Colombian bishop decries desecration of the Eucharist

Bogotá, Colombia, Aug 26, 2009 / 17:19 pm

Bishop Fabio Duque Jaramillo of Armenia, Colombia has condemned the recent act of profanation against the Eucharist which took place at the parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, saying, “When the rights of God are trampled with impunity, the rights of man are in danger.”

The desecration occurred when an unknown man entered the church, broke open the tabernacle, removed the Hosts and threw them to the ground. The bishop said in a statement after the sacrilegious act that, “this was not a robbery motivated by the economic value of the sacred vessels, as the assailant did not take any object of value of the parish.”

“The only purpose was to wound the sentiments of the faithful, attacking the central mystery of the Christian faith, the Eucharist, the presence of God among us and the prolonging of the mystery of man’s redemption,” Bishop Duque said.

These attacks against the faith are an attack on “the most sacred rights of the person, the right to freely express one’s faith and most intimate convictions.”

When this happens, he warned, “all of society is in danger. When the rights of God are trampled upon with impunity, the rights of man are in danger.”

After calling on the police to investigate the incident, Bishop Duque called on Colombians to express their rejection of such acts, which are “a grave violation of citizens’ rights, an offense against the beliefs and principles of the Catholic faithful, which are deeply rooted in the culture of our people.”

For this reason, Bishop Duque urged Catholics to denounce these kinds of acts and to show support for the parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, where an act of reparation will be held on August 30.

He noted in conclusion that according to Canon Law (canon 1367), desecration of the Eucharist results in automatic excommunication, which can only be lifted by the Holy Father.