Aid to the Church in Need has decried the Oct. 18 arson attacks on two churches in Santiago de Chile and called on the Chilean government to protect churches against hate crimes.
“Nothing justifies the use of violence, nor the attacks on sacred spaces, nor the use of violence against the faith and beliefs of others,” the international pontifical charity said in a statement Oct. 19.
“We believe that while it is legitimate to demonstrate and ask for social changes, unbridled hatred against religious groups generates violence and destruction and should be worldwide openly condemned.”
ACN said Church of the Assumption, one of the oldest in the capital, and San Francisco de Borja Church were lit Oct. 18, on the first anniversary of protests that began in 2019. In the last year, it said 57 churches have been “attacked and burned” in Chile, and Christian churches and buildings have been “systematically threatened by violent groups.”
The Archbishop of Santiago de Chile has also condemned the arson attacks that destroyed these two Chilean churches and called on Catholics to carry out acts of reparation for the attacks.
“Violence is evil, and whoever sows violence reaps destruction, pain and death. Let us never justify any violence,” for political or social purposes, said Archbishop Celestino Aós. “The poor are the most affected” by these acts of vandalism.
According to reports from Catholic News Agency, groups of hooded protesters entered two churches in Chile’s capital city, setting fire to them, though they are among the oldest in Santiago. The spire of the Church of the Assumption collapsed in the blaze, drawing cheers from demonstrators protesting outside the building. The interior of San Francisco de Borja Church was gutted by fire. Some estimate both buildings may be beyond repair.
The attacks came as demonstrators marked the one year anniversary of large anti-government protests that took place across Chile in 2019, during which riots destroyed supermarkets and other businesses and reportedly caused more than 30 deaths. Those demonstrations began over an increase in subway fares (that has since been suspended) and other regions joined in the protests, expanding their grievances to inequality and the cost of healthcare.
Rioters have set fires inside San Francisco de Borja Church before; in January the church suffered heavy damage after fires were set and demonstrators blocked firefighters from trying to access the Church.
Archbishop Aós called on Catholics not to lose faith or hope, because “love is stronger.”
“Let us not justify the unjustifiable. God does not want violence. We will come together to do acts of penance and reparation as a believing community.”
Files from Aid to the Church in Need, Catholic News Agency, and ACI Prensa.
