BishopAccountability.org
	Arson Suspected at Bridgeport Church By Ofelia Casillas and Jeremy Gorner Chicago Tribune February 7, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-church-arsonfeb07,0,6267474.story When firefighters arrived at a Bridgeport Catholic church early Friday, they found a message of rage written in red tape across its front doors: "Rape" and "God is a lie." Words on adjacent doors said a rape happened at the church. Police removed the tape about 8:30 a.m. as evidence. And Rev. John Parker, who has been at the church for seven years, said the vandalism and suspected arson were a first for the church. "We didn't receive any warnings or threats or anything of that nature," Parker said. Parker, who was sleeping in a building next door to the church, said he was awakened by a burglar alarm and, when he walked over, firefighters were already there. Investigators combed through evidence Friday afternoon fire that shattered the stained glass of All Saints St. Anthony's Church, 518 W. 28th Pl. The fire was reported about 3 a.m. but was put out within about 15 minutes, officials said. Fire officials handed the investigation over to Chicago Police. A Police Department spokesman said Friday that the cause of the fire appeared to be suspicious. Police said they had no information about a recent rape at the church. It was unclear Friday whether police were looking into a connection between the incident and the priest sex abuse scandal that has plagued the Catholic Church in recent years. A source confirmed to the Tribune that the Archdiocese of Chicago is talking with a Minnesota law firm about allegations that a former priest, who has been named in other sex abuse law suits, molested an adolescent boy in the rectory of the Bridgeport church decades ago. The archdiocese has spoken to authorities about the abuse case, the source said. Police declined to comment.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.