Desecration and Theft at Church in Sola
Unknown perpetrators broke into the Church of San Lorenzo Martire in Sola, stealing the tabernacle containing consecrated hosts and later scattering them outside the church. As the hosts are of central religious significance in Catholic belief, the act constitutes desecration and has caused particular distress within the local parish community.
The incident occurred during the night of 3–4 January, when the perpetrators forced entry through a rear door and proceeded into the sacristy, where they stole several liturgical objects. They then moved to the altar, forcibly removing the tabernacle from its marble supports and taking it away together with a vessel containing the consecrated hosts. The hosts were later found scattered outside the church building, an act considered desecration in Catholic belief. In such cases, a special Mass of reparation is typically required.
In addition to the Eucharistic desecration, other objects of religious significance, including chalices and sacred vessels, were taken, and structural damage was caused to doors and fixtures within the church. The tabernacle itself was torn from its setting, further underlining the gravity of the act for the parish. The incident was discovered by parish priest Don Giovanni Facchetti, who reported it to the Carabinieri, who are now investigating. Between the items stolen and the damage to the buildings, the parish has estimated the damage at 25,000 euros.
Following this attack, the Bishop of Bergamo, Monsignor Francesco Bechi, sent a letter to the parishioners in which he stated that “stealing sacred objects and the Eucharist itself is an act that goes beyond ordinary crime, striking at the community’s values and peaceful coexistence.”
Source: Prima Treviglio, Il giorno
Image: Wikipedia
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