Vandalized Virgin Mary image at Saint Gregory Church in DorchesterBy Juan Perfetti
Editor of the Dorchester Post
Holden Matthews, the suspect of burning three Baptist churches in Louisiana a few weeks ago, was arrested and charged with hate crime.
In Boston, just a few days ago, the police reported that several churches were subject to vandalism, including the church of Saint Gregory in Dorchester where the Virgin Mary image was vandalized with a “red substance.”
While the police continue their investigations, it is convenient to mention that according to the Attorney General of Massachusetts, a hate crime is considered -among other things- when it is motivated by prejudice towards the victim resulting in damage to its property, and mainly when the offender targets the victim with a “protected characteristic,” in this case: religion.
The same course will apply if vandals attack a Synagogue, a Mosque, a Buddhist temple or the premises of an LGBTQ group. It was a disturbance motivated by bias towards all members of the Latin Catholic Church, and particularly to the parishioners of each of the affected churches.
It is imperative that prosecutors consider the “hate” factor as a motivator of this act, not only because the victims deserve justice, but because the crime might be an intent of threat, intimidation or coercion; elements that would establish a violation of the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act.
Although fortunately there was no direct physical harm to people in these cases, the matter requires to be dealt rigorously considering recent incidents involving the Church in the United States, the stabbing to a priest during a mass in Canada, and the horrific terrorist attacks in the Philippines and Sri Lanka. All against Latin Catholic believers… This year alone.
