Police in Nassau County, Long Island are reporting that a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary at a Knights of Columbus building was left toppled and decapitated.

CBSNew York.com is reporting that the statue is believed to have been vandalized between the hours of 10:00 a.m. on May 13 and 10:00 a.m. on May 14 where it stood outside the Knights of Columbus chapter in Bellmore, Long Island. A photo released by the police shows the statue lying partially on the ground with the head cut off and lying in the dirt.

“Someone’s got to have some hate in their heart,” said Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Austin Cannon. “Members equate this to maybe a person of the Jewish faith coming out and finding a swastika on the side of a building.  The Blessed Mother is an integral part of our faith, and to find her statue pushed over really upset our members.”

Sadly, this isn’t the first time a statue of the Virgin Mary was attacked outside the KOC building. Someone damaged another statue of Our Lady on July 16 of last year. The statute that was vandalized last week was the replacement.

“It’s emotional,” Cannon said. “We as a council, it’s part of our faith. It hurts, is what it really does.”

James Ruescher, Deputy Grand Knight, said whoever did this can “break it as many times as you want,” but the Knights will always replace it with a “bigger and better” statue than before.

Police are asking anyone with information about the crime to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS. Callers need not give their names. A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered.

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