Epidemic of ‘Nightmarish’ Crib Vandalism Hits Italy
by Jules Gomes, Church Militant:
Unprecedented destruction of nativity scenes shocks locals.
Hundreds of Christmas cribs have been smashed, burned and vandalized across Italy in a binge of violence unparalleled in recent memory.
Statues of the Baby Jesus and the Holy Family have been beheaded, stolen or hanged — in one shocking incident even impaled on an iron pole in a public square.
In the town of Ivrea, near Turin, firefighters were called to extinguish a blaze in the church of San Maurizio on Jan. 4 after a 46-year-old woman with a history of arson set fire to a crib near the altar. The fire destroyed valuable paintings and frescoes, as well as two antique painted tables and the covering of the baptismal font.
The perpetrator confessed to the crime, even though she said she was unable to explain why she did it.
Meanwhile, on the same day and in the same town, another arsonist set fire to a crib in the church of San Salvatore, destroying the altar linen. The two churches are near one other, close to the historic city center.
Edoardo Cerrato, bishop of Ivrea, called for acts of reparation and an investigation, noting that “we have seen beheaded figurines of the Child of Bethlehem and His Most Holy Mother” in other parts of Italy.
“The investigation will perhaps identify the perpetrators and understand the motive behind what, for now, can be seen as desecration of sacred images and churches,” he said.
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