Arson, Theft and Vandalism Directed Against Catholic Churches and Religious Iconography in Massachusetts

2021:

1. January, 2021—Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Dorchester—Eggs and trash were thrown against the doors of the church.
2. January, 2021—Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Dorchester—A second incident occurred involving eggs and trash.
3. January, 2021—Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Dorchester—A third incident occurred involving eggs and trash.
4. March 5, 2021—Saint Monica-Saint Augustine Parish, South Boston—The hands on a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary were smashed, and the statue was toppled.
5. March 11-12, 2021—Saint John Paul II Academy, Dorchester—Sealant was inserted in the door locks of the school building.
6. March 11-12, 2021—Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Dorchester—Sealant was inserted in the door locks of the church, and a bicycle lock was placed on the handles of the front doors.
7. March 11-12, 2021—Saint Monica-Saint Augustine Parish, South Boston—Sealant was inserted in the door locks of the church, and a newly repaired statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was toppled.
8. April 8-9, 2021—Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Ludlow—A floral arch over a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was set on fire.
9. May 2, 2021—Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, Waltham—A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was decapitated, and its hands were torn off.
10. June 10, 2021—Saint Mary’s School, Franklin—Windows were broken and chemicals were poured inside the closed school building, causing “tens of thousands of dollars” of damage.
11. August 4, 2021—Saint Joseph’s Parish, Pittsfield—a side door of the church was charred inside and outside by an arson fire.
12. August 17-18, 2021—Saint Joseph Parish, Pittsfield—In an August 19th media interview, a parishioner claimed that there was a second arson attempt, also on the doors of the church.

 

2020:

1. January 20, 2020—Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Stoughton—Statue of Our Lady damaged.
2. April 13-14, 2020—Holy Family Parish, Rockland—Rocks were thrown overnight, breaking two stained glass windows in the church, and two windows in the rectory.
3. July 11, 2020—Saint Peter’s Parish, Dorchester—The head and hands of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary were charred after plastic flowers in the statue’s hands were ignited in an arson fire.
4. July 11-12, 2020—Saint Margaret’s Parish, Dorchester—Overnight, a trash barrel was emptied and thrown over the head of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
5. July 15-16, 2020—Saint Margaret’s Parish, Dorchester—In a repeat of the previous incident, a trash barrel was emptied and thrown over the head of the same statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
6. July 16, 2020—McAuley Nazareth Home for Boys, Leicester—A five foot granite statue of the Blessed Virgin was stolen from a grotto, and later recovered by Leicester Police on July 26th.
7. August 1-2, 2020—Sacred Heart Parish,Weymouth—Two Molotov cocktails were hurled against the front doors of the church, causing fire damage to the front entranceway, and smoke damage inside.
8. September 29, 2020—Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Fall River—A cinder block was hurled through a window of the cathedral.
9. December 26, 2020—Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Fall River—Projectiles were shot or hurled through four stained glass windows in the cathedral, causing approximately $25,000 worth of damage to each window.

 

2019:

1. March, 2019—Most Precious Blood Parish, Hyde Park—“unknown black female entered Most Precious Blood Church during closing and attempted to spray an unknown substance on the statues inside of the church.”
2. March 11, 2019—Most Precious Blood Parish, Hyde Park—A statue was defaced with an “unknown red substance.”
3. March 13, 2019—Saint Anne’s Parish, Readville—-A statue was defaced with an “unknown red substance.”
4. March, 2019—Saint Gregory’s Parish, Dorchester—A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was defaced with an “unknown red substance.”
5. March/April, 2019—Saint Gregory’s Parish, Dorchester—Second incident with red substance on same statue.
6. March/April, 2019—Saint Gregory’s Parish, Dorchester—Third incident with red substance on same statue.
7. April 10, 2019—Saint Gregory’s Parish, Dorchester—Fourth incident with red substance on same statue.
8. June 1, 2019—Saint Mark’s Parish, Dorchester—A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was shattered and a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was thrown into a trash can.
9. July 10, 2019—Sacred Heart Parish, East Boston—A piece of cement was hurled through a stained glass window depicting the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and graffiti was scribbled on the doors of the church.
10. August 15, 2019—Saint Bernard’s Parish, Worcester—A $600 Paschal candle was placed against a column of the church and set on fire, destroying the candle and damaging the column.

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