Source: CNS. …. Rioters set fire to and destroyed two Catholic Churches in Chile on Sun., Oct. 18. On Friday, hooded protesters looted a Catholic Church, in Santiago. Conference of Catholic Bishops. ADVERTISEMENT Protests and riots erupted in Chile’s capital city of Santiago over the weekend ahead of a referendum on whether to throw out the country’s constitution, the Wall Street Journal reported . Rioters set fire to and destroyed two Catholic Churches in Chile on Sun., Oct. 18. Catholic News Service is a leading agency for religious news. Burning church, cop on fire: A whiff of what the left wants for us from Chile By Monica Showalter If you want a gander at what the far left really wants for all of us, take a … In terms of secular newsrooms, The Daily Mail has covered this highly symbolic story: “Demonstrators loot churches in Chile and burn statues of Jesus in the streets as month-long protest over inequality turns violent.” However, this only proves the larger point, since the Mail is known as a conservative-market newspaper. Roman Catholicism was brought to the country by priests sent with the Spanish colonizers. © var today = new Date(); document.write(today.getFullYear()); GetReligion.org unless otherwise noted.All rights reserved. Meanwhile, the role of the Catholic Church in the politics of Chile is complicated a So what happened with this ongoing trend in Chile, other than the fact that American newspapers struggle to cover international news. What are those Baptist pastors talking about? During Chile’s 1973-1990 dictatorship, several bishops spoke out in defense of human rights and worked closely with indigenous populations. Return To Tradition 27,563 views. An Associated Press photographer witnessed people dragging church pews, statues of Jesus and other religious iconography from La Asuncion church onto the street and setting them on fire in a flaming barricade before they clashed with police. Miriam A. Espinoza ("Evangelical Focus," June 16, 2016) One year ago I was horrified to see Islamic terrorist groups burning churches in Nigeria, Indian Christians beaten to death, or Christian families expelled form their houses in … Demonstrators came out a year after mass protests that saw … During Chile’s 1973-1990 dictatorship, several bishops spoke out in defense of human rights and worked closely with indigenous populations. “The burning of churches is an expression of the disgruntlement” that many Mapuche feel for the Catholic Church, said German Silva, a political analyst at the Universidad Mayor in Santiago. Behind the headlines: As winter storm cripples Texas power grid, people of faith rally to help. Masked demonstrators carry a cross with Jesus Christ, taken from inside a church, during a protest against government education reforms in Santiago, Chile Reuters. Baltimore, MD 21201 Roman Catholic Church [edit | edit source] Roman Catholicism was the national religion of Chile before 1925 and continues to be a dominant force. Today vandals in Santiago, Chile, firebombed three Catholic churches just ahead of Pope Francis’s scheduled visit to the South American nation on Monday. Apparently this is now a 'conservative' news story, Outspoken but quiet, conservative but progressive: Media profile U.S. Catholic bishops' Latino leader, Reporters' reminders: (1) Two stories can be one story, so (2) watch religious media for ideas, report from the ultra-conservative ChurchMilitant.com, Demonstrators loot churches in Chile and burn statues of Jesus in the streets as month-long protest over inequality turns violent.”. The issue is whether American newsrooms ran that story — which is often hard to see on the Internet, since many newspapers do not include wire-service stories in their online editions. “The burning of churches is an expression of the disgruntlement” that many Mapuche feel for the Catholic Church, said German Silva, a political analyst at the Universidad Mayor in Santiago. Chile’s T13 network broadcast dramatic images of the churches burning, as well as bonfires set up outside the church to burn stolen paraphernalia from inside. The Catholic missions in Chile were administered by Spain’s Department of Colonial Affairs, a secular body. Some of the church goods were used to build a bonfire in nearby Plaza Italia. In fact, it would appear that this is a “conservative news story,” which apparently means that attacks on Catholic churches in Chile is only of interest to political conservatives. The parish is home to institutional ceremonies for the “Carabineros,” Chile’s national police, a force unpopular with protesters over accusations of it employing repressive tactics, including 345 eye injuries from the use of pellets shot from anti-riot weapons, according to a U.N. report. Many of the protests have demanded rewriting the constitution; the bishops have encouraged citizen participation in the demonstrations. October 19, 2020By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service This retreat is for you, Passionist priest, relative of English princes, takes step closer to sainthood, Pope, Holocaust survivor talk about the importance of remembering, Cardinals Sarah, Comastri retire from Vatican posts, Houston Catholics struggle with historic storm, power outages, Human rights advocate Sister Dianna Ortiz dies after brief illness, A pandemic Lent, ox cookies, and Valentine’s gifts (7 Quick Takes), Pope tells attendees of L.A.’s virtual congress to proclaim God’s promise. Backing up a bit, the Associated Press did cover this trend when nine churches burned in the weeks leading up to the 2018 visit to Chile by Pope Francis. Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond. SANTIAGO, Chile (ChurchMilitant.com) - Rioters looted a church and burned its contents on the street in Chile's capital on Friday.Vandals stormed La Asuncion Church in … Reader asks: How can news consumers decide if Ethiopian massacre reports are true? Let’s change the setting: Would it be news if alt-right demonstrators burned a church and trashed the altar of a Catholic church somewhere that was linked to efforts to aid of protect immigrants? President Joe Biden's a Pope Francis fan, but does that mean the pope's a fan of Biden? Catholic churches burning in Chile? The answer: Next to none. 443-524-3150 …, The bishops conference of Chile condemned the attack on La Asuncion Church, saying in a statement, "An attack on temples and places of prayer, without any respect for God or for those who believe in Him, causes us pain.". News Chile: Protesters burn university, loot church. Meanwhile, the role of the Catholic Church in the politics of Chile is complicated and, as you would expect, decades of arguments about clergy sexual abuse and related topics has not helped the situation. This is the kind of smartphone-video story that tends to make news, if only because the images