For the second time in six months, St. Andrew Catholic Church in Eagle River has suffered a vandalism attack.
The night before Thanksgiving, a vandal spray painted nine large phallic symbols on the outside of the church. The images are nearly identical to those sprayed on the building in May, when nails were also scattered across the parking lot. That initial vandalism occurred one day after the U.S. Supreme Court’s draft opinion was leaked, indicating that it was about to overturn Roe v. Wade. It was also the night before the parish hosted a widely publicized talk on gender identity by conservative Catholic author and speaker Jason Evert.
“Being hit twice in about six months, and seeing what’s happening around the country – it’s the same thing – I think people need to become aware of it,” said St. Andrew pastor Father Arthur Roraff. “We thought it would go away, but it isn’t. It’s continuing on.”
Like last time, a police report has been filed, but Roraff said the first instance has yet to be resolved by law enforcement.
“People are mad. They are frustrated and angry, but’s it is tempered,” he said. “We take seriously being Catholic, so there is a sense of charity. Obviously, the people who did this aren’t well, and so there’s sympathy, but the fact that it has happened twice, and it continues to happen around the country, and nothing seems to be changing is frustrating.”
Roraff said he wants the public to be aware because it’s not an isolated event. Other faith-based Alaska entities have also been targeted by vandals this year.
“Houses of worship are sacred – set apart to be treated with special care and respect. The civic peace of a pluralistic society requires that people are free to worship without fear.”
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
In June, a prominent pro-life pregnancy center in Anchorage was vandalized with graffiti, a broken front door and nails placed upright in the cracks of the parking lot. That attack came during a national wave of damages suffered by pro-life centers and churches in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned.
Then, in August, Ammo-Can Coffee, a popular coffeeshop among conservative-minded, faith-filled Alaskan patriots on the Kenai Peninsula, had the words “TRAITORS” sprayed on its outside windows. The store’s locks were also filled with superglue.
Father Roraff said the most recent attack on St. Andrews suggests an ongoing problem in Alaska.
“I would never have thought that the night before Thanksgiving this would happen,” he said. “It is just happening more. I want someone to keep a record of this, so people are at least aware that it’s a problem, and that it’s ongoing.”
According to the most recent FBI statistics there were 1,244 religiously motivated hate crimes reported across the U.S. in 2020 with 73 being anti-Catholic. That represents an annual increase in anti-Catholic hate crimes since 2013. There were 64 reported in 2019, and 51 in 2018.
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CatholicVote, a national Catholic advocacy group, launched an interactive map earlier this year documenting attacks on Catholic churches since 2020. According to the group, there have been at least 246 attacks against U.S. Catholic churches since the start of 2020. This includes arson, which damaged or destroyed historic churches; spray-painting and graffiti of satanic messages; rocks and bricks thrown through windows; and beheaded statues.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reports similar findings across the country.
“These incidents undermine life and dignity for all,” the U.S. Bishops’ website states. “Houses of worship are sacred – set apart to be treated with special care and respect. The civic peace of a pluralistic society requires that people are free to worship without fear.”
The bishops note that the government has “the duty to foster the conditions in which religion can thrive,” and they “urge governmental officials to shine a light on this problem by speaking up when churches and other houses of worship are attacked.”
20 Comments
I say it’s about time to end this WOKE CRAP, the LGBTQ+ agenda, all this liberal crap that has been going on since Groper Joe took office. I say no more taking down statues, destroying our kids lives in schools. enough, is enough. Ever since Obummer was president for 8 wasted years and now two more under Groper Joe it’s been total chaos and I’m fed up with it. I didn’t giveth best 20 years of my life defending this crap going on now. My generation delt with Vietnam. We were forced into fighting because of the draft. we didn’t like it but we still served. The cowards ran to Canada. Then Billy Clinton the biggest traitor pardoned all of the cowards and they came back to our country. We delt with it. Coming back from Nam we were spit on. We didn’t get a parade in New York. we were treated like second class citizens. We manned up and delt with it. No we didn’t like it, but we didn’t whine, cry, tear things up/down to change it. we delt with it. This crap needs to stop and it needs to stop now. I’ll stop here but I have way more to say. Last thing, this piece of garbage spray painting the Catholic Church because they know they can get away with it needs to be held accountable.
Dear Editor: Please post your comments policy. I thought you prohibited derogatory name calling, as does Must Read Alaska. Please clarify.
Whidbey, so now you guys are going after the editors and authors huh? (Rule #12) I noticed the comments starting to be directed at them in the last week or so.
If it concerns you so much and you know the policies, why don’t you copy and paste them here or put a link to them so that people can see them and learn what they are?
Have a guilty conscience widbey the mutt?
Thank you for your service. My father fought in Vietnam; I am glad he is no longer with us to see what is happening to his beloved country.
Neil
WELCOME HOME
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
They are not mad at people…Remember, they are mad at God. When His people stand up for righteousness, the unrighteous are convicted of their sin. Sin that they KNOW is wrong, but they don’t want God’s way, they want their OWN way. They want to BE gods where each individual decides for themselves what is right and wrong. Right and Wrong PROVE the existence of God. God’s image is on everything and every institution He created. Transgenderism, the practice of homosexuality, and the killing of life in the womb are strikes against the image. One could even say a church building represents God and His human followers. Someone who is mad at God is having their say. A vandal like this is someone Christ died for. Someone for whom abundant grace and pardon is granted if they would but humble their hearts and believe. Such was the Apostle Paul.
The irony is that these attacks on the Church just makes Her stronger. It is through the blood of Martyrs that the Church grows the fastest. These people need our prayers for their conversion. It may well be that these attacks will help our Bishop strengthen his will to do God’s will.
“Right and Wrong PROVE the existence of God.” That doesn’t make sense to me. I wonder if you can explain that to me Kathy.
Terry
I’ll give you a book that will answer all your questions.
Time for cameras and security.
These vandals are “well” enough, but they are full of hate because the Catholic Church (not so much their commie pope) stands for life. The haters worship at the altar of Molech.
These attacks on Sacred Ground just shows the type of low lives infecting our society. Acceptable behavior by Democrats in charge. Note the lack of FBI involvement on the hundreds of attacks across America on Faith based organizations. If it would had been at a last stop abortion camp, front page news on the electronic and print media would have greeted every Alaskan the day after.
Shift gears, Wiggi you mean like when all the supporters of the MAGA movement were called threats to America on National TV by Biden, that kind of slander? You have to be kidding Wiggi. When you become a politician you have to put your big boy boots on and take it just like you give it.
No security cameras?
Kathy: Having ‘their say’.. ends with our laws, human laws. But, most of rebuttals posted here at to take away voices others disagree with, to silence, threaten. God gave us brains and free will of expression that does not include destroying others properties, private of public.. Make the goofed up vandals clean every inch with toothbrushes, and repaint until perfect, with their own or parents money. We have allowed all kinds of lawlessness way too long. grandma
Al Giebel taught you well. Your hatred is showing.
Who is showing hatred?
Some dipshit adolescent teen found a new hobby and wants to share his discovery. Reminds me of the Battle Monument at West Point.
Two olives and a jalapeño. I am amazed the Church doesn’t have security cameras or security on site. This isn’t going away. We have to be prepared. Be strong and vigilant.
Hey Anon. I’d like to know which book will provide an answer to “Right and Wrong PROVE the existence of God.” Please don’t offer the bib;e though, there is nothing in there that PROVES the existence of a god.
If this church keeps getting Targeted by some insane imbecile, they are probably doing something right.