The Santo Antônio Chapel, located in a rural community in Igaratá, in the interior of São Paulo, was vandalized in the early hours of last Saturday (3)| Photo: Diocese SJC

The Santo Antônio Chapel, located in a rural community in Igaratá, in the interior of São Paulo, was vandalized in the early hours of last Saturday (3). The altar and images of saints were damaged, and a series of equipment, as well as windows, benches and doors were destroyed. Criminals took tools to the site to break the altar, made of stone. A kitchen at the back of the temple was also destroyed and the sink ripped out. No objects were taken by the vandals.

The case was registered at a Civil Police station by the Diocese of São José dos Campos. The Diocese released a note in which it repudiates the crime committed and highlights religious intolerance. Just this weekend religious arrived at the place to start evangelization activities in the region.

“The Diocese of São José dos Campos, through its diocesan bishop Dom Cesar, expresses solidarity with the Nossa Senhora do Patrocínio Parish, its parish priest Fr. Antônio Silva França and in a special way to the community of Capela Santo Antônio, who are about to celebrate the Patron Saint and also experiencing this weekend a mission experience with the seminarians of the stage of Initiation to Follow Jesus (Propaedeutic), had its vandalized chapel”, says an excerpt from the note.

State deputy Gil Diniz (PL-SP), president of the Catholic Parliamentary Front in Alesp, expressed solidarity with the community. “My solidarity with the Catholic brothers of the Santo Antônio Community, who, on the eve of the celebration of the Patron Saint, suffered this unjust and gratuitous aggression. The Chapel was partially destroyed and our heart bleeds with pain with this vilification”, published the parliamentarian on Twitter.