Most Holy Redeemer Church, a Catholic congregation in the largely gay Castro District, was vandalized last weekend. Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

Graffiti that was sprayed on the church, at 100 Diamond Street, included swastikas, "Prop H8" and "Where is the love?"

The graffiti referred to San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer, who encouraged support for the measure to ban same-sex marriage in California, and Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger), according to Lieutenant Neville Gittens, a spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department.

Gittens said an employee discovered the graffiti at about 6:15 a.m. Sunday, January 4. He said there was no other damage, and he was not aware if there were any surveillance cameras in the area.

The Reverend Stephen Meriwether, the church's pastor, did not respond to requests for comment.

Mayor Gavin Newsom issued a statement condemning the vandalism Monday. "San Francisco is a city that embraces all faiths," the mayor said. "To intimidate a community and threaten a place of worship with intolerance is contrary to everything the city of St. Francis represents."

On Tuesday, January 6, Supervisor Bevan Dufty introduced a resolution at the Board of Supervisors meeting in response to the vandalism. The resolution notes that for more than 20 years, the Most Holy Redeemer community has sustained an active AIDS support group providing direct care to people who are HIV-positive and assistance to people who love and care for them.

The church also established a peace and social justice group to address issues including sexism, homophobia, racism, and the neglect of people who are poor and underserved, according to the resolution.

The police ask anyone who saw anything or knows anything about this incident to   call the special investigations division during regular business hours at (415) 553-1133. After hours, call the confidential tip-line at (415) 575-4444.