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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Police investigate church burglary

When the organist arrived at St. Anthony’s parish an hour before Mass on Saturday morning, something was out of tune.

Overnight, a burglar had stolen a television, a VCR, about seven bottles of wine and more than a dozen religious items, including a relic that is believed to contain pieces of the cross on which Jesus Christ died. Every crucifix and nearly every chalice was gone, said parishioner Jim Schwarzer.

“People were pretty disgusted with the whole thing and pretty hurt,” he said.

Spokane Police are looking for the thief. There were no signs of forced entry, and Schwarzer believes a door might have been left open because the church, 2320 N. Cedar St., is undergoing renovation.

“Thank God there wasn’t vandalism,” the Rev. Joachim Hien said. Hien was in Seattle officiating a wedding when the theft occurred at his parish.

Schwarzer also was thankful that the wine that was stolen hadn’t yet been consecrated, or made holy.

“There’d have been a barn burning,” he said, referring to the outpouring of anger that would have caused.

Police wrote in a news release that several of the chalices and crucifixes were made of gold and silver, but Schwarzer said their value is more spiritual than monetary. One chalice was a gift from the parish’s former priest and has been with the church since before Schwarzer became a member in 1985.

When asked the cost of replacing the relic, he replied, “The cost of Jesus? I don’t think that’s replaceable anymore.”

The parish has nearly completed a renovation project that includes painting, installing new carpets, building a new wheelchair ramp and repairing the roof. Although there wasn’t major vandalism, minor damage was done when a crucifix was ripped off a wall and when locked cupboards were busted open. The cupboards contained only plastic cups and plates, Hien said.

The burglary likely occurred Friday night or Saturday morning. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS line at (509) 242-8477.