Statue of Virgin Mary and Roadside Crucifix Destroyed in Southern Poland

Case information
Incident date
Country
Poland
Place
Wojanów
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Desecration
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Christian Building (other)
  • Vandalism of Church
Place of Incident
  • Church
  • Public Christian Symbol (outside place of worship)
Bias Indicators
  • Comments/Written Statements/Gestures/Graffiti
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: Father Andrzej Spelak, courtesy of Gość

Between January 16th and 18th, unidentified perpetrators destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary in a church in Ściegny and then in Wojanów, a roadside crucifix and figures of angels standing around the cross were destroyed beyond repair.

The incidents upset and saddened the local community. "As a parish we funded the renovations on this cross a few years ago on the 700th anniversary of our village. Well, it hung for two years and has just been destroyed,'" said Father Andrzej Spelak, parish priest of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wojanowo.

The case is being investigated by the local police.

Sources: Gość and Polonia Christiana

Sources