The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department announced on Monday that it has initiated an investigation following the recent break-in and vandalism at a Catholic school in Long Beach, California.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Harmeet Dhillon, shared on X that the division will be probing this “awful crime” to seek justice.
The Holy Innocents Catholic School suffered significant damage when its assembly hall, chapel, and classrooms were breached by intruders, according to school officials.
Photographic evidence of the vandalism reveals that statues were shattered, images of Mary and other sacred figures were destroyed, and a photograph of the pope was found on the floor.
The incident at Holy Innocents Catholic School, which included desecration of the assembly hall, chapel, and classrooms, has drawn widespread attention. (KTTV)
Additionally, the school grounds were further defiled with human waste and partially eaten food and drinks, providing authorities with material for DNA testing as they continue to identify those responsible, as reported by Fox 11.
Local police and the FBI have been contacted about the incident.
Investigators said the church suffered an estimated $100,000 in damages from the break-in, Fox 11 reported.
Investigators said the church suffered an estimated $100,000 in damages from the break-in. (KTTV)
“Statues smashed. Images of Our Lady destroyed. The tabernacle thrown to the floor. This is one of the worst cases of vandalism the local bishop has ever seen. Hatred of Christ only destroys hearts. Pray for this school,” Lila Rose, president of pro-life group Live Action, wrote on X.
Members of the church said they were heartbroken after learning about the desecration.
“There are crucifixes. There are statues of the Blessed Mother. The tabernacle itself was taken and thrown on the floor and the Sacred House is there. That, to me, is more traumatizing than anything else. It’s not just the material things. It’s the heart behind the things,” Holy Innocents school principal Cyril Cruz told Fox 11, adding that “evil is out there, so we need to pray.”
Members of the church said they were heartbroken after learning about the desecration. (KTTV)
A GoFundMe launched to support the school has raised nearly $60,000 as of Tuesday morning.
“What appears to have been multiple perpetrators smashed statues and ruined images of our Lady, other statues as well, and threw the tabernacle down … Bishop Mark Trudeau said that it is the worst case of vandalism that he’s ever seen in the region,” the fundraiser reads.
