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.
Hate crimes
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.
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.
Hate Crimes Targeting Religions on Rise in Canada; Crimes Against Catholics Increase 260%
In 2021, Canadian police services received 3,360 statements related to hate crimes, a 27% increase compared to 2020, with a 260% growth against Catholics, according to a new study by Statistics Canada. In 2020, 2,646 hate crimes had been reported to police.