The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is advising religious institutions in the Boston area to increase security measures on their premises in the wake of a string of local arson attacks against religious institutions, according to NBC Boston.

As CatholicVote previously reported, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Franklin, Massachusetts, sustained extensive damage from the October 23 blaze that began in the sacristy. The fire was ruled to be arson.

Terry Donilon, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston, told CatholicVote in an emailed statement, “As one of our parishes recently suffered from an incident of arson, we are naturally concerned for our parishes and all houses of worship.”

“While we continuously provide safety and security guidance to our parishes,” he added, “we have, as a result of that incident and the ATF advisory, encouraged our parishes to be even more vigilant as it relates to safety and security.”

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The ATF is recommending that institutions increase their security systems and lighting on-site, and to strictly regulate access to premises, “especially during off-hours or when unmonitored,” according to NBC Boston.

The ATF also advises institutions to stay in contact with local law officials “and explore options for regular patrols in the area,” NBC Boston reported.

Congregation members, staff, and volunteers are advised to report suspicious activity with haste. The ATF also recommends that religious institutions reevaluate their emergency and evacuation procedure plans and guarantee that staff members are knowledgeable on reaching emergency responders, according to NBC Boston.

CatholicVote’s Violence Tracker has documented a total of 16 vandalism cases, arson attacks, or other violent actions against churches in Massachusetts since May 2020.

The advisory comes amid no particular threats at the moment, but it highlights the religious institutions’ need to increase security as a precautionary measure.

“We are thankful for the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Massachusetts State Fire Marshall, and local and state law enforcement in their ongoing investigation of such incidents as they work to protect all of us from such senseless acts,” Donilon told CatholicVote in reference to the recent arson attacks. “We pray for whoever is responsible in taking up any acts of violence or vandalism.”

LifeNews Note: McKenna Snow writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared. File photo.

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