This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
A priest at Santa Monica Catholic Church made an unpleasant discovery just before Easter Sunday services were due to begin last weekend: Their 55-year-old statue of the Virgin Mary had been decapitated. The marble Mary has previously been the target of vandals, when in 2002 her hands and feet were removed by vandals, reports the LA Weekly. Worshippers were "shocked" according to a live report from the Church, where the statue has been draped in plastic and people have left flowers in tribute. Police are treating the beheading as a hate crime because of the significance of the Virgin Mary in the Catholic faith. Santa Monica Catholic Church is where Gov. Arnold Schwarzegger frequently attends services.
