Before it has in all likelihood tried to steal the money from the box of the offerings, then, finding it empty, he decided to set fire.
On Friday morning the parish of San Bernardino Realino di Carpi was the subject of a malicious act which involved an attempted fire damaging the weekday chapel. An action that could have had worse consequences. Fortunately, no people were involved but there is now a lot of bitterness over the episode among the community. There are cameras in the church that could have immortalized the scene and who knows, even the face of the arsonist who at the moment is unclear whether he has already been identified by the police.
The story
«Providentially the fire was limited to the altar area only – declared the parish priest Don Mauro Pancera – and has not affected other parts of the newly restored Chapel, which has already returned to its daily reality as a place of prayer and devotion to the Pilgrim Madonna to whom we entrust everything in prayer».
The malicious act, probably of vandalism, which could have turned into a tragedy, occurred around 9.30 am with the church empty.
«The daily celebration at 8.30 had ended about half an hour ago – confirms Don Pancera – and at that moment there was no one in the church. The vandal therefore acted undisturbed and probably, not finding any money in the offering box, perhaps out of anger, decided to set fire to the tablecloth covering the altar”.
Don Pancera reports that the parish of San Bernardino Realino is not new to acts of vandalism, but never of such a serious nature.
«It has already happened that people broke into the church and forced the offering boxes – he says – but nothing more. This time we risked very serious damage which however was avoided thanks to the promptness of some volunteers in the rectory who, smelling a strong smell of burning and seeing smoke coming from inside the church, promptly called the firefighters who arrived shortly after. followed by the police.”
To date, the police have not made it known whether whoever is responsible for the fire has been identified. The images from the church’s video surveillance camera are being examined by the police.
“Our thanks go to the police forces who promptly intervened, to the public institutions and to all those who expressed their precious closeness to us”, concluded Don Pancera.
