A priest in Texas is pointing out the increase in church vandalism in his state and the nation, after a statue of Mary was defaced at his church about a week ago.
Father Adman Purdy of Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Dickinson -a suburb between Houston and Galveston–told Fox 26 Houston about a troubling number of churches being vandalized.
Cases are being reported all over the nation, he said. Church property, including statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, are being defaced, and Fr. Purdy does not think these acts of vandalism are completely random.
“Even a couple days ago, in the state of Texas there were two Catholic churches where there was vandalism in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and there was also one in El Paso,” said Fr. Purdy. “The number on the year is already over 100 incidents of vandalism specifically toward Catholic churches.”
His parishioners were at a loss for words when, on Tuesday of last week, they found a statue of Mary on the front steps of their church with its head, hands, and feet cut off. Fr. Purdy said the statue must have been dragged 40 feet.
“I came and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, what happened here? I was surprised and was shocked,” said Maria Matties, a churchgoer at Queen of Angels.
The Houston division of the FBI reached out to the Dickinson Police Department, according to Fox 26. Dickinson Police said at this time they are not calling this a hate crime, but are also not ruling it out as they continue their investigation.
In order to be deemed a hate crime under federal statute, it has to be proven that the property vandalized was intentionally damaged, destroyed or defaced because of its religious character.
“It’s really an insult to Catholicism. Catholics are very devoted to the Virgin Mary. We are quite confident that’s what the person intended to do,” said Fr. Purdy, referring to the hate crime allegation.
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When Pope Pius IX declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on December 8, 1854, he had a golden crown added to the mosaic of Mary, Virgin Immaculate, in the Chapel of the Choir in St. Peter’s Basilica. / Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Vatican City, May 29, 2023 / 10:30 am (CNA).
To honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Vatican offers a special Marian pilgrimage within St. Peter’s Basilica each Saturday afternoon during the month of May.
The Marian itinerary brings pilgrims from Michelangelo’s marble sculpture of the Pieta to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a 12th-century painting brought into the basilica in 1578 in a solemn procession.
For those unable to travel to the Eternal City, CNA is providing the following “virtual tour” with photos by Daniel Ibañez of eight beautiful images of Our Lady in St. Peter’s Basilica for the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church.
In St. Peter’s Basilica’s Chapel of the Choir, a large mosaic based on painting by Italian artist Pietro Bianchi depicts Mary, Virgin Immaculate, in the glory of heaven being venerated by St. John Chrysostom (left) and other saints. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Virgin Immaculate
In the basilica’s Chapel of the Choir, a large altarpiece reveals Mary, Virgin Immaculate, in the glory of heaven above angels and saints. The mosaic based on an 18th-century painting by Italian artist Pietro Bianchi depicts St. John Chrysostom St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Anthony of Padua venerating the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The chapel is located on the left side of the basilica behind an iron gate designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. St. John Chrysostom is buried beneath the altar, which also contains relics of St. Francis and St. Anthony.
When Pope Pius IX declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on December 8, 1854, he had a golden crown added to the mosaic of Mary. Pope Pius X later added a larger diamond crown to mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration in 1904.
The original painting by Bianchi can be found in Rome’s Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.
Mother of the Church
St. Peter’s Basilica contains an icon of the Virgin Mary titled “Mater Ecclesiae,” which means “Mother of the Church.”. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
The basilica contains an icon of the Virgin Mary titled “Mater Ecclesiae,” which means “Mother of the Church.”
The original image of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child was painted on a column in old St. Peter’s Basilica, built by Emperor Constantine in the fourth century. It was later transferred to the 16th-century St. Peter’s Basilica. Paul VI honored the icon with the title “Mater Ecclesiae” after the Second Vatican Council.
A mosaic of the Virgin Mary overlooking St. Peter’s Square was inspired by the original Mater Ecclesiae image. The mosaic was installed after the assassination attempt against St. John Paul II in 1981.
When he blessed the mosaic, John Paul II prayed “that all those who will come to this St. Peter’s Square will lift up their gaze towards you [Mary], to direct, with feelings of filial trust, their greetings and their prayers.”
In 2018, Pope Francis added the memorial of “Mary, Mother of the Church” to the liturgical calendar for the Monday after Pentecost.
Mother of Pilgrims
A restored 16th-century painting of Our Lady holding her Son can be found in St. Peter’s Basilica above the sarcophagus of Pope Gregory XIV under the title “Mother of Pilgrims.”. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
A restored 16th-century painting of Our Lady holding her son can be found in St. Peter’s Basilica above the sarcophagus of Pope Gregory XIV.
