The Ancient Order of Hibernians wants to hear it from New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The Hibernians say they are questioning "the silence of Mayor de Blasio" in response to the rise in hate crimes targeting Catholics.
The New York State AOH is calling upon de Blasio "to publicly condemn the increasing acts of violence against the Catholic Church in New York City" as exemplified by recent vandalism at Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mary Church in The Bronx.
According to an AOH statement, "clothes were put in front of the statue of Our Lady and set on fire."
Added the statement: "The attack on the Statue of Our Lady is only the latest in a disturbing rise in hate crimes targeting Catholic Churches in New York City.
"On July 17, a statue of the Blessed Mother, and St. Therese of the Little Flower at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Forest Hills, Queens was destroyed.
"This was the second attack on the statues in a week. On May 28, the Blessed Mother statue at St. Adalbert’s in Queens was broken into pieces. On May 17, a Crucifix was vandalized at St. Athanasius Roman Catholic Church in Bensonhurst. On May 15, a vandal destroyed the statues of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Sacred Heart of Jesus outside Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Staten Island."
Added the statement: "The Mayor has been very quick to publicly and rightly condemn acts of hate targeting other faiths. However, we can not help but notice the disturbing, deafening silence from the Mayor concerning these heinous acts of hate targeting Catholics.
"We urge our members to contact Mayor Bill de Blasio and let him know that there can be no tolerance for acts of hate targeting people of faith, nor can there be a double standard of outrage."
