Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 7 February 2025

Faith-Based Security Headlines

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.

Tracker: Over 400 Attacks on U.S. Catholic Churches Since May 2020

The tracker includes incidents of vandalism, arson, and other forms of attacks against Catholic churches in the United States. This article tracks and highlights the number of such incidents over a specific period since May 2020. Notable incidents occurring in New York, California, and Texas. Many of these attacks have targeted church property, with graffiti often carrying pro-abortion messages.

Analyst comments:

Many pro-choice inspired attacks came after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson decision in 2022. It highlights how current events, particularly ones of related to sensitive social topics, can alter the threat landscape. Organizations are encouraged to consider what triggers may require adjustments to their threat assessments. CISA offers several resources which could be helpful including the Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment.

CISA Active Assailant Emergency Action Plan

These resources offer practical guidance for organizations and venue operators to help users create a thorough and actionable Emergency Action Plan (EAP).

Along with a customizable, fillable EAP template and an accompanying instructional guide, these new tools also include various other relevant resources, neatly organized to correspond with each section of an EAP. Designed for security planners at facilities and venues of any size, these products aim to support effective planning and implementation.

Other resources:

Active Assailant Emergency Action Plan Template

Instructional Guide to the CISA EAP Template

Analyst Comments:

The Product Suite offers vital resources for creating effective action plans for responding to active shooter situations. For Faith-Based organizations, this suite provides tools to ensure preparedness in houses of worship. These resources are tailored for venues of all sizes, and Faith-Based communities can leverage the comprehensive guidelines to develop and implement security measures, protecting congregants and staff while ensuring that recovery processes are well-planned.

Coalition of US states to file lawsuit after Musk’s DOGE gains access to Americans’ personal data

A group of more than a dozen U.S. states is preparing to file a lawsuit aimed at preventing billionaire Elon Musk’s cost-cutting team from gaining access to sensitive federal government payment systems that contain personal data of Americans. In a brief statement from 13 Democratic state attorneys general, including those from California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, and New York, the coalition announced their intent to take legal action “to protect our Constitution, our right to privacy, and the crucial funding that individuals and communities across the country rely on.”

Analyst Comments:

States’ concerns might center on the risks of private entities like Elon Musk’s companies gaining access to sensitive federal systems, particularly given the growing use of digital currencies. Earlier this week we saw anti-Trump protests at state capitols across the U.S. The potential for litigation will only continue to fuel the tensions. CISA offers resources to help enhance personal and organizational security during civil unrest.

Attorney General Tong Releases Statement on DOGE Access to Sensitive Personal Information

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More Faith-Based Stories

WA: Priest attacked during church service for healing says he didn’t know assailant

Man caught on video attacking priest at Washington church; cathedral hires extra security

WA: Issaquah police seek suspects in antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+ graffiti incidents

OR: Jewish Center Defaced in Oregon

CA: Synagogue, church in San Diego’s Bankers Hill vandalized for 2nd time

TX: El Paso Jewish community is ‘being targeted,’ rabbi claims after two synagogues vandalized & 2 El Paso synagogues vandalized with Nazi symbols, investigated as potential hate crime

CT: Threatening Antisemitic Message Discovered Inside Fake Skull in Connecticut Neighborhood

MI: CAIR-MI Welcomes Ethnic Intimidation Charge for St. Clair Shores Man for Alleged Death Threats Targeting CAIR-MI Office, Executive Director

IN: CAIR Designates Indiana University as a ‘Hostile Campus’ for Targeting Anti-Genocide Students and Faculty