The image is titled “Mater Peregrinorum” or Mother of Pilgrims. The original artist is not known, but Italians also refer to the painting as the “Madonna di Scossacavalli” because it came from Rome’s Church of San Giacomo Scossacavalli, which was demolished in 1937 to create the current Via della Conciliazione leading to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
A 12th-century painting on wood titled Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the Gregorian Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
A 12th-century painting on wood titled Our Lady of Perpetual Help, also known as Our Lady of Succor, was transferred to an altar in St. Peter’s Gregorian Chapel on February 12, 1578 with a solemn procession.
The painting was the first artistic restoration completed under Pope Francis’ pontificate during the Year of Faith, according to a book published by the Knights of Columbus.
The remains of the Doctor of the Church St. Gregory of Nazianzus (d. 390) are preserved in an urn beneath the Altar of Our Lady of Succor in the Gregorian Chapel, found on the right side of the basilica.
Ark of the Covenant
A mosaic altarpiece of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple can be found above the tomb of Pope St. Pius X near the left-front entrance of the basilica. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
A colorful mosaic altarpiece of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple brightens the wall above the tomb of Pope St. Pius X (d. 1914) in the Presentation Chapel near the left-front entrance of the basilica.
A young Mary is depicted on the steps of the Temple with her parents, Sts. Anne and Joachim, the grandparents of Jesus.
The mosaic completed by Pietro Paolo Cristofari in 1728 is based on a painting by 17th-century artist Giovanni Francesco Romaneli, the original of which can be found in Rome’s Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.
Gate of Heaven
According to Father Agnello Stoia, the pastor of the parish of St. Peter’s Basilica, the 15th-century image of Mary on the oldest door of St. Peter’s Basilica is a reminder of Mary’s title, “Gate of Heaven.”. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
The central door leading to basilica was retained from the old St. Peter’s Basilica and is known as the Filarete Door. Created by a Florentine artist in 1455, the door depicts Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the apostles Sts. Peter and Paul.
According to Father Agnello Stoia, the pastor of the parish of St. Peter’s Basilica, the 15th-century image of Mary on the door is a reminder of Mary’s title, “Gate of Heaven.”
Queen Assumed into Heaven
The mosaics decorating the interior dome of St. Peter’s Basilica depict the Blessed Virgin Mary next to Christ the Redeemer and the Apostles. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Looking up at the soaring cupola, or dome, of St. Peter’s Basilica, one sees mosaics depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary next to Christ the Redeemer, along with St. John the Baptist and the apostles.
The mosaic of the Virgin Mary on the Great Dome, completed in 1610 by Orazio Gentileschi, is based on drawings by Italian Mannerist painter Giuseppe Cesari.
Mother of the Redeemer
Michelangelo’s Pieta conveys the faith and emotion of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she cradles in her arms the dead body of her only son after witnessing him crucified. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Michelangelo Buonarroti carved the Pieta from a single slab of Carrara marble when he was 24-years old. The sculpture was unveiled in St. Peter’s Basilica for the Jubilee of 1500.
The moving sculpture conveys the faith and emotion of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she cradles in her arms the dead body of her only son after witnessing him crucified.
The sculpture sits above a side-altar near the front entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica, where Mass was sometimes offered before recent restrictions. Visitors to the basilica can only see the Pieta behind bulletproof glass after a man attacked the sculpture with a hammer in May 1972.
The Pieta was the only work of art that Michelangelo ever signed.
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9 Comments
I’m sure our devoutly Catholic president will have some strong words to say about this.
I don’t care much for the modern trend of prosecuting “hate” crimes. Death and destruction are already crimes. Hate is a tragedy but it cannot be legislated from existence, nor prosecuted unless we are willing to accept that civil authorities have a right to force us to reveal what is in our hearts. In today’s zeitgeist, people and governments don’t even seem particularly concerned with the death and destruction, just the hate. Not a promising trend. That being said, if the police department has ever accepted the notion of a “hate crime,” why on earth would this not obviously qualify?
Folks in the Dickinson Police Dept must be a little dim if they are not yet sure this is a hate crime. A RELIGIOUS STATUE was defaced,on church property, in what is clearly intentional vandalism and in no way an accident. What else could this be but a HATE CRIME??? If a rock was thrown through the window of a Mosque, would it be a hate crime??? If Nazi symbols were painted on a Jewish temple would it be a hate crime??? My guess is YES. So why is this different? Destroying a religious statue is not a sign of LOVE, is it? The people of this parish need to be calling their police to demand an investigation as a hate crime and if they refuse to do so, take it to the State Atty General.We cannot remain silent as this just emboldens the attackers. Attacks on Catholic churches are on the increase and it is time for the church to take some action. Sadly, locking churches at dusk might be one such move and placing security cameras on the property outside AND inside is also called for.Its worth the financial investment to put an end to these sorts of crimes. The country is going down the tubes fast. Too many people have no moral compass and no sense of right or wrong. Very sad.
