After yet another Catholic Church in New York City was vandalized earlier this week the Ancient Order of Hibernians has once again called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to speak out against what has been a rash of such attacks in recent months.
"Another week, Another Hate Attack on a Catholic Church, More Mayoral Silence," was the heading atop a release from the Hibernians, the second such in recent days that is focusing on a series of attacks on churches.
The Hibernians, in their statement, said that on Tuesday, August 17th at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Flushing, Queens, a statue of St. Bernadette was deliberately destroyed.
The statue of St. Bernadette and Our Lady of Lourdes had recently been dedicated in memory of those lost to the Coronavirus.
The statement continued: "The attack on St. Michael’s is only the latest in a disturbing rise in hate crimes targeting Catholic Churches in New York City:
"During the weekend of August 6th, a statue of Our Lady was set on fire at Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mary Church in The Bronx.
"On July 17, a statue of the Blessed Mother, and St. Therese at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Forest Hills, Queens was destroyed. This was the second attack on the statues in a week.
"On May 28, the Blessed Mother statue at St. Adalbert’s in Queens was smashed.
"On May 17, a Crucifix was destroyed at St. Athanasius Roman Catholic Church in Bensonhurst.
"On May 15, a vandal destroyed the statues of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Sacred Heart of Jesus outside Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Staten Island."
The statement contended that Mayor de Blasio "has been very quick to publicly and rightly condemn acts of faith targeting other faiths.
"However, we can not help but notice the disturbing, deafening silence from the Mayor concerning heinous acts of hate targeting Catholics. We are reminded of the Roman legal maxim “Qui Tacet Consentire Videtur”, “He Who is Silent is Taken to Agree."
The statement said that the Ancient Order of Hibernians condemned both this wave of vandalism, and "the selective outrage" by the Mayor and elected officials.
"We urge our members to contact Mayor Bill de Blasio and let him know that there can be no tolerance for acts of hate targeting people of any faith, nor can there be a double standard of outrage."
