The Church of the Gesu at Marquette University in Wisconsin was vandalized this week. The building just went through a $10 million renovation, and luckily, the damage wasn’t too extensive.
It’s difficult to understand what possesses someone to do something like this.
The College Fix reports:
Vandal smashes statues, overturns tables in Catholic church at MarquetteA Catholic church on Marquette University’s campus was vandalized Wednesday, leaving statues broken, candles strewn across the floor, and tables overturned.Parishioners at the Church of the Gesu “were interrupted by a crashing sound” in the morning, Marquette Wire reported.A bystander tried to intervene as a custodian alerted Marquette University Police, who arrested the suspect at the scene around 8 a.m., according to the school newspaper.“Marquette University was saddened to learn that early this morning, an individual not affiliated with the university vandalized and damaged property inside the Church of the Gesu, a sacred space for many in the Marquette community,” university spokesperson Kevin Conway said.He also stated that the investigation is ongoing and the school “will support the parish as we always have, bonded by our Catholic, Jesuit tradition and a shared desire to serve God in all things.”Fr. Michael Simone said his parishioners were distraught over the destruction of several items.“If I ever have the opportunity to talk to [the suspect] I’d say ‘Get yourself sorted out and come back and join the parish,’” he said.“He needs our prayers,” he said. “He needs our help.”
NBC News in Milwaukee has more on the suspect and a statement from the school:
Suspect arrested after vandalism at Church of the GesuPolice say a suspect was arrested this morning around 8:00 a.m. in connection with vandalism at the Church of the Gesu on the campus of Marquette University.According to arrest logs, the suspect is a 29-year-old man who was charged last week with resisting and obstructing an officer…Officials with Marquette University released this statement about the vandalism incident:”Marquette University was saddened to learn that early this morning, an individual not affiliated with the university vandalized and damaged property inside the Church of the Gesu, a sacred space for many in the Marquette community. The Marquette University Police Department has made an arrest in connection with this incident, and the investigation is ongoing. While the Church of the Gesu and Marquette are separately incorporated, we will support the parish as we always have, bonded by our Catholic, Jesuit tradition and a shared desire to serve God in all things.”
See a video report below:
Featured image via YouTube.
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