TORONTO (April 2, 2018) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is discouraged to learn that two Halifax churches were defaced with vulgar graffiti in the overnight hours before Easter Sunday.

Fr. Simon Lobo of St. Benedict Parish in Halifax acknowledged the red-painted vandalism in his homily and spoke of forgiveness for the perpetrators. Prior to services, St. Agnes Church wrote on its Facebook page that hate would not stop the congregation from celebrating Easter.

“There is no place in Canada for expressing this kind of vulgarity and intolerance, especially against a place of worship,” said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo. “No congregation should have to confront acts of hatred when they are gathering to pray.”

Police are reportedly investigating the two incidents as being related.