A New York state senator is advocating for enhanced security measures following a series of criminal incidents at Catholic parishes on Staten Island. Recent acts targeting churches include vandalism with human feces at St. Sylvester’s Church on Christmas Day, theft from the rectory at St. Roch’s Roman Catholic Church, and a disruptive break-in at St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church. The incident at St. Ann’s involved the destruction of an angel statue, theft of religious items, and damage to the sanctuary floor, resulting in injuries to two responding police officers. State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton described the events as "vile" acts of defacement and theft, emphasizing that people should not feel unsafe where they worship.
about 2 months ago
Multiple Catholic parishes on Staten Island have faced vandalism and crimes in recent weeks.1 2
St. Sylvester’s Church was defaced with human feces on Christmas Day during morning Mass, captured on camera.1 2
Father Jacob Thumma described the perpetrator as possibly homeless or disturbed, expressing pity for the act on a joyful day.1 2
At St. Roch’s Roman Catholic Church on December 28, a burglar entered the rectory and stole a towel.1 2
St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church in Dongan Hills saw a violent interruption during 7 a.m. Mass.1 2
An assailant broke an angel statue, stole a missal and cross from the altar, tore down flowers, and damaged the marble floor.1 2
Two responding police officers were injured in the process.1 2
State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton called the acts “vile” and “extremely troubling.”1 2
She has contacted affected churches and the local police precinct, all within her district.1 2
The senator believes the incidents are unique and not coordinated.1 2
She seeks a meeting with police and clergy to explore support options.1 2
Scarcella-Spanton advocates using New York’s Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes program.1 2
The program offers grants for houses of worship to fund security like cameras or personnel.1 2
“Church is a place of peace and reflection; nobody should feel unsafe where they pray,” she stated.1 2
The attack at St. Ann’s resonates deeply with the senator.1 2
She grew up in Dongan Hills, attended CCD there, and her children went to preschool at the parish.1 2
“I can’t imagine how scary that must have been for people,” she said.1 2
Assess Catholic churches’ security responsibilities per canon law
Catholic canon law imposes clear duties on those responsible for churches to ensure their security, encompassing physical maintenance, protection of sacred goods, vigilant administration, and safeguarding of documents. These responsibilities aim to preserve churches as houses of God, excluding anything inappropriate and protecting ecclesiastical patrimony through diligence, insurance, and oversight by ordinaries. Key canons emphasize proactive measures like locks, insurance, and removal of sacred items during changes in use, reflecting a tradition from medieval councils to modern guidelines.
Canon law mandates that churches maintain cleanliness and beauty befitting a house of God, while excluding whatever is inappropriate to their holiness. Those responsible—typically pastors or administrators—must use ordinary care for preservation and fitting means of security to protect sacred and precious goods. This includes preventing damage or loss, underscoring a baseline security expectation for the physical structure and its contents.
Historical precedent reinforces this: the Fourth Lateran Council decreed that chrism and the Eucharist must be kept locked away in a safe place in all churches to prevent impious acts, with penalties for negligence such as suspension or graver punishment. Such measures highlight the Church's long-standing commitment to securing the most sacred elements against unauthorized access.
Administrators of ecclesiastical goods, including parish priests, are bound to act with the diligence of a good householder. Canon 1284 outlines specific security-related obligations:
These duties extend to movable heritage like sacred furnishings, which must be conserved under the administrator's oversight, supervised by the ordinary. Negligence can lead to intervention by the ordinary. Guidelines strongly recommend annual budgets for incomes and expenditures to support security planning.
Ordinaries (bishops) exercise careful vigilance over the administration of goods belonging to public juridic persons, issuing special instructions within universal and particular law. They oversee conservation efforts, potentially requiring insurance, and can intervene in cases of administrator negligence.
Diocesan archives exemplify structured security: documents must be protected with the greatest care, stored in a safe place with an inventory and synopsis. The archive is locked, accessible only by the bishop and chancellor or authorized personnel, ensuring controlled access. Interested parties may obtain authentic copies of public documents related to their status.
When a church faces decommissioning, alienation, or demolition, security intensifies for movable heritage. Sacred objects, relics, furnishings, altars, etc., must be removed for use elsewhere or ecclesiastical custody before profane use; altars, if immovable, must be destroyed per canons 1212 and 1238.
The Church prioritizes the original church setting for cultural goods to serve worship and avoid risks. Upon change of use, sacred items become incompatible with profane destinations, requiring early planning and expert advice to prevent dispersal or mistreatment. Administrators must oversee this under ordinary supervision, aligning with broader conservation duties.
Even in civil contexts, protections persist: the 1933 Concordat with Germany guarantees that no building dedicated to public worship may be destroyed without ecclesiastical consent.
While canon law provides robust frameworks, implementation relies on local customs, civil laws, and particular norms. Controversies may arise in decommissioning, where balancing patrimony conservation with pastoral needs requires ordinary guidance. Sources emphasize prevention over reaction, with insurance and vigilance as practical tools. No sources address modern threats like cyber risks directly, but general diligence applies analogously.
In summary, canon law frames church security as a sacred trust: administrators provide day-to-day diligence, ordinaries offer oversight, and all protect goods for divine worship. Faithful adherence ensures churches remain secure sanctuaries, as echoed from Lateran IV to contemporary guidelines.