Break-in, vandalism a 'setback' for northeast ND reservation church

TOKIO, N.D.-The Rev. Charles Leute said someone watering flowers found it Monday morning-broken glass on the stoop at Christ the King Catholic Church, serving tiny Tokio, N.D., on the Spirit Lake reservation.

Inside, evidence of an apparent break-in was all around. Missing was a large chrome cross, a chalice and some beadwork. Candles had been damaged, and whoever had broken inside had sprayed fire extinguishers throughout.

"It's all covered in chemicals," Leute said. "So we have to have that taken down professionally, because it's a chemical that, if it gets into your lungs, it can cause damage."

A spokeswoman with the Bureau of Indian Affairs confirmed the incident and said an officer responded to the scene at about 8 a.m. on Monday. No suspects are yet identified.

Leute spoke with a heavy voice, calling the break-in a "setback" during renovation of the church's basement, which has been plagued with mold and water problems. The damage and stolen items could cost the church thousands of dollars.

"I feel badly that, obviously, if it is a Dakota person, they're not really being respectful, which is one of the primary virtues that a Dakota person is supposed to exhibit," he said. "And I'm sad in a sense that they don't understand what the church is all about and what it's for."

It's the third time in about 30 years Christ the King has been vandalized, Leute said, with previous incidents in 1987, shortly after he arrived in the area, and last year. He said he couldn't speculate the perpetrator's motive.

"I'm just hoping it has nothing to do with black masses or with devil worship of any kind," he said. "I have no idea who it is or why they would choose to do that."

Leute is the priest for three churches in the area.

A Devils Lake cleaner is expected to visit the church this week to survey the chemical damage, and Leute said he's unsure if Masses will be celebrated this weekend.

"I'm not trying to make an issue out of it," Leute said. "But perhaps it might help if people learn about it. They might be more alert."