El Paso, Texas, Feb 11, 2021 / 06:01 pm MT (CNA).- Three angel statues at St. Pius X Church in El Paso have suffered heavy damage in a vandalism incident, prompting sadness and prayers for whoever committed the crime. “We are saddened at the damage that was done at St. Pius X,” Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso said Feb. 10. “These holy images are important to us because they serve as signs and reminders of God’s closeness and God’s care for us.” Three angel statues on the parish grounds were found toppled over and broken. There was no damage inside any of the buildings, the diocese reported in a statement. Bishop Seitz said the statues are “things that can be repaired and replaced.”
“We are grateful to God that no one was physically hurt in this violent outburst, because human beings are the most beautiful and irreplaceable images of God,” the bishop said. “We pray that whoever carried out this senseless act will receive the help they need.” A police report has been filed in the case and security measures were in place. The parish is working with law enforcement to identify any potential suspects, the diocese said. An arrest has been made in a September 2020 incident at the diocese’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in which a $25,000 statue of Christ was destroyed, the ABC affiliate KVIA reported. Last year there were massive, largely peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was being detained by Minneapolis police. However, there were also widespread riots and vandalism that caused over $1 billion nationwide and killed some 19 people. There was also a wave of vandalism against churches and Catholic statues.
Tags: Catholic News, Diocese of El Paso
Subscribe to our daily CNA newsletter
At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we’ll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.
As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won’t rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
You may also like »