CV NEWS FEED // Police have apprehended a man suspected of vandalizing two statues at a Catholic parish in Brooklyn, New York.
According to local reports Randy Maldonado-Avila, 30, targeted St Dominic Catholic Church in what appears to have been a random attack on June 10.
Police and eyewitness reports stated that Maldonado-Avila used a hammer to smash the glass front doors of the parish, along with two statues—one of Mother Teresa, and one of Pope John XXIII. Part of the face of St Teresa of Calcutta’s statue was smashed in. Both the face and right hand of the former Pontiff’s statue are missing.
“Lifelong parishioner” and witness to the crime Joanne Liggieri stated in the report that the occurrence took place at around 3:30 p.m. Liggieri was in her apartment across the street from the parish when her daughter alerted her to the vandalism taking place.
Liggieri stated in the report that she began taping the man as he started smashing the statues, and called 911. She stated further that when the police arrived, she gave a description of the suspect and which direction he went when he fled the scene.
“We are saddened by the damage and the senseless violation of sacred statues and the broken glass of our church doors,” the Church wrote in a Facebook post.
“Let us continue to pray for peace and tranquility. Our faith community is strong and we will continue to bring the light of Christ to all people,” the parish concluded.
The post Statues of Mother Teresa and Pope John XXIII vandalized at Brooklyn parish appeared first on CatholicVote org.