‘Evil’: Vandals Smash Windows & Attack Historic Catholic Church With Graffiti
- Posted on May 9, 2012 at 7:30am by
Billy Hallowell
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Image Credit: ABC News 7
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (The Blaze/AP) — Church vandalism stories seem to pop up pretty regularly nowadays. In the latest example, a historic Central California church that held artifacts from the 1700s is being investigated as a possible hate crime because anti-church graffiti and symbols were scrawled on the walls, police said.
Vandals struck at the Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz before dawn Sunday. Windows were shattered by rocks, and paint was sprayed and poured on doors, walls and statues, according to Santa Cruz police spokesman Zach Friend.
In this May 7, 2012 photo, church officials prepare to remove graffiti from Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz, Calif. Vandals have struck the historic Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz, Calif., damaging 231-year-old artifacts and scrawling anti-church slogans in what is being investigated as a possible hate crime. (AP Photo/Santa Cruz Sentinel, Dan Coyro)
The Roman Catholic Parish of Holy Cross is the home of Mission Santa Cruz, which was founded in 1791 as the 12th link in the chain of 21 Franciscan missions stretching from San Diego to Sonoma.
Among the damaged items was a baptismal font brought to Santa Cruz by Father Junipero Serra, who founded the mission system in California. The artifact was broken into several pieces, and it’s unclear if it can be repaired, said Warren Hoy, spokesman for the Diocese of Monterey.
Phrases scrawled by the vandals, including “This is Ohlone land” and “This was made by slaves,” appeared to refer to the history of the missions, many of which were built on land native to the Ohlone Indians. The culture clash decimated Ohlone power and the population in the region in the late 18th century.
The damage from the vandalism spread across the main church, the church museum, an adjacent home serving pregnant women and a garden area. Someone also climbed on a roof to spray-paint the church’s bell tower.
In this May 7, 2012 photo, a worker tries to remove paint from a statue at Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz, Calif. Vandals have struck the historic Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz, Calif., damaging 231-year-old artifacts and scrawling anti-church slogans in what is being investigated as a possible hate crime. (AP Photo/Santa Cruz Sentinel, Dan Coyro)
The Holy Cross Church has been the target of minor vandalism in the past because of its mission history, but nothing on this scale, Hoy said.
Staff and volunteers have managed to clean off much of the paint, and officials were waiting Tuesday for repair costs on damage to statues and the baptismal font, he said.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage, which caught at least one person on video.
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Comments (65)
goodwater
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:13am@hoppdwear – It’s time you and your family leave the state of Sodom and Gomorrah and relocate to Texas. You are most welcome in this State – come check us out. However, avoid Austin it’s becoming like San Francisco, Seattle, etc. There are many lovely towns that would welcome you – Fredricksburg, La Grange, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Ennis and countless others..
Report Post »raisingkidsforthetruth
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:33amI concur come to Texas we did and I am NOT leaving this great state!
Report Post »Blazebanned
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:17pm@Goodwater.
Report Post »I can almost agree with you, as long as those from Cali. leave all that is Cali. behind.Come here to Texas,but leave the desease that is Cali. there…….And please stay out of the small towns Goodwater mentioned,yankees and Californians have all but ruined those he mention.
Duey2000
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:29pmActually, we should all move to California and push out the liberal crazies. It is a beautiful state. It’s just too bad that it is ran by the people that run it.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:44pmDuey… is Right! The Defender never Win! And… there is nothing to Stop the Libs from taking over a State (alike Calif.), Bankrupting it, then moving to another State, and doing it all over again!
Report Post »jaxum4
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:51pmMany Californians have already emigrated to Wyoming. They like escaping from the insanity, and finding common sense and freedom from nut cases who are constantly trying them how to live and think. Plus, what happened to this church would excite the reaction of horror and very severe punishment to the low lives guilty of this sort of madness.
Report Post »hoppdwear
Posted on May 11, 2012 at 6:31pmThanks for the kind comments, I have been looking for a different job in Texas and Virginia, but my wife isn’t keen on moving to the old South. I’m working on her and hopefully we can move away. We do have family near so it’s hard to move away from the grandmas.
There are a lot of really good people here, especially at the churches, but I’ve been told attendance is around 5%, so there are quite a few who don’t love Christianity and obviously many who take hatred to a new level.
