New York City, N.Y., Sep 18, 2019 / 21:00 pm
The Diocese of Brooklyn is partnering with the New York Police Department to find a woman suspected of causing thousands of dollars in damage to a Catholic parish in Queens over the last two weeks.
"This person needs to be brought to justice. We are working with the NYPD and we need to continue to foster an environment of respect," said John Quaglione, a spokesman for the Diocese of Brooklyn.
The attack on Saint Gerard Majella Catholic Church in the Hollis section of Queens, New York, has caused an estimated $10,000 in damages. Some of the damaged objects had recently been purchased through a fundraised by the Generation of Faith Diocesan campaign.
A woman was first caught on the church's security cameras on Sept. 8, damaging two parish sign signs and tearing down potted plants. On Sept. 15, the same woman can be seen on security footage vandalising the sprinkler system and rosary plaques, the diocese said. She appeared carrying heavy tools, including a hack saw, which was used to remove a handrail on an outside staircase.
The identity of the woman is unknown. The authorities have asked anyone with information on the vandal to call CRIME STOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS.
"It's a kick in the stomach. It hurts," said the Rev. Joseph Jude Gannon, pastor of Saint Gerard Catholic Church.
"It's also a matter of time to make sure we get her before she hurts herself or others or before it escalates to something else," he told CBS2 of the suspect.
Ganon specifically lamented the damage to the rosary plaques, which are handcrafted and imported from Italy. Twenty rosary tablets were torn down from stations around the church. All of them were thrown in the trash and several were broken. The damaged plaques will be sent to Italy for repair.
"These are hurtful attacks against the image of Mary and the parish," said Gannon in a recent statement. "Such acts of religious intolerance have no place within our society, and every house of worship, regardless of their beliefs, should be respected."