JOHNSTON -- The recent vandalism of a statue of Jesus and spray-paint attack on Catholic beliefs outside Our Lady of Grace Church has been classified as a hate crime, the police said.
Police Chief Richard Tamburini said the classification carries heavier penalties and fines and elevates the investigation to a level that may involve the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"There's no question it's a willful and malicious act," Tamburini said on Friday. "It does meet the hate crime criteria."
Last week, a vandal coated the statue of the Good Shepherd with black spray-paint and blotted out a pro-life prayer on its pedestal that reads, "Please pray for an end to abortion."
The vandal scrawled "anti-choice Nazis" along a band of stones bordering the figure.
Tamburini said detectives are investigating the crime and do not have any suspects.
The chief said he notified the state attorney general's office last week and will probably call the Providence office of the FBI this week.
State law defines a hate crime as "any crime motivated by bigotry and bias, including but not limited to threatened, attempted, or completed acts that appear after investigation to have been motivated by racial, religious, ethnic, sexual orientation gender or disability prejudice."
Separate federal laws might apply to the case, Tamburini said.
The vandalism also falls under a section of state law regarding the "desecration of places of public assemblage," Tamburini said.
The law is broad and defines such desecration as willful or malicious damage done to churches, synagogues or other religious structures, cemeteries, public buildings, schools and community meeting places.
Tamburini said each violation carries a fine of up to $10,000 and five years in jail. He said he hopes the stiff penalty will send a clear message to the community and the vandal.
"This is not a child's prank," he said. "We'll do everything we can to prevent this from happening again. We're not letting this just disappear."
Parishioners of the church -- including Tamburini himself -- were shocked at the bold attack and wondered how it could happen here. Tamburini said there has never been a similar hate crime during his tenure as chief, about nine years.
Of the four Catholic churches in town, it appears only Our Lady of Grace displays a bold anti-abortion message in front of its main entrance.
Last week, the Rev. Douglas Spina, pastor of the church, said the prayer is central to Catholic belief and that parishioners would not be intimidated.
Phone calls of surprise and support rolled in, Spina said, about the marring of the statue, which was shipped to Johnston from Italy in 1999.
Last Saturday a candlelight vigil around the statue and a late afternoon Mass were planned.
Spina, who is also chaplain to the Police and Fire Departments, said he wanted parishioners to see the damage and pray for the vandal.
He said the graffiti would be removed today.
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