Rosedale Church Attacked Again

St. Clares Church in Rosedale, the church that recently had been attacked three times by vandals, has been struck again.
Last Wednesday, a statue of Jesus Christ on the churchs front lawn was thrown down and broken in the shoulder and hip areas in what could be the fourth bias crime committed on the church since August 11.
The same statue was damaged on Sept. 25, when the arms of Christ were broken off and the statue was knocked over.
At the time, Monsignor James Cooney said there would be an increase of security around the church. Now, police have an even more visible presence in the area, said Cooney, though Cooney believes the attackers have struck for the final time.
"I imagine itll stop now, but itll be kind of good if it doesnt, because then well catch them," said Cooney.
Cooney described the deliberation of the attackers, who used a sharp object to break the fiberglass statue.
"They kept banging and put holes in the shoulder and side," Cooney said. "Well get it repaired and put it up again. Well do it as long as we can, and if we have to, well get another statue. We cant be threatened by this person."
On August 11, the vandals threw a trash can at a statue of St. Teresa behind the church, breaking the statues outer casing. And on September 18, a thrown beer bottle broke one of the churchs outer windows.
Still, Cooney said hes not afraid to walk around Rosedale at night, noting that the attacks have been carried out in the wee morning hours and on objects at the church not people.
"This is such a peaceful area. Everyone feels safe at night," he said.
A spokesperson for the New York Police Department said that the investigation was ongoing.