Police confirmed they are investigating an incident at the church.
File photo of Glen Ridge. (Jessica Mazzola | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)GLEN RIDGE -- Police are reportedly investigating graffiti on the walkway of a New Jersey church depicting a number sequence commonly associated with the devil.
Glen Ridge Police Lt. Fred Egnezzo confirmed that the department is investigating a vandalism incident at St. Francis of Assisi American National Catholic Church on Clark Street, but declined to comment further on the incident, citing the investigation's ongoing nature.
According to a NorthJersey.com report, church officials say someone wrote "666" on a walkway leading up to the church's meeting place, a chapel it rents next to the Glen Ridge Congregational Church.
The "American National Catholic Church" is one of six parishes that separated from the Roman Catholic Church about five years ago. The independent churches say their parishioners share faith-based beliefs with the RC Church, but disagree with some of its traditional stances on social practices.
The American National Catholic Church has disagreed with the Roman Catholic Church's refusal to let priests marry, and its stance on gay marriage, for example.
Church Bishop Rev. George Lucey told NorthJersey.com that the group does receive hate mail for its beliefs, but has never before been the target of vandalism.
Based in a Biblical reference, "666" has become known popularly as a symbol of Satan.
The church did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
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