NEW YORK - A former Bronx synagogue that was turned into a church was torched by assailants who smeared Satanic graffiti on its walls. Only the hard plastic pulpit survived, the pastor said.
"We have no idea who did this," said the Rev. Raymond Talavera, pastor of the 150-member nondenominational Glory of Christ Church. After stealing $300 from the offering box, "they took the church chairs and made a bonfire with them," he said.
The arsonists painted upside-down crosses and a pentagram - a five-point star surrounded by a "666," which the pastor said were meant to represent Satanic evil.
Elsewhere, they scrawled "Crip Kill" - referring to the name of the street gang, the Crips - and "We hate Jews and Christians."