Anchorage cathedral shocked but resolute in responding to vandalism
During daylight hours in early December, Holy Family Cathedral was vandalized. Nearly life-size, solid-wood statues, including one of the Holy Family — the Infant Jesus, Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph grouped together — were toppled to the floor, the main altar was stripped, and even the top of the tabernacle was knocked to the ground. That night, two intruders tried to break into the second floor rooms of the priests’ residence — steps from the church. These acts are part of a growing litany of attacks against the cathedral: In November, someone torched an outdoor statue of Mary and defecated across the church courtyard facing busy 5th Avenue. In 2013 someone charged the altar during Mass; in 2012 two priests were physically assaulted. The violence has left local Catholics wondering how the cathedral walks the fine line between keeping doors open to all comers and preserving peace and reverence for the house of God.
