http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/02/21/police_investigate_cross_burning_at_south_shore_church/Police investigate cross burning at South Shore church
February 21, 2005
DUXBURY, Mass. -- State and local authorities are investigating a cross burning at a Catholic church in this affluent South Shore town. The pastor of Holy Family Church, Monsignor William Glynn, discovered the eight-foot wooden crucifix leaning against a concrete pillar outside the front door early Monday morning. The fire damaged the door, but the flames were extinguished by the time Glynn found the charred cross, police said.
In a statement, Duxbury Police Chief Mark M. DeLuca said the cross had been left outside the church between 10:30 p.m. Sunday and 6:30 a.m. Monday, when Glynn arrived for early Mass. An accelerant was apparently used to ignite it.
Glynn said he saw no footsteps in the snow, which began falling around 3 a.m. in Duxbury. "It's just a mystery," he said. "We've had no hate mail that I've received. "What the message is, I do not know."
Another, smaller cross was left on the front lawn of a home about a quarter-mile from the church but was never lit, Sgt. Brian Johnson said. The homeowners are parishioners at Holy Family. "We don't even have a suspect at this time," Johnson said. Authorities are treating the incident as a hate crime. The state Fire Marshal's office is also investigating.