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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