oyii
Oct 5, 2001, 09:15 AM
I live in a place where you cannot see white beaches, volcanoes, mountains, or historical landmarks that can attract people to come and visit our town. The only infrastructure that our town can be proud of is the church, which was built in 1565. It was almost destroyed by the earthquake and the parishioners tried their best to restore it Last year a lot of renovations were made and the results were impressive. The altar was repainted to suit the adobe walls, and its like having an altar made of gold. In the altar was the different images of the saints that are as old as the church itself.
Unfortunately, we are again experiencing difficulties in restoring the old church because this time we are not dealing with the effects of calamities but with the effects of people's greed and lack of respect.
Our church has been a victim of robberies. It was almost a year ago when the town people woke up early to hear mass and to discover that the head of the Virgin Mary together with the image of the Baby Jesus were missing.
Not more than a year after that, we were again shocked by another robbery. This time, they hit it big. Not just a head or an arm or a small statue were missing, but it was the image of St Francis. They almost got the image of St Thomas but I think they changed their mind because it will be too heavy for them to carry two large statues plus the sound system (CD player).
I don’t know, but every Sunday when I go to church to hear mass and look at the altar, I often wonder how people can be so greedy. How can they commit a sin right inside the place where one is supposed to be safe, where they can pray and ask the Lord for forgiveness? Where one should be afraid to do bad things because God maybe there looking at him. If these people can steal from the house of God imagine what they can do in an ordinary house?
Is the demand for these antique statues high enough that even churches are common targets for robberies? Do antique dealers and collectors think that these images look better as home decoration, a piece of furniture, which can be replaced when a new one becomes available? These images will be treated as a property, a latest acquisition to show to their amigas, a piece of wood to be placed in a corner where every visitor can notice it.
I don’t know if the recent robbery will be the last, I don’t know which statue or item these robbers will be after the next time.
Unfortunately, we are again experiencing difficulties in restoring the old church because this time we are not dealing with the effects of calamities but with the effects of people's greed and lack of respect.
Our church has been a victim of robberies. It was almost a year ago when the town people woke up early to hear mass and to discover that the head of the Virgin Mary together with the image of the Baby Jesus were missing.
Not more than a year after that, we were again shocked by another robbery. This time, they hit it big. Not just a head or an arm or a small statue were missing, but it was the image of St Francis. They almost got the image of St Thomas but I think they changed their mind because it will be too heavy for them to carry two large statues plus the sound system (CD player).
I don’t know, but every Sunday when I go to church to hear mass and look at the altar, I often wonder how people can be so greedy. How can they commit a sin right inside the place where one is supposed to be safe, where they can pray and ask the Lord for forgiveness? Where one should be afraid to do bad things because God maybe there looking at him. If these people can steal from the house of God imagine what they can do in an ordinary house?
Is the demand for these antique statues high enough that even churches are common targets for robberies? Do antique dealers and collectors think that these images look better as home decoration, a piece of furniture, which can be replaced when a new one becomes available? These images will be treated as a property, a latest acquisition to show to their amigas, a piece of wood to be placed in a corner where every visitor can notice it.
I don’t know if the recent robbery will be the last, I don’t know which statue or item these robbers will be after the next time.