Angel statue beheaded, $2 million communion relic stolen at Brooklyn church

A New York City Catholic church was vandalized last week after someone broke in and beheaded an angel statue and stole a $2 million gold communion relic, authorities say.

The incident occurred at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn between Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon, The Associated Press reported. 

The church was under construction when the vandalism happened, and the cameras from the church were apparently stolen.

New York State Catholic Action Chairperson James Russell expressed outrage that the New York Police Department is not investigating the incident as a hate crime.

"When is enough, enough! Yet, again our churches have been desecrated. Why is this incident not being considered a hate crime?" he asked. "We encourage in the strongest terms possible that if you see something that isn’t right, say something!”

The Diocese of Brooklyn said the incident is "a brazen crime of disrespect and hate." 

The perpetrator or perpetrators cut through a protective metal case and stole a tabernacle, which contained Holy Communion items, the diocese said. 

The tabernacle, which dates to when the church opened in the 1890s, is made out of 18-carat gold and gems and is valued at $2 million.

The angel statues around the tabernacle were also destroyed, the church said. 

The eucharist bread was also taken from the tabernacle and strewn across the altar, authorities observed.

"This is devastating, as the Tabernacle is the central focus of our church outside of worship, holding the Body of Christ, the Eucharist, which is delivered to the sick and homebound," St. Augustine's Rev. Frank Tumino said. 

"To know that a burglar entered the most sacred space of our beautiful Church and took great pains to cut into a security system is a heinous act of disrespect," Tumino noted.