Gang Graffiti on Milwaukee Church

From TMJ4:

Saint Patrick's Catholic Church at 7th and Washington on Milwaukee's south side was tagged this weekend with gang graffiti.

The church has never been vandalized before in the seven years since Father Jose Moreno came to Saint Patrick's. Father Jose says he and the parishioners don't know why their church was targeted. The congregation is wondering if the gang was targeting a specific church member or even the priest.

“We are kind of scared,” Father Moreno said.

Father Moreno admits there is a lot of gang graffiti in this neighborhood, but he says that up until now, even gang members have respected the Catholic Church.

“The gang members usually do respect churches. It’s really something strange to have a church graffiti-ed,” Moreno said.

This is really disgraceful.

It's awful that Fr. Moreno and the congregation of St. Patrick's are now fearful because their place of worship was targeted by thugs.

I guess the gang members aren't as "respectful" as they used to be. Defacing the Catholic Church with graffiti is no longer off limits.

Perhaps some of the law-abiding people in the neighborhood will now reconsider looking the other way when they witness gang activity. Perhaps now they'll be more likely to assist law enforcement in getting these thugs off the street.