(Calgary Herald) Calgary police are investigating after at least 11 city Catholic churches were vandalized.
The acts of vandalism discovered on Canada Day appear to be the latest in a series of recent protests against the church’s historic involvement in Canada’s residential school system.
The vandalism at the churches included spattered paint over a statue of Jesus Christ, painted handprints on doors and text reading “Charge the priests” and “Our lives matter.”
At one church, a window was smashed so paint could also be thrown inside. At another, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Renfrew, the number 751 was spray-painted across the sign, a reference to the 751 unmarked graves identified by Saskatchewan’s Cowessess First Nation at the site of the former Marieval Indian Residential School.
Police said the vandalism is thought to have taken place late Wednesday or early Thursday morning.
Police said vandalism like this is illegal, however, adding it creates further division within Calgary. They said they are searching for those responsible.
“Investigators are currently examining the evidence at the scenes and looking for any CCTV that could help identify those involved,” police said.
On Twitter on Thursday, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney called the vandalism “appalling.”
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