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A Catholic Church named after St. Patrick in Wichita, Kansas, was vandalized with a Satanic message, leading to a hate crime investigation by federal and local authorities. The attack, which occurred on Saturday (March 15), resulted in extensive damage, including the beheading of a statue of St. Patrick, broken candles and windows, and a burned American flag. A Satanic website was also scrawled on the church's wall, according to the Catholic Conference of Kansas.
Police arrested a 23-year-old man, Michael Angel Gonzalez, from Saline County, in connection with the vandalism. He was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on charges of burglary, criminal desecration, and criminal damage to property. Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan described the attack as "disgusting" and emphasized that places of worship should be respected, regardless of denomination.
The church, which serves a predominantly Latino community, was unable to hold services on Saturday due to the damage. However, the congregation demonstrated resilience by holding a St. Patrick's Day parade the following day. The Kansas Catholic Conference called the incident a hate crime, noting that it reflects a disturbing national trend of increasing violence against Catholic churches since 2020.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack and are urging anyone with information to contact the police or Crime Stoppers. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County district attorney and federal prosecutors for formal charging considerations.
