Posted on 02/27/2016 5:01:38 AM PST by NYer
A tabernacle stolen Thursday night from Our Lady of Lourdes Church was found on Friday morning, damaged beyond repair.
Henry Gaudon, project manager for the parish, was at a loss to understand why someone would steal something considered sacred in the Catholic church.
A tabernacle is a fixed, locked box in which, in some Christian churches, the Eucharist is "reserved" (stored).
The Bay St. George RCMP received a report at 8:10 p.m. Thursday of a break, enter and theft into Port au Port Peninsula church. A television and wall mount were also reported stolen.
Gaudon said Fr. Gerard Patry went into the dimly lit church Thursday evening and noticed the tabernacle missing. Gaudon said the parish priest spotted two men in the building, who both left the scene. The tabernacle and television were already missing, so its not known how many times the two had already been in the church that evening.
Gaudon said the tabernacle weights about 50 pounds and was sitting on a side altar. The desecrated tabernacle was found nearby over the side of a bank around 9 a.m. Friday. He said the RCMP has since taken it for forensic investigation. The damages appear to have occurred from it being pried open.
Gaudon said a ciborium, a vessel that holds the sacrament or hosts, was found smashed to pieces, while a number of consecrated hosts strewn about.
He said value of the tabernacle alone is at least $5,000.
Const. Ken LaSaga of the Bay St. George RCMP said late Friday afternoon that no arrests have been made in relation to the theft, but the matter is still under active investigation.
“Teens” or “Youth”
Place your bets.
I am still trying to figure out why people do bad things? They may get some temporary benefit, but when do they learn it just temporary and not really worthwhile?
If they would open up to the goodness of God and just do the right thing, they would be much happier.
May everyone grow up and understand the key to happiness is to love God and your neighbor.
I’m not sure what you are talking about, the Hosts were just left there after they pried the Tabernacle open. The one thing most people do know about churches, whether they attend themselves or not, is that they take in money. Assuming they thought a locked box had money in it, is not unreasonable.
You were correct the first time. This was an initiation for entrance into the cult.
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You are right.
The tabernacle was just a thing, an object. It wasn't a LIFE. It can be replaced.
He may not even have been thinking of "the majesty of the Roman Catholic Church" either. He might have thought to steal and sell for drugs. Who knows what that creep sad soul was thinking. Perhaps "thinking" wasn't his strong point.
In our church the hosts are removed from the main tabernacle and stored inside a VERY thick safe, just inside the vestibule. The vestibule is locked when the church is locked. Cash goes in there as well.
The safe IS attached to the floor and it would take a professional safe cracker to get into it. And, why would he?
It looks “safe-like” to me. I bet the thieves were pissed there wasn’t any salsa to go with the chips.
I was responding to what satanist do to hosts.
Rather a non-sequitur to my post. some others thought like you did. Just many easier ways than that. I’m sure they left them on the ground because they only needed a couple? they would have taken them all.
Oh yeah. stories every day. John-boy and Billy used to do a daily stupid crook news on their show. Heck they may still be doing it lol
Most self-defined Catholics don’t know either.
In the USA there are guidelines from the bishops similar to what you describe. In our parish the tabernacle is heavily bolted to a granite slab which is part of the permanent wall behind the altar.
However, this article is from Canada; if they don’t have such arrangements, maybe they will now think about it.
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