In certain circles, vandalizing a place of worship by spray-painting slogans that are antagonistic to the religion practiced there and destroying or defacing religious artifacts would be considered a hate crime. Not if that place of worship happens to be a Catholic parish in Levittown, though.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Middletown Township was attacked by vandals in February. Were not just talking about gang tags here, either. This vandalism included beheading statues, spray painting statues, and placing specific anti-Catholic statements such as “F*CK JESUS” on the building. The Courier-Times has a slide show showing this anti-Catholic attack.
According to parishioners, it isn’t the first time the parish was targeted for such an attack, either. They say that the church has been attacked with graffiti in the past and had windows broken and relics stolen, too.
Yet when suspects are actually arrested and charged with these crimes, they receive a slap on the wrist and a fine of restitution for the cost of repairing the physical damage.
Such is the case with Joseph Sawyer, 17, and Kevin Vaden, 18 of Falls Township. Dismissively described by the Courier-Times as both “teens” and “youths,” they admitted to the less incendiary graffiti while they denied having defaced the religious symbols and spray painted the anti-religion slogans on the building. Apparently, those happened coincidentally at the same time unrelated to their actions.
The pair were sentenced to 8-12 weekends at camp, $1,460 in restitution (each!), letters of apology (letter writing, that’ll teach ‘em) and 100 hours of community service. But wait, that’s not all:
Both must give $50 to a state crime-prevention program and take part in PROGRESS, a community-based program for youthful offenders. Vaden also was ordered to undergo drug and alcohol treatment.
Camp? Really? These aren’t 12-year olds, and even in their admission they didn’t take full responsibility for the incident. Even accepting their claim that they didn’t directly carry out the more anti-Catholic portions of the crime, does it really matter who did each specific act? Isn’t it the mentality of the group when the attack is carried out that matters?
The investigation is ongoing. Two adult suspects, Harry Stetson III and Nicholas Cesari, who were both 18 at the time of the crime, are awaiting arraignment in adult court.
Lest anyone think this specific anti-Catholic attack was an isolated incident in Levittown, be assured it is not. In another strange coincience, there was apparently a wave of anti-Catholic fervor in Levittown this past winter.
Two “demons” made an appearance at a Tullytown church a few weeks ago, according to the pastor.
The two walked into St. Michael the Archangel Church on Levittown Parkway in Tullytown about five and a half weeks ago and introduced themselves as “demons,” Rev. Michael C. DiIorio said Tuesday.
DiIorio said the two individuals, whom he declined to describe, walked around after Sunday Mass asking to speak with the pastor. When parishioners pointed DiIorio out, the two walked up to him and said they were “demons” and wanted him to know they’d moved into the area.
“The boldness of it,” DiIorio said of his surprise. “To come up and introduce themselves to you in that way.”
He said he’s aware of Satanic graffiti and symbols, but this is the first time he’s heard of a demonic or Satanic group actually introducing themselves.
DiIorio said he put the incident at St. Michael’s out of his mind right after it happened until vandalism was found at the church.
In the past two weeks, lewd words have been carved into the church doors and a petition book on the altar of the Blessed Mother was defaced. On Friday the church received a letter in the rectory mail that contained threats. The church campus was evacuated — the school was out for teacher meetings — because police believed it should be taken seriously.
[...]
DiIorio said there was another suspicious incident Sunday at St. Joseph the Worker in Falls. The pastor there, Rev. Donald C. Birch said a man wearing a shirt with a pentagram and other symbols wanted to enter the church Sunday afternoon. Birch said the man repeatedly told two parishioners that he wanted in to the church but the doors were locked. Eventually the man left, Birch said. Falls police said they have not received a report of the incident.
One has to wonder what the rammifications would have been had it been the place of worship of another denomination that had been attacked.
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