(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The pastor of a southwest suburban church says her house of worship will continue to be a welcoming place, despite the thefts of three pride flags in the past month.
The surveillance camera for the Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Homer Glen captured the latest pride flag theft on Dec. 27. Two young people are seen racing over to a parking lot light pole, hopping on its base, and yanking down the flag. The entire event takes less than 15 seconds.
Rev. Dana O’Brien said Thursday the same two young men who stole the flag most likely took the first two.
She replaced the flags immediately after learning they were stolen. She said the pride flag is not only an emblem for the LGBTQ community but also a broader symbol of inclusiveness.
After the third pride flag theft, Rev. O’Brien says there was another anti-gay incident that happened on church property. “I was hoping that was the end of that, but then we had some homophobic slur on the side of the building which we then cleaned off.”
The people also knocked over grills and other items in the back of the church, she said.
Rev. O’Brien said Cross of Glory Lutheran Church has been in the Homer Glen area since the 1970s and has been at its current location on 163rd and Cedar Road since September 2011.
About 85 to 90 people attend church services each Sunday, she said.