Queens District Attorney’s Office announced on July 12.
Church Vandalism on the Rise Locally Is Also Occurring Across the U.S.
The New York Catholic Churches that have recently been vandalized are not alone. Across the country in the past two months, statues of Mary have been attacked in Washington and Nebraska. In Philadelphia, stained glass windows were broken at one church and outdoor Nativity scene statues were toppled and broken at another.
St. Rita’s Pastor Says He May Know the Man Who Vandalized Church
An act of vandalism disrupted a late-night Portuguese prayer service for a handful of faithful at St. Rita Catholic Church on Feb. 9. A traffic cone was thrown at the stained glass window, destroying a part of the church that the pastor said is worth $10,000.
Lower Manhattan Church Vandalized In Latest Series of Attacks
For the second time in as many weekends there was an attack against a Catholic church in New York City.
Arrests Made Saturday in Two Incidents at Catholic Churches in Diocese
On Saturday, July 8, parishioners at Resurrection Church in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn, caught a man spray painting a statue of Mary and handed him over to police, diocese officials said.