Satan's Handiwork: Goon Torches Church in Bronx

NY Daily News 12/10/09

A Satan-loving arsonist on Wednesday torched a Bronx church that had opened a soup kitchen with a generous donation from late Yankees broadcaster Bobby Murcer.

The charred sanctuary of Glory of Christ Church bore tell-tale signs of arson - and the pyscho firestarter even defaced the walls with signs of devil worship.

A pentagram, "666" and "Hail to Satan" were spray-painted on the walls, along with, "We hate Jews and Christians" and "GET OFF OUR BLOCK."

"When I first saw it, I was just in shock," Pastor Raymond Talavera said.

Talavera said the church's second-floor offices were also gutted by flames - but not before computer monitors and televisions were smashed.

Even the church's Communion chalice was bashed to bits.

"I don't know where all this hate is coming from," Talavera said. "We never had any problems with the community.

More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze, which broke out shortly before 4 a.m. and was brought under control minutes before parishioners arrived for 5:30 a.m. prayer, officials said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but wooden chairs had been piled in the center of the santuary, alongside a red gasoline can.

The nondenominational congregation moved into the former two-story brick synagogue in 2001. The building was in disrepair, but the congregation persevered, growing to include 150 worshippers.

"Our members had really pulled together to fix this place up," Talavera recalled.

The church opened its soup kitchen in the fall of 2006 after receiving a $5,000 donation from Murcer, who was months away from being diagnosed with the brain tumor that claimed his life.
The beloved former Bombers' outfielder and broadcaster learned of the project when a parishioner who worked as a chauffeur mentioned it while driving him to Yankee Stadium.

As parishioners showed up at the Parkschester church with tears in their eyes, Deaconness Maria Rivera wondered how the congregation would rebound.
 

The church also runs clothing drives and had just received 16 boxes of donated clothing from Macy's. The boxes didn't burn but likely suffered water damage.

"We had all this medicine that we were going to send to Africa," Rivera said, crying.

Talavera and a small band of parishioners held an impromptu service outside the church.

"I'm very saddened by this," said Juan de Jesus, 67. "I pray God will help restore our church and that it will be better than before."

jlemire@nydailynews.com With Patrice O'Shaughnessy