Our pastors can’t even walk down town in their Roman collared garb, for fear of strong harassment. It’s very sad, had I known the county was so nuts, I wouldn’t have moved here. Live and learn.
Report Post »razvedka
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:12amWhy isn’t this a hate crime???? Were it a mosque or synogogue it would surely be.
Report Post »YellowFin
Posted on May 13, 2012 at 2:46pmAll crimes are hate crimes.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:40amNever seen so much hate since Obama came Pesident, maybe there is something 2 this antichrist thing going on.
Report Post »Hmschoolnmama
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:52pmHmmm, great point!
Report Post »hoppdwear
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:40amThis is my local church, where my wife and I were married and our children baptized. We are very often under assault from various groups including satanists and anarchists who have defaced the church on many occasions. This is the worst so far, in terms of damage.
The climate in Santa Cruz is very “tolerant” for very bad behavior, including open sleeping of homeless anywhere they want, a lax law to stop the police from arresting drug dealers, and a lack of priority for funding police. Heaven help us, it’s only going to get worse.
It’s of course ironic since the church feeds untold numbers of those down on their luck and a large number of homeless most of whom have mental disorders.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:24pmIt is only truly sick and evil people who would do something like this. They ruined pieces of history and hurt a church that does its best to help those in need. All this accomplishes it to turn people against whatever the vandals were trying to accomplish.
Report Post »MammalOne
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:06am“The culture clash decimated Ohlone power and the population in the region in the late 18th century.”
Thats a pretty mild way of saying they stole their land, made the people slaves, and indoctrinated the children with catholocism to completely destroy their ancient society.
Report Post »texrubarts
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:49amthis is NOT about catholism – it is about ANTI-CHRISTIANS!!! Furthermore, catholism does not indoctrinate – you have the catholic church confused with your pal Obama!!!
Report Post »HuskerDave
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:13pmReally? The actions of well-intentioned Spanish missionairies 240 years ago (who did no “enslaving”)justify this vandalism today?
Neither the parishoners nor the vandals were alive in 1791. Nor were their parents, nor their grandparents, nor their great-grandparents.
If you have a problem today with achieving your life goals, it has nothing to do with your ethnicity, your religious heritage, nor the actions of Spanish missionairies in 1791. Take responsibility for your own life.
Report Post »Caritas
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:01pmTo those who say Catholicism does not indoctrinate, perhaps, it doesn’t today. But it did terrible, terrible things in the past. It wiped out entire cultures. Does that justify the vandalism, absolutely not. But we need to be honest with ourselves about how some religions have operated in the past.
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:05amThe following is a sobering detailed definition of the “Occupy” mindset and a probable cause of the damage inflicted on this church. The KJV uses an thought provoking phrase: ROM 1:32a “Who knowing the judgment of God….” JUDGMENT. Glenn, this is where I disagree with you; if this IS God’s “judgment” on this nation, nothing we do can save this country… we can only save individuals – ourselves, the “remnant.” …and we may need to be prepared to flee as Lot fled Sodom.
ROM 1:28 And even as they refused to have God in [their] knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful: 32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practice them.
Report Post »Centurian
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:19pm“If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
There is always hope of turning this around…
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:44pmOnce the Kingdom of Israel reached a particular point, their judgment was set; for the honor of His name, God WILL restore the “lost tribes” with Judah in the land (Ezek 37, Jer 31, Amos, more). Judah was exiled from the land on several occasions for their actions. Nineveh was spared when the king repented and called all in the country to fasting and prayer. The point is, “when my people…”; there are many in the US who claim to be “His people” yet how many – what percentage – are seeking his face?
Is 1:15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Is 65:12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
Jer 7:16 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.
Jer 11:14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
My point: there MAY be a chance but I sincerely doubt it at this point. How many times in the past 30 years was it said that “God will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah if He does not judge the US?” Did we as a nation listen? The call is now
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 4:13pm(My comment got truncated; an excuse to continue….)
The cry is now to “the remnant” to repent.
There WILL now be a cleansing of this land; millions will die. We’re sealing our own doom. We paid researchers to modify the bird flu into a virulent form that can be transmitted between humans and then, after a short delay, agreed to have the technique published “for research’s sake. No, our government is “without understanding:” economically; in national security; militarily; in public health. The administration is basing its policies on “covetousness” for an electorate “full of envy” – TAX THE RICH!!! The President’s latest speeches are “haughty” and “boastful.“ The response to Zimmerman has been ”unmerciful“ treats of ”murder,“ ”strife,“ and ”deceit.” They are blind to the root of their motives; they have been turned over to a reprobate mind.
