Police are investigating the attack on St. Rita Catholic Church as a hate crime, the Diocese of Brooklyn said. The Brooklyn Diocese said in a news release that the New York Police Department is investigating the incident as a hate crime. The diocese said the attack was the fourth of a series of incidents of vandalism at the parish since 2024. A February 2024 report by the Family Research Council found an uptick in hostility and vandalism against churches in the U.S., particularly Catholic parishes. In January, New York State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton called for increased security for churches after multiple crimes at Catholic parishes on Staten Island.