Diocese: Mentally-ill woman vandalized St. Raphael Catholic Church

A woman vandalized an East El Paso church Saturday morning, according to the Catholic Diocese of El Paso.

“To see something like this desecrated, it’s hard on the hearts of parishioners,” Diocese Communications Director Elizabeth O’Hara said.

The young woman, reportedly mentally-ill, allegedly broke several statues and candles inside St. Raphael Catholic Parish after praying.

She also threw holy water and Chrism oil on the sanctuary floor, O’Hara said.

The church’s janitor witnessed the vandalism and called police, who later arrested the woman and took her to a local hospital.

The church was cleaned up within an hour, O’Hara said. The regular weekend schedule was not affected.

St. Raphael Church, located on 2301 Zanzibar, will remain open to everyone in the community.