Around the same time as the Florida incident, a 249-year-old Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles caught fire.
The San Gabriel church, which was undergoing renovations for its upcoming 250th anniversary, went up in flames around 4 a.m., burning the roof and insides of the church.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. But the recent destruction of monuments to Junipero Serra, the founder of the California mission system — whom Indigenous activists view as a symbol of oppression — will be a factor in the investigation, Capt. Antonio Negrete of the San Gabriel Fire Department told the local 360aproko news
“This will be another box that they’re going to check off,” he said, adding, “It’s a tragic loss for our city. It’s our city identifier.”
Virgin Mary statue in Boston torched
A statue of the Virgin Mary was set on fire outside a Boston church Saturday night, 360aproko news reports.
Boston police are investigating a reported fire outside St. Peter Parish at 10 p.m., where they found the burned statue. The flowers in the hands of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, were set on fire, damaging her arms up to her face.
“I was shocked,” Pastor John Currie told the local news.
He explained the statue was put up decades ago in memory of World War II veterans.
Virgin Mary statue in New York City vandalized
Another statue of the Virgin Mary was vandalized in New York City on July 10th.
The Diocese of Brooklyn announced police are investigating the incident in which the statue at Cathedral Prep School and Seminary in Queens had “IDOL” spray-painted on it at 3 a.m. Friday morning, the Catholic News Agency reports.
Fr. James Kuroly, rector and president of Cathedral Prep, called the incident “an act of hatred.”
“Obviously, this tragedy saddens us deeply but it also renews our hope and faith in the Lord as he has shown his goodness in the many people who have already reached out to us,” Kuroly said. “We are sincerely grateful for the help we have received as well as the prayers. Please continue praying for those who committed this act of vandalism and hatred toward Our Lady and the Church.”
Other church incidents over the weekend
Also, another church fire in San Diego is being investigated by police as the 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning blaze seems “suspicious,” the department’s Metro Arson Strike Team said.
Calvary Baptist is a historically Black church, though its website says it has become a “multi-cultural faith community” in recent years.
President Trump has adamantly opposed toppling any monuments and symbols, signing an executive order to protect them, and punish offenders with prison time