Our nation is done; a world power has been brought to its knees – we just haven’t quite fallen yet, but the terminal wound has been inflicted. The call is now to the INDIVIDUAL, the FAMILY, a small community of believers that can band together to support each other, but it will take more – the ability to walk in the miraculous, to walk in purity before God… the majority of the church isn’t there. When there IS no food left and the water is tainted, who will see the manna and “sweet water?”
NOW is the time to prepare and cleanse our hearts before the Almighty King of the Universe. HE is our only h
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 4:31pm(Not again…..)
HE is our only hope.
The hope of healing when there is no medicine ore doctor. The hope of nourishment when there is no food. The hope of protection when the mob is wondering the streets. The hope of shelter in the storm.
Get into “the Word:” study it; pray it; do it!
Report Post »Caritas
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:04pmThe “Occupy” movement is political and not religious.
Report Post »zman173rd
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:04amHas anyone noticed that “possible” hate crimes of this type are never mentioned again? They go nowhere. if some minor ones make it to court it’s a slap on the wrist.
Report Post »twistin
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:03amThey were Not calling the Church Evil.
They were announcing their Own Evil Intentions.
Catch them, and make an example of them.
Hang them by their testicular appendage from that same bell tower.
Report Post »wigg
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:48pm@ twistin
Report Post »Interesting visual – LOL!
cloudsofwar
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:00amthis kind of vandalism will happen even more if Obama is re-elected. he doesn‘t like catholic church because it’s pro life. any catholic that votes for Obama should leave the church JMHO.
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:50amactually it was vandelized by progressive slaves doing what thier masters told them to do…typical demoncrats ……filthy ,disgusting,,and anti american demoncrats
Report Post »Steve28
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:20amLooks like a continued war that this administration has against the Catholic Church. Funny at how quickly Obama would come out I bet if this happened to a mosque. I think his attacks on the church have emboldened these people on the left that hate organized religion and especially the oldest Christian faith. Maybe his dislike of the church of Rome goes back to the Holy Wars. Now that would make some sense of his animosity since he was raised in his early years as a Moslem.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:17amDoes this happen in Mexico where the Catholic Church eliminated most of the Indian culture?? Seems that many 1/32 blood or 0/32 Elizabeth Warren‘s encourage the desecration of today’s religious institutions. Today‘s DEMOCRAT Party is the haven for HATER’S, ., where if you are a follower of Christ, they mark you as a target for legal harrassment. The religion of No-Religion is the haven for bitter self absorbed scoundrels also.
Report Post »biffo
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:10amCalifornia is a lost cause, as anti America as you can get. Give it to craphole mexico and get these Godless sponges off of our backs. Those who vote these creeps in get what they deserve. Third world california needs to go!!
Report Post »kettererbg
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:02amCalifornia is going to have radioactive beaches real soon. Then they can really whine.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:56amThere are those that still refuse to see that there is a war on God in this country. We, as a nation, allowed evil in instead of beating it back like we used to and now we are seeing the fruits of our apathy.
Look around the world. Who and what is taking over the planet, being given full rein for a short time.
Report Post »If you haven’t been praying I suggest you start today.
jujubeebee
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:48amThe church will live on and the faith will not be shattered by this even though it is a test of strength.
Report Post »If not too costly there should be surveillance cameras to catch the vandals. This is a hate crime and should be treated as such.
Jenny Lind
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:48amYou are correct. This does not destroy faith, if every church in America was destroyed, those who believe would keep believing because we know how it all ends.
Report Post »Johann
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:48amObviously the jihad declared against the Catholic Church in America by Obama, Biden and Sibelius is bearing fruit in California. No institution that opposes homosexual marriage and state supported abortion can stand for long in the New American State. Time to remove ourselves to the catecombs and to prepare for the oncoming dark ages of the American Culture barbarians, Destroying beautiful things and putting up ugly and disgusting things seems to be the hallmark of the neo Americans. Many will perish in the approaching pogrom but some will survive.
