New York – Christian and Jewish leaders and local elected officials stood together Friday to call for tougher criminal penalties for the vandalism of houses of worship.
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His Excellency Archbishop Timothy Dolan and State Senator Jeff Klein joined with leading Rabbis and Christian leaders to support State legislation that would increase prison times for those convicted of such acts.
“A house of worship represents safety, security, peace, love, acceptance, the most noble aspirations we as human beings have,” said Archbishop Dolan. ” When we vandalize that, when we wreck that, when we deface that, we strike right at the heart of what makes us great as Americans and people of faith, ”
The new legislation, co-sponsored by Assemblyman George Latimer, would make it a felony in most instances to vandalize or steal from a house of worship or its surrounding property.
“Toughening the penalties for such disgraceful crimes sends a clear message that this behavior will not be tolerated,” said State Senator Klein.
“We, as members of the faith community, recognize that desecration of any house of worship violates every house of worship,” said Rabbi Joseph Potnasnik, Executive Vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis.