A pair of building staff had a novel task Wednesday on the largest church in New England: repairing a crucifix {that a} vandal broke whereas swinging on it.
A choose at Boston Municipal Court ordered the person behind the injury, Michael Patzelt, 37, of Attleboro, held on $5,000 money bail and to avoid the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and witnesses who caught him committing the unholy act within the South End.
Officers assigned to the neighborhood for the Boston Police Department arrested Patzelt round 6:15 p.m. Tuesday after receiving a name for a suspicious one that had knocked a hat off a girl within the space of the cathedral.
“The suspect then proceeded to climb up the cross where he began to swing and hang from it, breaking off several parts of the cross,” a police launch states. “The suspect broke both the statue’s arms prior to officers responding and placed him under arrest.”
Patzelt pleaded not responsible to prices of assault and malicious destruction of property throughout an arraignment in court docket Wednesday afternoon. He appeared carrying a ripped inexperienced shirt.
The choose requested the protection whether or not the vandalism stemmed from a “depraved heart or sick,” to which an legal professional representing Patzelt responded that the Attleboro man is homeless and unemployed after the demise of his grandmother.
The choose additionally requested the protection search psychological well being counseling for Patzelt.
Samuel Jones, a prosecutor for the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office, estimated the cross that Patzelt broken to be round 150 years outdated and can price about $20,000 to restore.
“Unfortunately, the Cathedral experienced vandalism at the exterior crucifix. I have no information regarding why someone would take such an action,” stated Terry Donilon, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston. “The Archdiocese will work with the Cathedral to assess the damage.”
The Cathedral of Holy Cross opened in 1875 and seats practically 2,000 individuals, the biggest church in New England. It additionally homes the biggest organ constructed by the world-renowned Hook and Hastings Company, in line with its web site.
Over the years, the Cathedral has hosted some outstanding occasions, together with a Mass in reminiscence of President John F. Kennedy with the Kennedy household and dignitaries in 1964. More just lately, then-President Barack Obama addressed the nation throughout an interfaith service following the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”