The local Church lamented the senseless damage to the Minor Basilica of St Lawrence Martyr, erected 106 years ago and declared a national monument.

Newsletter (01/11/2021 6:45 PM, Gaudium Press) Yesterday, October 31, the Minor Basilica Cathedral of St Lawrence Martyr, located in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, was attacked by feminist activists.

Vandalism and violence

The Archbishop of Santa Cruz, Most Rev. Sergio Gualberti, was presiding the Holy Mass when the attackers began to shout slogans against the Church and vandalized the facade of the cathedral, staining the brick wall with red paint.

The faithful present confronted and expelled the feminists from the premises. The group ‘Mujeres Creando’ was responsible for the vandalizing acts. The group has become vocal by blaming the Catholic Church in Bolivia regarding the case of an 11-year-old girl who became pregnant as a victim of sexual abuse.

Controversy

Some government institutions and the press have accused the Bolivian Catholic Church of interfering in the girl’s decision not to abort. The girl decided to continue with the pregnancy, causing her to be transferred to a shelter.

According to Víctor Hugo Valda, Episcopal Delegate for Health of the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the Catholic Church did not intervene in the minor’s decision. It only showed proximity, offering to help the girl materially with assistance, education, medicine and psychological treatment.

Bolivian Episcopal Conference also attacked

The local Bishops lamented the senseless damage to the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Martyr. The Church, erected 106 years ago, is a national monument, declared part of the historical and religious heritage of Santa Cruz and Bolivia.

This attack carried out against the Metropolitan Basilica Minor Cathedral of San Lorenzo took place just four days after the headquarters of the Bolivian Bishops’ Conference (CEB) in La Paz was vandalized by pro-abortion activists. (EPC)

Compiled by Gustavo Kralj