are so striking. Burning church in Chile, Youtbe Two Catholic churches were destroyed in Santiago, Chile last Sunday in the wake of riots marking the one-year anniversary of anti-government protests that called for a new constitution to replace the one from Pinochet’s military regime in 1980. Demonstrators set fire to two Catholic churches in Chile, where gatherings to mark the one-year anniversary of mass protests against inequality descended into chaos. The violence that as seized Chile is linked to complex issues of history, economics and bitter political divisions. The assailing of two parishes comes as Chile’s Catholic Church suffers the fallout from accusations of clergy sexual abuse and the hierarchy’s improper response to such crimes. I wonder that the banners said? Photos from inside the burning building show graffiti reading “death to the Nazarene,” meaning Jesus, and anti-police slogans. Fire totally destruction of the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, a few meters from Piazza Italia, in the center of Santiago de Chile, on 18 October, following a day of protests. The Church of San Francisco de Borja suffered similar damage, in part because it is considered the home church of the Carabineros, Chile’s national police. During Chile’s 1973-1990 dictatorship, several bishops spoke out in defense of human rights and worked closely with indigenous populations. Around the world, arson is committed because empty churches are a soft target, or due to Excommunication, racial hatred, prejudice against certain religions or religious beliefs, as part of a sectarian campaign of communal violence, or as a means of anonymously registering dissent or anti-religious sentiment. Demonstrators burned two Catholic churches in Chile, where gatherings to mark the one-year anniversary of mass protests against inequality descended into chaos. Masked protestors filmed and cheered as the burning spire of a Chilean church crashed to the ground Sunday night, video shows. Chile erupted in protests in October 2019 after an increase in metro fares in the city of Santiago. What’s the bottom line here? mail@CatholicReview.org, Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada, © 2021 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Young Mother Lange honoree keeps busy helping others, RADIO INTERVIEW: What parents need to know about human trafficking, ‘Giving Tuesday’ to put focus on digital donations for Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries, Archbishop Lori establishes Institute for Evangelization, Thinking of becoming a priest? Demonstrators loot churches in Chile and burn statues of Jesus in the streets as month-long protest over inequality turns violent. Chile, Church burnings, Mapuche CathNews - Chile's church burnings: Revenge of the Mapuche continues CathNews is Australia’s leading Catholic news service, which delivers news, features, prayers, opinions, reflections, discussion, and Mass on Demand, aggregated … The second case is the burning of Christian Union, an Evangelical church in Antinao. Much of the religious statuary was smashed and painted over with anti-Catholic graffiti. The tabernacle was damaged and smeared with the word “rapists.” Photos taken at the scene showed that the door of the tabernacle was left open. As you would expect, American news operations have been busy covering other stories. Groups of hooded protesters entered two Catholic churches setting fire to the St. Francis Borgia Church, which is the parish of the Carabineros, Chile’s police force, and to the Church … The Church of San Francisco de Borja suffered similar damage, in part because it is considered the home church of the Carabineros, Chile’s national police. Church arson is the burning or attempting to burn of religious property. SANTIAGO, Chile — Demonstrators burned two Catholic churches in Chile, where gatherings to mark the one-year anniversary of mass protests against inequality descended into chaos. The historic church dates to 1876. Black church leaders working to promote COVID-19 vaccines to their skeptical flocks. But I would like to note that activists/reformers/rioters — pick your label — have started burning Catholic churches, including holy objects stripped from altars. Want to trigger Episcopalians? The vast majority of Chile yearns for justice and effective measures that help to overcome inequality. They do not want more corruption or abuse; they expect dignified, respectful and fair treatment.”, Archbishop Celestino Aós Braco of Santiago called for an end to the violence Oct. 18, calling it evil and saying, “We cannot justify the unjustifiable.”. But demonstrators' complaints grew to include income inequality, low wages and Chile's high cost of living. The crucifix was hauled out of the church, broken, and put on display in the street. Still, it was strange to see very, very little evidence that this Nov. 8 AP report was picked up. Of course journalists would rush to cover that fire, and rightly so. I find this very depressing. Did the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol involve Christian 'heresy' or was it 'apostasy'? Also, the words “burn the church” were spray-painted nearby on an interior wall. Why are churches burning in Chile? Copyright © 2020 Catholic News Service/U.S. Around the world, arson is committed because empty churches are a soft target, or due to Excommunication, racial hatred, prejudice against certain religions or religious beliefs, as part of a sectarian campaign of communal violence, or as a means of anonymously registering dissent or anti-religious sentiment. Meanwhile, the role of the Catholic Church in the politics of Chile is complicated and, as you would expect, decades of arguments about clergy sexual abuse … Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in Santiago in a fresh day of anti-government protests. A protester gestures while a church is set on fire during a demonstration against Chile’s government in Santiago Oct. 18, 2020, the one-year anniversary of the protests and riots that rocked the capital in 2019. The current protests occurred a week before a referendum on whether to ditch a dictatorship-era constitution. Vandals destroyed both the St. Francis Borgia Church and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Santiago, Chile. I get that. Some masked thugs appeared to have stolen a statue from within one of the churches, so damaged as to be unrecognizable, and took pictures next to it, smiling and pointing at it. Ask an evangelical superstar to preach at National Cathedral, New podcast: There's more to Lent 2021 than virtual-ash selfies and giving up (fill in the blank), Ryan Burge day: Political tensions rise as secularism grows (yet faith numbers stay strong). Filed Under: Feature, News, World News. 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