I care about what is done, not the reason for it. I doubt if anybody vandalizes a statue or a church out of benevolence and affection. The penalty for doing this out of stupidity or any other reason should not be any less severe than it would be because it qualifies as a “hate crime,” and the penalty for a “hate crime” should be the same as the same crime committed for any other reason. Otherwise you’re trying to read people’s minds, and that hardly makes for justice.
Kmbold,
Yes, I think that’s mostly the case here. Thankfully.
Too many people vent because they’re anonymous. In real life they’re probably much more mannerly & charitable.
I read this and at first my concern was the church, it’s terrible this is happening. Then my concern went from that to, “Why are reporters not double checking their facts and why are editors not editing?” It’s “Dickinson” not “Dickenson”, which this reporter clearly knows as he spelled it correctly the first time, just didn’t bother to re-read his work apparently. This is partially what’s wrong with the news now, people don’t even bother to spell check, let alone fact check.
The FBI defines a hate crime as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.”
The FBI explains that ‘hatred’ itself is not a crime. When hatred motivates the commission of a crime against persons or property because of prejudice and bias based on the categories, it is defined as a crime of hate. Proving motivation is key in prosecuting a hate crime.
Leslie, below, also has a good point. A crime is a crime is a crime. Individuals and institutions have rights and liberties to own and use property to express religion. A parish is surely free to erect crosses, statues, banners, other signs, symbols or structures on its property (so long as local zoning codes, etc. are followed). The parish has the right to seek redress for wrongs committed against its freedom and rights.
I’m sure our devoutly Catholic president will have some strong words to say about this.
That was a joke, right? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I don’t care much for the modern trend of prosecuting “hate” crimes. Death and destruction are already crimes. Hate is a tragedy but it cannot be legislated from existence, nor prosecuted unless we are willing to accept that civil authorities have a right to force us to reveal what is in our hearts. In today’s zeitgeist, people and governments don’t even seem particularly concerned with the death and destruction, just the hate. Not a promising trend. That being said, if the police department has ever accepted the notion of a “hate crime,” why on earth would this not obviously qualify?
Folks in the Dickinson Police Dept must be a little dim if they are not yet sure this is a hate crime. A RELIGIOUS STATUE was defaced,on church property, in what is clearly intentional vandalism and in no way an accident. What else could this be but a HATE CRIME??? If a rock was thrown through the window of a Mosque, would it be a hate crime??? If Nazi symbols were painted on a Jewish temple would it be a hate crime??? My guess is YES. So why is this different? Destroying a religious statue is not a sign of LOVE, is it? The people of this parish need to be calling their police to demand an investigation as a hate crime and if they refuse to do so, take it to the State Atty General.We cannot remain silent as this just emboldens the attackers. Attacks on Catholic churches are on the increase and it is time for the church to take some action. Sadly, locking churches at dusk might be one such move and placing security cameras on the property outside AND inside is also called for.Its worth the financial investment to put an end to these sorts of crimes. The country is going down the tubes fast. Too many people have no moral compass and no sense of right or wrong. Very sad.
I care about what is done, not the reason for it. I doubt if anybody vandalizes a statue or a church out of benevolence and affection. The penalty for doing this out of stupidity or any other reason should not be any less severe than it would be because it qualifies as a “hate crime,” and the penalty for a “hate crime” should be the same as the same crime committed for any other reason. Otherwise you’re trying to read people’s minds, and that hardly makes for justice.
Unlike the comments on so many sites the ones here are intelligent and charitable. Refreshing.
Kmbold,
Yes, I think that’s mostly the case here. Thankfully.
Too many people vent because they’re anonymous. In real life they’re probably much more mannerly & charitable.
I read this and at first my concern was the church, it’s terrible this is happening. Then my concern went from that to, “Why are reporters not double checking their facts and why are editors not editing?” It’s “Dickinson” not “Dickenson”, which this reporter clearly knows as he spelled it correctly the first time, just didn’t bother to re-read his work apparently. This is partially what’s wrong with the news now, people don’t even bother to spell check, let alone fact check.
The FBI defines a hate crime as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.”
The FBI explains that ‘hatred’ itself is not a crime. When hatred motivates the commission of a crime against persons or property because of prejudice and bias based on the categories, it is defined as a crime of hate. Proving motivation is key in prosecuting a hate crime.
Leslie, below, also has a good point. A crime is a crime is a crime. Individuals and institutions have rights and liberties to own and use property to express religion. A parish is surely free to erect crosses, statues, banners, other signs, symbols or structures on its property (so long as local zoning codes, etc. are followed). The parish has the right to seek redress for wrongs committed against its freedom and rights.