Salsasio church closes to public due to repeated vandalism
Following repeated acts of vandalism and harassment of the faithful, the parish of Salsasio has decided to close the church on Via Novara to the public, keeping it open only for religious services. Parish leaders denounced the incidents as showing “contempt for a sacred place and for Christianity,” and expressed serious concern for the safety of the church and its sacred objects.
As reported on the 3rd of July, Unknown individuals damaged the church’s portico, tore down and stole security cameras, and broke several outdoor light fixtures. The parish priest, Don Iosif Patrascan, has filed a police report, and CCTV footage is being reviewed by the Carabinieri of Carmagnola.
According to an official statement, the area around the church has long been plagued by clashes, vandalism, and public disorder, with reports of the churchyard being used as a toilet, graffiti on the walls, and harassment of the faithful—particularly the elderly. Parish spokesperson Ivan Quattrocchio stated denounced the incidents as showing “contempt for a sacred place and for Christianity,” and expressed serious concern for the safety of the church and its sacred objects.
Source and image: Il Carmagnolese