SW News: There appears to be no end to the systematic targeting of Catholic churches and shrines by vandals in the US. In the recent incident, the grotto of Our Lady of Fatima on the premises of the Nativity Catholic Church in Burke, Virginia, was vandalized on Tuesday night. Four statues of the grotto, including the statue of Our Lady, were irreparably damaged.

The figures of the three Fatima visionaries, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta, had their heads knocked off, and one of the statue’s heads was taken away from the scene. In addition, one figure had its hands severed, said Fairfax County police. The Church authorities said that they would be replacing the statues.

 “The Grotto is a place of prayer, peace, and healing. We pray for the person or persons who desecrated this sacred space and for peace in our world and the end of violence,” added the parish authorities. They also urged everyone to “be people of peace who value and respect one another.”

Calling the incident “a tragic and senseless defacing of the sacred,” Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington called for prayer for the perpetrator, “as any motive behind such an act reflects a troubled soul in need of Our Lord.”

The attack was also condemned by the chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Jeffrey McKay. In a statement released on January 26, McKay said that the “destruction of property and disrespect to our Catholic community is alarming because, at its core, it makes people feel unsafe.” He also promised that he will make sure that everybody is safe in the community.