by Susan Brinkmann
Staff Writer

(Feb. 18, 2008) A string of vandalisms and desecrations in Catholic cemeteries and churches throughout southern Minnesota has prompted Bishop Bernard Harrington of the Diocese of Winona to suggest that a “satanical attitude” may be responsible for at least some of those attacks.

Writing in the February edition of the Winona Diocesan newspaper, The Courier, the bishop recounted the latest attack at the Calvary Cemetery in Rochester where a marble statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was missing its head and both arms. Also desecrated in the same cemetery was a statue of Christ on the Cross where the vandals attempted to chisel off the head and feet of Christ, and removed one of the hands.

“The acts of vandalism at the cemetery statues seem to be motivated by something deeper than just ‘pranks,’” the Bishop wrote after recounting a list of vandalisms and desecrations that have taken place in the Diocese over the last 10 years. “It seems to manifest hostility, perhaps even a satanical attitude toward our Catholic religion.”

Bishop Harrington went on to describe the 2002 desecration that took place at St. Joseph’s Church in Theilman, Minnesota where the tabernacle was broken into and consecrated hosts were strewn over the sanctuary floor.

Because the church was desecrated, it was necessary to reconsecrate it before any other church services could take place and the whole parish turned out for the event. “There was a wonderful demonstration of faith and deep respect for the Eucharist,” he wrote.

After re-consecrating the church and celebrating Mass, the congregation processed with him to the cemetery where the desecrated hosts were reverently buried.

“Two of the men dug an appropriate grave on the cemetery and the desecrated hosts were reverently placed into the soil. It was truly a burial in sacred ground. I doubt the young children and teenagers who were part of this special ceremony will ever forget the occasion. It was a special lesson about the respect for the Eucharist and the sacredness of the cemetery grounds.”

A few days later, several local teens admitted to the desecration, one of whom came to the church and asked for forgiveness, an action Bishop Harrington called “a most meaningful reconciliation.”

The most recent vandalism incurred more than $100,000 in damages, but the bishop was more concerned with the underlying causes. After expressing his own personal pain and sorrow that someone would strike out at images of Jesus and Mary, he said that people of all faiths should be concerned about these “heinous crimes of hatred.”

“When one religious group or ethnic people are offended,” he said, “we are all offended.”

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