SW News: In Argentina, radical secularists are increasingly targeting Catholic churches and shrines. In the latest incident, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Valley of Pehuajo in Entre Rios was desecrated. The incident occurred in the wee hours of August 31.
The chapel, which is a popular Marian pilgrimage site, suffered extensive damage after vandals set fire to the interior. The act of arson also destroyed sacred images, objects and furniture. Luckily, the tabernacle was empty at the time of the vandalism saving the sacred hosts from profanation.

Speaking to a local news outlet Ahora ElDia, Fr Carlos Stalder, the vicar of Nuestra Senora del Perpetuo Socorro de Larroque parish under whose jurisdiction the vandalized chapel is located, said that the horrible act was first discovered by a couple from the area when they noticed that the chapel door was ajar.  “When they went down and saw, they found everything that had happened. They contacted the Police, who began to work together with the Gualeguaychú Criminal Investigations Department and the Larroque Police Station.”

The diocese issued a statement bemoaning the attack. "We can assume that the motive for the criminal act was the desecration of the sacred place and its elements, rather than robbery. The Pehuajó chapel is a place of worship of families of believers who live in the area and it is the destination of the annual pilgrimage in which a large number of faithful participate. This year is the 50th anniversary of the pilgrimage.”

In the statement, the diocese condemned the horrible act and expressed closeness with the believers who are in pain. It also called for penitential acts as reparation for the offenses to God and the Blessed Virgin. The statement also asked believers to pray for the perpetrators of the crime.

There are reports that the local community is joining hands to pool resources to refurbish the damaged chapel.