Report Post »South Philly Boy
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:45amThe RATS are RUNNING RAMPANT
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:12amThis is happening all too often for it to not be coordinated between groups of radicals. Who are the puppet masters for these bands of hoods and thugs? How high to the admin will they be found to go to in the end?
Report Post »starman70
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:17amSatan?
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:42amsatan was my guess also.
Report Post »RIGHTHOOK
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:47amYes coordinated and calculated and the current administration along with the entertainment industry (SAG Union and many are very wealthy thus influential) and liberal media have given punk/cowards like this a license to destroy property. Do you think they did this in broad daylight? Hardly. As all people of this ilk operate; in the cover of darkness. They will be ambushed eventually and regret their lame decision to trespass and destroy what does not belong to them.
Report Post »dannyo
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:12amif we would end ALL entitlelments in the usa and every baby born in the usa would heed the words of ol’ aunt jaunita or grandma sally or momma leeoni when they lean over the baby and say “you can be anything you wanna be as long as you put your mind to it” yadda yadda yadda that is said day in and day out in maternity wards throughout the nation, instead they vote for obama and fellow D’s and expect the gov to take care of them, the babies grow up to become undignified losers and they destroy churches…sad crap…..
Report Post »Sharon Rose
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:11amHope they catch the EVIL hateful people that did this.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:08amI don’t like crime designations such as “hate crime”. It is just too subjective.
Report Post »chingachgook
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:38amHate crime is part of the PC plan to censor people. There is no such thing as hate crime. It is either a crime or not. If someone has committed a crime that is what they should be charged with. If you need to increase the exposure for a specific crime than do so, but do not make a new law. I might posit that we have too many laws already. They should have to erase one old law for each new one.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:03amThere is a large, and growing, number of jihadis in Mexico. Mexico is not an ally of the United Staes of America in any sense of the word. They are basically an enemy nation our politicians in Washington keep in their hip pocket and use as a cudgel to punish the American people.
We should consider the country of Mexico as an enemy and declare war on them. Any Secretary of State can see the dangers Mexico poses and the injuries they have inflicted on the USA. And now the Mexicans are openly embracing Islamic Jihad? It is a step too far and only a fellow traveler (Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton) would allow another and even blaze the trail.
Shut down the socialist-inspired “Department of Defense” and reconstitute the War Department. And let us use it to defeat our enemies.
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:44amI know jihadists are infliterating meccaico, however, I did not know mexicans are embracing jihad. do you have any links?
Report Post »moussiagilda
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:00amA very Christian reply: Yeah, so what?
If that even happened. If that even happened.
I took off my cast last night, alone in my room, without a sharp instrument except a pencil that is now looking so fascinatingly destroyed. Suddenly, it seemed to be made of loose cotton, and I spent just about an hour tearing that loose cotton off my arm. I took the 20 mg. they had prescribed for me, since it looked like real and not adulterated Zyprexa, and that did help me sleep. I slept plenty.
They told me I could not go to the emergency room, for anything, because I’m inpatient care.
Reflect, audience. In other words, we won’t cure you of anything, because we rule you.
No they don’t. They don’t rule anyone.
I could go home today. I could. I probably will.
I no longer spell my first name Anne, because, sigh and whoopie, I no longer want to be like Anne Frank. Instead I am Ann, the name on my birth certificate and the name on my hospital bracelet, because…
Greyowl
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 7:46amIt is sad times we are living in. For all the education and technology we possess as a nation, some have to revert to archaic behavior. I can‘t say childish because most children I know don’t behave that badly.
Report Post »On The Bayou
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:06amIt is part of the division of this country created by Barac Obama. Hating Religion has become popular. Hating people that Love Jesus has somehow become popular. This addministration has open the door to attacks on religion excluding Islam. Islam has become protected in this country as it should by a President named Barac Hussien Obama. By the way when he changed his name from Barry to Barac he did not convert to Islam, he remained a Christain.
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:24amHow horribly sad that these hate filled people choose to voice their anger by defacing beautiful churches and temples. The buildings are houses of God but the people carry the true faith.
Report Post »Society once again downgrades itself by these horrid actions.
barber2
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 7:46amJust more of the Occupy mentality. Anarchists. Atheists. Hate in action. Thanks, Democrats.
Report Post »moussiagilda
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:02amThere ******is****** no Occupy movement! It’s fake! It’s a media invention!
I took off my cast alone in my room last night.
Report Post »