An act of vandalism took place on Wednesday, Jan 26, shaking religious and civil authorities. Police have already arrested a suspect.
Newsroom (01/28/2022 10:00 AM, Gaudium Press) The faithful of the traditional Church of San Anselmo, located in Pehuajó, Argentina, were horrified to find the altar desecrated and images destroyed.
An image of Jesus was torn from the cross, mutilated and placed on top of the main altar.
Most Rev. Ariel Torrado Mosconi, bishop of the Diocese of Nueve de Julio, and Fr Mariano Cortés, parish priest of San Anselmo of Pehuajó, lamented the “desecration of images so dear and venerated.” They asked for “mercy and forgiveness upon the person who committed such acts in a clear state of alteration and [mental] alienation.”
A few hours later, after examining security cameras, police arrested a 36-year-old man in Plaza Juan XXIII as a suspect in the crime.
The local mayor, Pablo Zurro, stated that this was not a robbery nor a case of insecurity. “It is something very rare and very shocking, which produces a lot of anguish. We have never experienced anything like this in Pehuajó.”
Today the parish of San Anselmo issued an official statement expressing “shock and pain, as well as closeness and solidarity with the entire community, in the face of the destruction of the religious images and the damage caused to our parish church.”
A Mass of reparation is scheduled for Sunday, January 30.
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
