Marian statue vandalized outside Basilica, days before major feast for Catholic Americans

WASHINGTON (7News) — A case of vandalism at D.C.'s most notable Catholic church has been turned over to police, just days before one of the major feast days for Catholics in the United States.

A statue of Our Lady of Fatima outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was vandalized Sunday night, church staff told EWTN reporter Mark Irons.

A tweet from Irons stated someone had cut the nose and folded hands off the statue, and the cross on top of the statue's crown had also been removed.

The Basilica said a police report had been filed. The only suspect information made available was that a masked person did the damage the night of December 5.

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Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception was declared as patroness of the United States by U.S. bishops in 1846. Her feast day is celebrated on December 8 in the Catholic Church.