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There are indicators that violence towards church buildings within the US is on the rise, in accordance the Family Research Council (FRC).
There have been 69 acts of vandalism towards US church buildings within the first quarter of 2023, up from 22 in the identical interval final 12 months, and 15 in 2018, based on a report from the organisation.
Data for the primary quarter of this 12 months exhibits that many of the assaults occurred in January – 43 incidents. There have been an extra 14 in February and 12 in March.
They spanned 29 states and ranged from bomb threats and arson, to acts of vandalism. There have been three gun-related incidents.
Vandalism accounted for many of the incidents coated by the report.
Cases cited by the FRC included Dellabrook Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the place vandals sprayed the sanctuary with a fireplace extinguisher.
At Holy Nation Church in Memphis, Tennessee, audio-visual gear was stolen.
Jesus Is Alive World Reading Center in Reading, Pennsylvania, was badly broken when vandals destroyed their sound gear, a podium, stained-glass home windows, a piano and the carpet.
A pipe bomb was found outdoors St Dominic Catholic Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Missouri was spray-painted with the phrases “Trans PWR”, whereas one other church in Riverview, Florida, was graffitied with the slogan “Womens physique womens alternative”.
The Family Research Council stated, “Criminal acts of vandalism and destruction of church property are symptomatic of a collapse in societal reverence and respect for homes of worship and faith—on this case, church buildings and Christianity.
“Some individuals seem more and more snug lashing out towards church buildings, pointing to a bigger societal drawback of marginalizing core Christian beliefs, together with people who contact on hot-button political points associated to human dignity and sexuality.
“The anger and division that more and more characterize American society are endangering church buildings and eroding non secular freedom.
“When congregants really feel focused by members of their communities or church buildings bear the brunt of shock over political occasions, the very potential to reside out one’s religion safely is beneath assault.
“Violent or harmful incidents that intrude with a person’s lawful free train of faith at their home of worship current a big nationwide problem.”
