News Summary
The Boston Police Department is investigating an act of vandalism involving a defaced Virgin Mary statue at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. The incident, occurring overnight, involved graffiti and is scrutinized for potential classification as a hate crime. City Councilor Ed Flynn called for an investigation as community responses highlight ongoing concerns about the protection of religious icons amid broader issues such as homelessness in the area. Another suspect was arrested for a related incident involving a crucifix.
Boston – The Boston Police Department is investigating an act of vandalism involving a statue of the Virgin Mary at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross located in the South End. The statue was defaced with graffiti, and the incident is under scrutiny for possible classification as a hate crime.
The vandalism occurred between approximately 8 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday at the Cathedral, located at 1400 Washington St. An officer from the Boston Police Department responded to the scene shortly before 9 a.m. on Thursday. Preliminary reports indicate that an unknown individual defaced the Virgin Mary statue with illegible religious writings made with pink chalk.
City Councilor Ed Flynn, who represents the South End, announced the vandalism on social media and has urged for an investigation into the act as a hate crime. Flynn drew correlations between this incident and similar attacks on religious statues reported in other locations, such as New York and Florida.
Despite the call for a hate crime classification, the police report currently does not categorize the incident as a hate or bias crime. Terrence Donilon, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Boston, confirmed awareness of the vandalism and stated the matter has been forwarded to law enforcement. He also mentioned that Cathedral staff promptly cleaned the statue, emphasizing that conclusions regarding the motivations behind the vandalism cannot be drawn at this time.
This latest incident is part of a broader issue facing the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, which has been grappling with increasing concerns related to homelessness in the area.
In a separate but related incident, a man named Michael Patzelt was arrested for vandalizing a crucifix outside the Cathedral, breaking off the statue’s arms. Patzelt, 37, faces charges of assault and malicious destruction of property with estimated damages of about $20,000. Witnesses attempted to intervene as Patzelt was witnessed hanging from the crucifix. Police were alerted when he displayed aggressive behavior towards nearby individuals.
The charges against Patzelt include both the recent vandalism incident at the Cathedral and his record of previous offenses involving vandalism and assault. The Boston Police Department is actively continuing its investigation into both the Virgin Mary statue defacement and the crucifix incident.
Community responses remain mixed as the police work through these incidents, and the local government grapples with the challenges presented by the intersection of public disorder and religious defacement. The acts of vandalism have sparked a dialogue about the need for better protection of religious icons and the underlying issues facing the community at large.
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Additional Resources
- Boston Herald: Boston City Councilor Calls for Hate Crime Investigation
- Wikipedia: Protect Religious Statues from Vandalism
- NBC Boston: Crucifix Outside of Boston Catholic Church Vandalized
- Google Search: Boston catholic church vandalism
- CBS News: Jesus Crucifixion Statue Vandalized
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Hate Crime
- MassLive: Statue Outside Cathedral of Holy Cross Vandalized
- Google News: Boston statue vandalism
- New York Post: Michael Patzelt Allegedly Vandalizes Boston Jesus Statue
- Google Scholar: Public Disorder and Religious Defacement
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
