Catholics should rally behind New York State Senator Jeffrey D. Klein and a new bill that he introduced that would sharply increase the penalties for vandalizing a house of worship, says the Catholic League. The bill also covers the destruction or theft of religious symbols.

“[Klein’s] bill is one that every lawmaker in Albany should support, and we look forward to its speedy implementation,” said Catholic League president William Donohue. “The time has come to clamp down on vandals who seek to destroy our First Amendment right to worship as we see fit.”