Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
Recent vandalism at a Wichita church has caught the attention of President Donald Trump. At a press conference, reporter Owen Jensen of news EWTN asked him what the administration can do to protect churches under attack.
“Well, we’re going to take a look,” Trump said. “I love Wichita.”
The vandalism came after a satanic group announced they would hold an event to consecrate the Kansas State Capitol to the service of Satan. As Metro Voice reported, police arrived at St. Patrick Catholic Church finding hate speech written on a wall, damage to statues, candles and glass, and a burned U.S. flag. Parishioners were unable to worship that day. The Sunday Mass was held in the church’s school gym.
“I think it’s a terrible thing,” Trump said about the vandalism in remarks during a press availability at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Bishop Carl A. Kemme of the Diocese of Wichita expressed his deep concern about the incident. “Their resilience was evident, especially after the heartbreaking church attack,” he said. “Our faith community stands strong in the face of such deplorable acts.”
Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kan., also spoke out about the incident. “This is despicable,” he posted on Facebook. “Violence and vandalism, especially in a sacred space, have no place here in Kansas.”
The Wichita Fire Department, the FBI and the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assisted in the investigation because of arson. Fox News confirmed the satanic message left on the church wall represented “the face of evil,” according to the Kansas Catholic Conference.
Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, added, “This reprehensible act of vandalism will not be tolerated. Our sacred spaces must be protected, and our community will remain unbowed by these attempts to intimidate people of faith.”
Police arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of burglary, criminal desecration and criminal damage to property in connection with the vandalism. Federal authorities investigate the incident as a potential hate crime.
A person affiliated with the church said the vandalism has been cleaned up and Mass again is being held in the church. “Thanks be to God, we had a crew yesterday and they did a really good job cleaning up,” he said.
Meanwhile, legal action filed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City seeks to stop satanists from conducting their planned ceremony at the Kansas statehouse later this month. The growing satanic activity has raised concerns among religious leaders nationwide.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
