Baby Jesus statue decapitated outside Sudbury church

Crimes against churches have been on the rise in Canada as of late, as perpetrators vandalize, attack, and in some cases even burn down, houses of worship. While the structure of Sainte-Anne-Des-Pins Catholic Church in Sudbury was spared, sadly a statue on the lawn was not.

According to CTV News, vandals beheaded a statue of baby Jesus on Tuesday, in what church officials say is just one incident in a long line of attacks against them.

"The statue itself seems to be an article they focus on," said Michel Chretien of Sainte-Anne-Des-Pins. "First of all, the arms were broken maybe a month and a half ago, and then the head itself was gone."

In 2015, vandals decapitated baby Jesus for the first time, and a clay replacement sat in its place for almost a year, before being removed to avoid the possibility that it would stain the white stone. The statue remained headless through Christmas of 2016, and into the next year, before being properly refitted.

Chretien told CTV News that in the past, the church has had its internet and air conditioning wires cut as well.

Vandalism of statues has long been a problem in Sudbury, and it is unclear at this time what the motive of baby Jesus' attacker might be.