Romanian migrants trashed a Catholic church in Italy during a fight, prompting widespread condemnation.
The incident occurred yesterday morning at the Church of the Madonna della Misericordia del Lugaresi in Cesena.
In the hours after the fight, a video showing the trashed church went viral, sparking rumors that Islamic extremists were responsible.
Sotto il manto della "pazzia e dell'alcool", 2 stranieri hanno profanato la Chiesa dell'#IstitutoLugaresi di #Cesena. Naturalmente i #media per non creare altro "clima d'odio a sfondo religioso", derubichera' questo atto sacrilego alla capacità di non intendere degli aggressori. pic.twitter.com/rBJ167HZd7
— DonSa (@Don_Lazzara) April 28, 2019
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However, the actual cause was a bloody brawl between two drunk Romanian migrants, who destroyed church pews and other objects during the fracas.
“Those present immediately called the police who intervened to stop them and were forced to resort to pepper spray to restore calm,” according to one report. “At that point the scenario inside the church was depressing to say the least: several benches on the ground, shattered objects and a lot of blood , which the two lost by hurting each other during the struggle.”
Father Silvius was said to be “visibly shocked” when he saw the devastation caused by the incident.
The issue of churches being desecrated and attacked came to the fore once again after the “accidental” fire which nearly destroyed Notre Dame.
105 Christian churches/buildings are burned or attacked every month while in France 875 churches were targeted during 2018 alone.
