In Santiago, #Chile, yet another Catholic church is attack. This time, the parish of Vera Cruz, one of the oldest ones in the country construction completed in 1857.
This is at least the fifth Catholic Church attacked/vandalized in the past few days.
(A thread).
This is at least the fifth Catholic Church attacked/vandalized in the past few days.
(A thread).
Sources on the ground tell me that the relics from various saints that were inside the church were taken out yesterday: they were afraid something like this would happen. Similar actions are being conducted to protect other churches.
The situation in Chile is very complex, so two basic things:
1. Most of the protests, that have been occurring for 4 weeks, are and have been completely peaceful. Like it happens with huge manifestations around the world, sometimes small groups of people cause a lot of havoc.
1. Most of the protests, that have been occurring for 4 weeks, are and have been completely peaceful. Like it happens with huge manifestations around the world, sometimes small groups of people cause a lot of havoc.
2. The particular situation of the Catholic Church in Chile is a very complex one, and I've written about it for @Crux. Most of it has to do with the clerical sex abuse crisis, that in Chile has been arguably one of the worst ones seen yet.
It's been particulalrly hars for the number of abuses, for who the abusive priests were (leaders of both the left and the right, admired by thousands and thought of as saints, until their crimes were revealed) and for how the bishops behaved (covering up).
Obviously, it's much more complex, with many cases of abuse of power and conscience, that are often the roots of sexual abuse.
A few days ago, I had a thread with some attacking other churches, accusing the priests of being pedophiles and threatening with burning down churches.
A few days ago, I had a thread with some attacking other churches, accusing the priests of being pedophiles and threatening with burning down churches.
Beyond the crisis withing the Chilean church, however, Chile has seen a social uprising that had a rise in the metro fare as the match that lit the fire.
There have been many calls to reform the constitution, something the local hierarchy of the church has supported.
There have been many calls to reform the constitution, something the local hierarchy of the church has supported.
Today, the bishops and apostolic administrators (many bishops were replaced by Pope Francis last year, due to the abuse crisis, and he only created one new one. For more background on this, cruxnow.com) released a statement saying that Chile "cannot wait anymore."
Among other things, in their statement the bishops call for an end to violence, saying it's not the solution.
"Let's not forget that our history teaches us the grave damage caused by the break of institunality and systemic transgression against the dignity of people."
"Let's not forget that our history teaches us the grave damage caused by the break of institunality and systemic transgression against the dignity of people."
The crisis has to do with the country's great inequality, despite #Chile being one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America.
Many appreciate the fact that priests had a prophetic voice during the government of Pinochet, today the bishops are seem as detached from the people.
Many appreciate the fact that priests had a prophetic voice during the government of Pinochet, today the bishops are seem as detached from the people.
