There is a growing dangerous trend in the United States of vandalism and violence aimed at places of worship. Increasing numbers of synagogues have been targeted by anti-Semitic extremists. Dozens of churches have been desecrated and were the target of profane graffiti, bomb threats and arson. These attacks have been increasing in recent years and really accelerated in the aftermath of the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
The latest attack took place at the City View Church in San Diego, California, on December 31, as the church prepared to host a New Year's Eve worship service.
Vandals spray-painted the church property with slogans including 'Christofascists not welcome," "Trans Rights are Human Rights," "No Safe Space for Bigots," and "F… Christian Nationalists."
The safety of places of worship in America must be protected without exception. I served from 2018 to 2021 on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Our assignment was to "grade" other nations around the world on the degree to which religious liberty was protected. Attacks on places of worship was always a "marker" for nations that would not protect the basic human right of every individual to seek God and worship in peace and security.
JDFI calls on all faiths to stand in solidarity in defense of the right to gather and worship in safety. We urge President Biden and other federal officials to condemn all attacks on churches, synagogues, and other places of worship.