On the night of October 5, 2025, three churches in New York were targeted by a masked individual carrying an LGBT flag who left messages openly hostile to the Christian faith. The incidents, which took place in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, were made public by authorities after a video was released by the New York Police Department Crime Stoppers.
Between 1:40 AM and 2:00 AM, the suspect successively attacked Christ Refuge Church, Oasis and Deliverance City Church, and then St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, leaving inscriptions described as anti-Christian statements. On the grounds of St. Mary's Church, the individual also painted on "the faces of two religious statues", adding an obvious dimension of desecration to the gravity of the act.
The video shows a person wearing a rainbow mask, dressed in black, wearing dark glasses, and holding an LGBT flag attached to a pole. Law enforcement has clearly indicated their desire to identify this suspect, stating that these acts of vandalism constitute a "criminal mischief as a hate crime" according to a release from the 101st Precinct.
The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is now leading the investigation, highlighting the ideological and targeted nature of this attack on places of worship.
Reaction of the Catholic Diocese
The Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, which encompasses churches in Brooklyn and Queens, reacted firmly to the desecration at St. Mary's. In a statement relayed by ABC 7 Eyewitness News, it declared: "The Diocese of Brooklyn thanks the New York Police Department (NYPD) for its diligence and ongoing investigation in this matter," expressing gratitude for the work of law enforcement. The diocese described the acts committed as "absolutely shameful," adding that it continues to pray for the perpetrator as well as for a climate of greater religious tolerance in the city.
A Concerning Rise in Hostile Acts Towards Churches
This incident fits into a broader context of increasing hostile acts targeting Christian communities. The Family Research Council, in a recently published report, notes 415 acts of hostility committed last year against 383 churches across 43 U.S. states.
This report, based on public documents, press articles, and official data, emphasizes that "the motivations for many incidents remain unknown," but that the increase in these crimes is occurring in a climate where "fewer Americans attend religious services or identify with a particular faith."
A Wound for the Faithful and a Call to Vigilance
The desecration of these three New York churches, whether Protestant communities or the Catholic St. Mary's Church, testifies to a growing rejection of Christianity in certain activist circles. The fact that the suspect displayed an ideological symbol during the acts clearly shows that religious hostility is no longer merely latent but is now openly displayed.
Through the diocese's reaction, the Church reminds us of the necessity to defend places of worship, to denounce acts of hate, while praying for the conversion of those who attack the sacred. In the face of increasing attacks, Christian communities are called to remain united, vigilant, and faithful to their mission of truth and charity.