Brooklyn – State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) is announcing that he is posting a reward of $1000 for the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for the religious desecration discovered this morning on the grounds of St. Anselm’s Roman Catholic Church located on 4^thAvenue in Bay Ridge. 

Parishioners attending morning mass discovered an “X” on both the neck of the Virgin Mary statue in the prayer garden, and a similar marking on the side of the Jesus on the Crucifix at the corner of 4^th Avenue and 82^nd Street. The New York City Police Department is investigating the matter and members of Golden’s staff were on scene this morning,

Senator Marty Golden stated, “This morning, as followers of the Catholic faith were walking into St. Anselm’s Church, they noticed that a vandal had desecrated religious statues that are revered and offer hope to many. I can tell you that we will not stand for such acts of religious intolerance in our community, and I stand with my fellow St. Anselm’s parishioners in denouncing this cowardly act. We must bring this individual to justice and make sure that no further acts are committed at other houses of worship in our neighborhood.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the 68^th Precinct at (718) 439-4211 or Senator Golden’s office at (718) 238-6044