HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC), on behalf of all the Catholic Bishops in Pennsylvania, today responded to the recent increase in hateful anti-Semitic acts in the commonwealth. These crimes have included the painting of swastikas on synagogues.
“These acts are offensive and hurtful to all of us,” PCC Executive Director Eric Failing said on behalf of the bishops. “Hate is never right, but it is especially heartbreaking when you see innocent people targeted because of their religious beliefs. We remain resolute in standing beside our Jewish brothers and sisters as we condemn the attacks and the hateful sentiment that fuels them.”
The Anti-Defamation League says incidents against Jewish institutions more than tripled in Pennsylvania last year. The latest one took place at a synagogue in Harrisburg, just a few miles away from PCC headquarters. The swastika is one of the most painful hate symbols for Jews, harkening back to the Nazis and the genocide of World War II.
The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference is based in Harrisburg and is the public affairs arm of Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops.