Attacks on Catholic churches have increased since the leak of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which recommended overturning Roe v. Wade and allowing the various states to determine the legal status of abortion within their borders. The U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which began tracking attacks against Catholic churches, including arson, vandalism and destruction of property, reports that there have been at least 134 such attacks across 35 states and Washington, DC since May 2020. They report, also, that there has been an uptick of such attacks since the leak of the Supreme Court draft. Many of the attacks have been committed by pro-abortion vandals:

May 3 – Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Boulder, CO was defaced with pro-abortion slogans, including “My Body, My Choice.”

May 7 – St. John XXIII Church in Fort Collins, CO was also defaced with the “My Body, My Choice” slogan, along with an “A” that may stand for “anarchy.” Exterior glass panels were broken.

May 7 – pro-abortion protesters disrupted a monthly pro-life march from Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Lower Manhattan to the local Planned Parenthood clinic. Fr. Brian Graebe, pastor, reported that the parish had received “a number of threats to bomb the church, burn it down.”

May 8 – pro-abortion protesters dressed up in “handmaids” costumes disrupted Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, CA, shouting and unfurling a banner.

May 8 – “Pro-choice is pro-life” was spray-painted on the front and side doors of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Houston, TX.

May 17 – vandals destroyed statues in an Our Lady of Fatima Grotto at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in New York City.

May 15 – vandals destroyed the statues of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on Staten Island.

May 22 – St. Michael Catholic Church in Olympia, WA was defaced with the words “Abort the church” spray-painted on a wall. The Bo Brown Memorial Cell of Jane’s Revenge claimed responsibility, along with attacks on three non-Catholic churches.

What is especially disturbing is that, since the Supreme Court draft was leaked, there have been two instances of tabernacles being stolen, one in Brooklyn and one in Katy, TX, and a third instance where a vandal attempted to desecrate the Eucharist at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Katy, TX. Ruth Sent Us, a pro-abortion activist group, has threatened to “burn the Eucharist.” It may be that these thefts of tabernacles are simply robberies, or it may be they are connected with efforts to target the Blessed Sacrament.

The Catholic Church has been the most consistent and most vocal institution in America on the moral horror of abortion and on the failure that abortion is in respecting human life and in caring for the most vulnerable among us, including both the pre-born child and his or her mother. As well, pro-abortion “rights” advocates have shown no hesitation in targeting the Catholic Church, in particular, in their rhetoric and in their actions in favor of abortion. Ruth Sent Us, especially, has been clear in their calls to attack Catholic Churches, disrupt Masses, and “burn the Eucharist.” Catholics should not be surprised that our churches are targeted. We should expect it. It’s part of the price we pay for being faithful to the demand of Christ to protect the least among us.

Pray for the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Pray for the pre-born and for their mothers. Pray that Catholics and others will step up to meet the needs of those who fear they have no other option but to abort – and then step up to help. Pray for the conversion of the hearts of those filled with anger and fear over the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade. Pray for state legislatures to have the courage to act to outlaw abortion in their states and to create real options for women and their children.

“In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world” (John 16:33).

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.