On Thursday, The Chattanooga Police Department launched an investigation on a 5-foot tall statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary that was found beheaded at the St. Stephen Catholic Church.

The beheaded statue was discovered a few minutes before the Saturday morning mass by St. Stephen Pastor Manuel Perez, a priest of the Diocese of Knoxville. It was severely damaged that the $2,000 statue was torn off by its pedestal while its head was removed.

Fortunately, the police noted that there were no other damages in the property. In addition, authorities have already forwarded the case to the Department of Homeland Security and suggested it as a hate crime. With the influx of attacks against the church, even religious officials have become increasingly concerned. In fact, the Bishop also expressed his frustration over the constant attacks against religious symbols as a result of the Black Lives Matter protest.

Republican Tennessee 3rd District Congressman Chuck Fleischmann also condemned the people behind the incident. In a social media post, the Republican described it as a “disturbing attack” against Catholics and religion. He also acknowledged the increasing violence against the faithful and hoped that they could bring the perpetrators to justice.

Across the country, churches became a new target of violence and hatred. On Friday, the Brooklyn Diocese Press Office reported another incident on social media. The church released footage of an individual approaching the 100-year-old statue of the Virgin Mary, painting the words “IDOL” in a Cathedral Prep School and Seminary in Queens.

In Boston, authorities responded to a call at around 10 p.m after neighbors reported that a fire broke out in 284 Bowdoin Street in Dorchester. Upon arriving at the Saint Peter’s Parish Church, officers saw that someone had set the Virgin Mary on fire. The reports cite that a suspect had lighted the plastic flowers that the statue was holding. As a result of the heinous attack, the statue’s face and upper body were burned down.

On Wednesday, a group of around a hundred people came to pray the rosary at the site of the burned statue. Father John Currie led the event, as other parishioners, priests, nuns, and monks joined in. However, despite the violent attack, the priest only had kind words for the perpetrator. “We love you, we forgive you, and we are here to serve and help you in any way you may need,” Currie said.

Just this week, a 23-year old man was also charged after he had caused massive damage to the front door of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ocala as he attempted to set it ablaze. The man had also plowed his minivan on the church, while parishioners were still inside.