Georgia Church Target of Anti-Gay Violence

St. John’s Episcopal Church in College Park, Georgia was vandalized over the weekend with an anti-gay message tacked to its front door, causing concern among members of the church.

The church rector, Father Troy Beecham, stated the note, handwritten on a piece of cardboard read; “homosexual priest in the pulpit in this church are an abomination! 666”.

Beecham also said, “It was found by a gay member when he unlocked the doors Sunday morning at 7 a.m. He was going to throw it away but another gay member said that I should see it.”

Beecham, the first openly gay rector at St. John’s, has been at the church for two months. He said members were in fear for their physical safety as well as shocked by the message. The church, located on Main Street, has a sizable gay membership and has never been targeted by anti-gay vandalism until now.

A police report was filed and Beecham said officers were being very supportive and taking the incident seriously. College Park police have labeled the incident as vandalism, but a complete report was not immediately available.

“The community and congregation has been very supportive as well as shocked,” Beecham said.