Four images of Santos of the Santa Isabel Chapel, in the rural area of President Justcelino (MA), were destroyed and thrown to the road. The act of vandalism occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, February 12.
In a statement, the Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão repudiated “vehemently the manifestation of religious intolerance committed” in the Church.
Receive the main news of ACI Press by WhatsApp and Telegram
It is increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social networks. Subscribe to our free channels today:
“In a social scenario marked by aggressiveness, violence, prejudice and intolerance, the 1988 Federal Constitution emerges as a lighthouse, especially in its defense of religious tolerance and the culture of peace,” said the Archdiocese.
“Given this act of violence against the Catholic faith,” the Archdiocese asked the authorities “a prompt and rigorous investigation of the facts, with the identification and responsibility of the authors.”
The parish priest of Santo Antônio, P. João Pedro Fonseca, informed ACI Digital that he already filed the complaint and that the authorities are investigating the case “together with the inhabitants of the town.”
He pointed out that it is the first time that an act of vandalism occurs in the area. “It’s very strange because it is a small town,” he said.
For the priest, this fact is a case of religious intolerance “by the way” in which the images were found, highlighting that “objects such as lamps and fans were not stolen” of the chapel.
As an act of relief for vandalism to sacred images, Father João Pedro Fonseca will celebrate a Mass in the chapel on Sunday, February 15 at 10 am
Translated and adapted with ACI Press. Originally published in Aci digital.
Monasa Narjara
Monasa Narjara is a journalist in ACI Digital since 2022 and was a journalist in the Archdiocese of Brasilia between 2014 and 2015.