Volunteers work to remove lewd images painted on Bath church

On the eve of Palm Sunday, volunteers are working to remove lewd images spray painted on a Bath church’s facade.

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, at 206 E. Main St., was vandalized between the hours of 4 and 5:30 p.m. Friday, according to Jamie Brozman, the church’s office administrator.

Two yellow images of male genitalia, one measuring about 3 feet by 2 feet and another measuring about 1 ½ feet by 1 ½ feet, were spray painted on the southeast corner of the church, facing Barber Street and the church’s parking lot, Brozman said.

Pastor Terry Walsh on Friday reported the incident to Pennsylvania State Police’s Bethlehem barracks.

Troopers visited nearby properties in hopes that someone had helpful video footage, Brozman said.

The investigation is ongoing, state police said.

“Going into Palm Sunday and Holy Week, it’s kind of like, ‘Really?’ Brozman said. “I’ve been the office administrator for two and a half years, and we’ve never had vandalism. It’s just inappropriate.”

Church parishioners and volunteers began trying to scrub the images off of the brick building yesterday and are continuing the task today.

“They obviously want that off the church as soon as possible,” Brozman said.

Borough employees have also been notified of the vandalism and are encouraging residents to keep a watchful eye of suspicious activity in the area.

“We obviously don’t want this to happen anybody else in the borough,” Brozman said.

Bath Mayor Fiorella Mirabito on Friday encouraged borough residents on her Facebook page to “see something, say something.”

“Let me make this as clear as possible — and, I direct this to the youth and to their parents and guardians as well,” Mirabito wrote in the post. “People take pride in their properties here, many spend endless hours on keeping their buildings and properties clean and safe for all. I assure you that we will make an example out of you.”

“Learn to respect property!” she added. “Since you feel the need to disrespect what is not yours, we will see to it that you are prosecuted.”