Alaska cathedral vandalized

From The Catholic Anchor:

The historic Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage was vandalized on Dec. 2. The Dominican priests who staff the parish found it damaged and in disarray at about 4:30 p.m.

A video of the damage taken by Dominican Father Mark Francis Manzano shows overturned pews, spilt holy water, toppled liturgical furniture, including the archbishop’s presider’s chair and debris scattered throughout the sanctuary. Advent candles and the ambo were also thrown to the floor and a microphone connected to the sound system was ripped out.

On his Facebook page Father Manzano noted that while the damage was considerable, “it could have been much worse.”

“By the grace of God, the tabernacle, the relics, and the ambry were all secured and left untouched,” he observed.

…A week prior vandals damaged one of the priests’ cars, busting a back window. Over the last few years the cathedral has been targeted by vandals who have damaged outdoor statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary as well as a number of saint statues.

In the most recent incident the tabernacle was undamaged and that the Blessed Sacrament was not violated but the altar was stripped.

Police are investigating the incident.

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