PA Bill Would Target Church, Synagogue, Mosque And Cemetery Vandals

HARRISBURG, PA — District attorneys across the state would have expanded options for combating vandalism of faith institutions, cemeteries or memorials under a bill about to be introduced in the state Senate.

Four Democratic senators - Sharif Street and Christine Tartaglione, both of Philadelphia; Judith Schwank of Berks County and Vincent Hughes of Montgomery County - are proposing a measure to tweak the existing state institutional vandalism law. In a recent joint statement, they did not specify the exact changes that will be proposed.

"Over the past few years we’ve seen churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship targeted deliberately by those who wish to express hate," the quartet wrote.

"Recently, a “National Day of Hate” garnered significant attention and warnings from law enforcement about possible attacks on religious institutions across the United States. This rhetoric has consequences."

In the Philadelphia area, Jewish cemeteries have been targeted by vandals and the Masjidullah mosque recently was defaced. In Reading, the Jesus is Alive World Center recently was severely damaged.

"These acts or threats are meant to intimidate entire religious groups and an inadequate response from government allows them to develop into further violent acts of hate," the quartet stated.

"This is unacceptable in our nation where we pride ourselves on our foundation of free exercise of religion."