For the second time in seven years Saint Monica Catholic Church has had its Virgin Mary statue
vandalized. A priest discovered the headless Mary, which has stood at
725 California Ave., Santa Monica, for 55 years, shortly before Easter
Sunday services were to begin. Its head was located on the ground
nearby. In 2002
unknown suspects removed the marble statue's hands and feet, and, in recent years there have also been acts of vandalism directed
against Virgin of Guadalupe murals that are found on the sides of small
markets in South and East L.A. Santa Monica police are treating the act
as a hate crime. Saint Monica's is a church where Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is known to attend Mass.
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