A suspect was arrested in the case of vandalism at St. Athanasius Church last week. The suspect, identified by police as Ali Alaheri, 29, of 184 East 3rd St. in Brooklyn, has been charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime.
NYPD
Priests Dismayed by Growing Gun Violence; Ready to Find Solutions
As the New York Police Department chases suspected gunmen — some are repeat offenders — priests in the Diocese of Brooklyn want to help their communities find solutions to the growing violence.
Baby Jesus Beheaded Outside Diocese of Brooklyn Chancery
In what has emerged as the second act of vandalism in three days in the Diocese of Brooklyn, church officials are calling on the NYPD to increase its patrols around churches in Brooklyn and Queens in response to what they’re calling “a pattern of hate crimes against Catholics.”
Only in Print: Council Passes Bill to Double Fines for Vandalizing Houses of Worship
The City Council has voted unanimously to pass legislation to double the fines for vandalizing houses of worship, as the city continues to grapple with disturbing incidents at religious institutions.
Police Release Photo of Person of Interest in Vandalism Outside St. Athanasius Church
Police are hunting for a vandal who scaled a fence outside St. Athanasius Church early Friday and knocked a crucifix to the ground, doing “serious damage” in what is being investigated as an anti-Catholic hate crime.
Clergy, Cops, City Leaders On What to Do About Anti-Asian Hate
As the city is on the mend from a year of COVID-19 restrictions, fierce, unprovoked attacks on people of Asian heritage have erupted during the first few months of 2021. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio says the Catholic faith has a role in dealing with the hate, but ultimately it is a moral issue in the heart of each person.
NYPD Chaplains Share Laughter, Tears as They Bond Over Life in New York
NYPD chaplains Msgr. David Cassato and Imam Tahir Kukiqi come from different religions but share a strong bond. Msgr. Cassato, a Catholic, and Imam Kukiqi, who is Muslim, are proof that emissaries of different faiths can work together and serve as examples to others.
Churches Urged to Apply for Federal Anti-Terror Funds as Hate Crimes Rise
Churches are eligible to receive U.S. government funds to beef up security measures under an anti-terror grant program run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Congresswoman Grace Meng encouraged religious institutions to apply.
Shooting at St. John the Divine Christmas Concert Cathedral Leaves Gunman Dead, Crowd Shaken
A gunman was fatally shot by police on the front steps of St. John the Divine Cathedral in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, Dec. 13, after the 52-year-old man began firing two semi automatic handguns just before 4 p.m., at the end of the church’s public outdoor Christmas Choir concert scheduled that afternoon.
Incarnation Catholic Academy Celebrates NYPD’s 105th Precinct
Incarnation Catholic Academy invited the 105th Precinct to attend a socially safe, in-person celebration on Oct. 28 to mark National First Responders Day. Congress designated Oct. 28 as National First Responders Day three years ago to honor firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, and others who are first on the scene in dangerous situations.