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.
Church vandalism
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.
Arrests Made Saturday in Two Incidents at Catholic Churches in Brooklyn and Queens
The man suspected of desecrating St. Joseph Church in Astoria a month ago was arrested Saturday, July 8 after returning to the parish and acting erratically. Also on Saturday, parishioners at Resurrection Church in Gerritsen Beach caught a man spray painting a new statue of Mary. They handed him over to police.
Intruder Breaks Into Tabernacle at St. Joseph Church, Tosses Eucharist
A 21-year-old man who appeared to be emotionally disturbed entered St. Joseph Church in Astoria on June 5, broke open the tabernacle, removed the holy Eucharist stored inside it, and carelessly tossed it around, church officials said.
Police Looking For Vandals Who Targeted Catholic Charities Office
Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a pair of suspects who vandalized Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens headquarters earlier this month by throwing a brick through the glass door of the organization’s offices.
Police Seek Teenage Vandals Who Destroyed Statue Outside Queens Church
The NYPD is looking for three teenagers after they destroyed a statue of an angel outside a church on March 23.