SW News: Citing the fact that there have been 120 incidents of attacks on Catholic churches, shrines and symbols in the US, a Catholic organization has criticized the Department of Justice (DOJ) for not doing enough to probe the rise in the number of such acts of vandalism.

The Catholic Vote said in a statement that last month it had informed Attorney General Merrick Garland about the spate of attacks on shrines, statues and churches in the country and urged a proper investigation.

In the wake of the recent vandalism of a grotto in Fairfax County in Virginia in which statues of Our Lady of Fatima and the three visionaries-Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia- were severely damaged, Catholic Vote issued a statement in which president Brian Burch blamed the Biden administration for “turning a blind eye” to the increasing acts of vandalism targeting Catholic churches. In an interview with Fox News Burch said he was not satisfied with the probe of the DOJ.

Burch said the responses of the DOJ points to inadequacies in the administration’s commitment to protecting the first amendment rights of all people of faith. He also urged the department to probe the hate attacks on churches and shrines belonging to Catholics. Last year, the US bishops had expressed dismay over the systematic targeting of churches, shrines and symbols in the country.