Vandals deface church in Reseda (KTLA-TV / March 31, 2010) |
TARZANA -- Vandals struck a Lutheran church in the San Fernando Valley overnight, spray-painting vulgar, sacrilegious messages on the building's doors and windows.
Police say they are investigating the incident as a hate crime, according to LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman of the Media Relations office.
Investigators from the multi-agency House of Worship Task Force were assigned to the case, Eisenman said.
Los Angeles Police officials say an officer was driving by the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church at 6220 Corbin Avenue in Reseda around 8:00 a.m. Wednesday morning when he noticed the graffiti.
Other residents saw the graffiti, too, and called police.
"I'm disgusted," said Maryanne Wilcox who lives near the church.
"It's ignorance. It really is ignorance," Wilcox said.
Detectives say there are at least 10 different messages scrawled across the church -- almost every wall and door is covered with the hateful images.
One message read "Revelation 666," referring to the anti-Christ. Another said "Satan Lives."
Others referenced Jesus and the Virgin Mary along with profanity and the words "False Messiah."
Pastor Sean DeFrain says he's shocked by what happened but vowed that Sunday's Easter services will not be affected by the vandalism.
"This is holy week. This is the week where we see God's love poured out for us through Jesus' death on the cross to pay for our sins," DeFrain told KTLA.
"The idea that their response to this is that it's cool or funny to go and destroy a church is just a sad rejection of God's love."
"It's terrible. Right around Easter. Good Friday. This is what they want to do? Trespassing, graffiti, vandalism, " said resident Roni Hollander who is outraged.
The damage is estimated to be in the thousands of dollars.
Pastor DeFrain says St. John's is a small church that doesn't have a lot of money to spare for things like this, but he is still trying to forgive whoever did this.
"There is still forgiveness. The Lord still loves them despite their really hateful attitude towards Him," DeFrain said.
Police say they are investigating the incident as a hate crime, according to LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman of the Media Relations office.
Investigators from the multi-agency House of Worship Task Force were assigned to the case, Eisenman said.
Los Angeles Police officials say an officer was driving by the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church at 6220 Corbin Avenue in Reseda around 8:00 a.m. Wednesday morning when he noticed the graffiti.
Other residents saw the graffiti, too, and called police.
"I'm disgusted," said Maryanne Wilcox who lives near the church.
"It's ignorance. It really is ignorance," Wilcox said.
Detectives say there are at least 10 different messages scrawled across the church -- almost every wall and door is covered with the hateful images.
One message read "Revelation 666," referring to the anti-Christ. Another said "Satan Lives."
Others referenced Jesus and the Virgin Mary along with profanity and the words "False Messiah."
Pastor Sean DeFrain says he's shocked by what happened but vowed that Sunday's Easter services will not be affected by the vandalism.
"This is holy week. This is the week where we see God's love poured out for us through Jesus' death on the cross to pay for our sins," DeFrain told KTLA.
"The idea that their response to this is that it's cool or funny to go and destroy a church is just a sad rejection of God's love."
"It's terrible. Right around Easter. Good Friday. This is what they want to do? Trespassing, graffiti, vandalism, " said resident Roni Hollander who is outraged.
The damage is estimated to be in the thousands of dollars.
Pastor DeFrain says St. John's is a small church that doesn't have a lot of money to spare for things like this, but he is still trying to forgive whoever did this.
"There is still forgiveness. The Lord still loves them despite their really hateful attitude towards Him," DeFrain said.
