Bishop Barron, expressing ‘outrage,’ vows to reconsecrate vandalized cemetery

Joe Bukuras   By Joe Bukuras for CNA

 

One or more vandals desecrated a Catholic cemetery in Rochester, Minnesota, on Oct. 31, 2022, Halloween night. / Courtesy of Calvary Cemetery

Boston, Mass., Nov 3, 2022 / 13:03 pm (CNA).

Bishop Robert Barron has pledged to reconsecrate a Catholic Minnesota cemetery vandalized on Halloween night with satanic and vulgar graffiti.

“On this feast of All Souls, when the Church honors our beloved dead, I would like to express my outrage at this desecration and my assurance of prayers for the families of those whose final resting places were so dishonored,” Barron, the head of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, said in a Nov. 2 statement on Twitter.

Steven Flynn, director of the diocese’s Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, told CNA that five memorial walls in the cemetery were heavily covered with blue and brown graffiti. He also said that two grave markers, a statue of Christ, and a cross were covered in graffiti. The cleanup and repair costs could go as high as $8,000, Flynn estimated.

Photos of the graffiti show vulgar messages and the words “In Satan we trust.”

“Cemetery staff is working diligently to repair the damage and restore the grounds, and once their task is completed, I pledge to bless and re-consecrate this sacred space. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace,” Barron said.

“The Diocese of Winona-Rochester will cooperate with the police in assuring that those responsible are brought to justice,” Barron added.

Flynn said he was angry when he discovered the vandalism, especially because All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) is the cemetery’s “biggest day” for visitation.

“I hope they find their way,” he said about the vandals. “They’re heading down the wrong path.”


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


About Catholic News Agency 12201 Articles
Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com)

1 Trackback / Pingback

  1. Bishop Barron, expressing ‘outrage,’ vows to reconsecrate vandalized cemetery | Passionists Missionaries Kenya, Vice Province of St. Charles Lwanga, Fathers & Brothers

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

All comments posted at Catholic World Report are moderated. While vigorous debate is welcome and encouraged, please note that in the interest of maintaining a civilized and helpful level of discussion, comments containing obscene language or personal attacks—or those that are deemed by the editors to be needlessly combative or inflammatory—will not be published. Thank you.


*