(Diocese of Brooklyn)
July 10, 2020 By Allie Griffin
A statue of the Virgin Mary in front of a Catholic high school in Elmhurst has been vandalized and the NYPD is investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
The word “IDOL” was spray painted down the front of the statue at Cathedral Prep School and Seminary, located at 56-25 92nd St.
Staff members first discovered the graffiti at 7:30 a.m. this morning, the Diocese of Brooklyn — which also covers the borough of Queens — announced. The statue has since been cleaned.
Surveillance footage from the scene shows an individual defacing the statue of Mary at 3:09 a.m. this morning, July 10.
Cathedral Prep Vandalism from Diocese of Brooklyn Press Office on Vimeo.
The statue of the mother of Jesus has stood in front of the school for decades. It originally stood at the school’s Brooklyn location but was moved to the Queens location when the two campuses merged in 1985.
Rector and President of Cathedral Prep, Father James Kuroly, condemned the act of vandalism.
“Today, Cathedral Prep endured an act of hatred,” Kuroly said. “We were victims of vandalism against a beloved statue that is dear to generations of Cathedral students.”
“Please continue praying for those who committed this act of vandalism and hatred toward Our Lady and the Church,” Father Kuroly said. “May Mary stand forever at the doors of Cathedral Prep greeting her sons.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the NYPD’s 110th Precinct at (718) 476-9311 or call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-8477.
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2 Comments
Potential hate crime??? What does it take to be an actual hate crime? I hope somebody’s camera got the future mug shot of this low life.
Glad the NYPD are investigating. It is a hate crime.