The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, Colorado was vandalised in the early morning hours of October 10. The vandals painted graffiti messages that read “Satan Lives Here” and “Illuminati”, as well as swastikas, on the façade of the gothic structure. A spray-painted message on the front doors of the church made a reference to child rapists.
“It's attacking the Catholic Church for being Catholic in ways that are so stereotypical, but also so debasing,” Fr Samuel Morehead told reporters. “Of course, it’s a Sunday morning so we’re preparing for multiple Masses down here and hundreds of people coming to the cathedral. At the very least it’s a big distraction. At worse, a horrible discouragement to our people and our greater community.”
The archdiocese of Denver said: “It continues to be troubling to see the increased reports of vandalism at Catholic churches, both across the county and in our archdiocese, and it is certainly unfortunate when our parishes are targeted simply because of our beliefs.”
The archdiocese said Catholics would “pray for the conversion of those who carry out acts of desecration against our churches, statues and religious symbols”.
According to the archdiocese, 25 churches have been vandalised or robbed since February 2020. Some churches have been defaced with pro-abortion messages. The church of the Sacred Heart of Mary in Boulder, a college town north of Denver, had the message: “Jesus loves abortion” spray painted on it, and someone painted “my body, my choice” on a white truck in the parking lot. The vandals also destroyed a display of crosses on the church lawn, erected as part of a pro-life witness.
“You’re sad, but then I was angry. Then my heart kind of went out for them as far as you’ve got to be really hurting to do this kind of destruction,” a parishioner told local news.
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