Church Desecration

Subject: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 31 Oct 17 - 06:50 AM

Many of you might be surprised that I, a dedicated Atheist, am trying to raise awareness of the desecration of a church in Errislannan in County Galway.

Mindless thugs have ransacked the church, broken windows, pews, the pulpit and caused thousands of pound worth of damage.

If any of you can spare a few bob attached is the relevant page.

Errislannan Church

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 31 Oct 17 - 08:12 AM

Terrible.
I'll do a donation tonight when I'm not on a 'works' computer.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Oct 17 - 09:11 AM

Catholic. Mormon. I don't care what you believe or don't believe.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 31 Oct 17 - 09:26 AM

Don't know quite what you are driving at Raparee, I'm just trying to help a community and their church which has been wrecked by mindless, thuggish vandals.

The surprise, for some people, is my known apathy towards organised religions.

You can choose whether or not you want to proffer a donation.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Donuel
Date: 31 Oct 17 - 10:00 AM

I once meandered into the aftermath of a church fire in Buffalo.
I was shocked at seeing the powerful beauty of a church reduced to shards of sublime stained glass paintings, carved wood, bits of hand made care and concern still beautiful in its destruction. In the midst of this ecstatic oblivion I asked the priest if I could have but one piece of glass as a memento. The priest could choke out but one word "sorry".

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: BobL
Date: 01 Nov 17 - 03:37 AM

More info - or the same info with further details - here.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: banjoman
Date: 01 Nov 17 - 04:52 AM

Or church as set alight by vandals in 2016 and we spent a year celebrating Mass in the adjacent school hall. It was amazing the support given to us by people and congregations of all denominations and none and the spirit of ecumenism and tolerance in our area has grown significantly.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 01 Nov 17 - 05:28 AM

Thanks for the link BobL

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 Nov 17 - 05:30 AM

many Atheists accept the beauty of churches. I often look at and in local churches in the UK when I am in a new location.

My favourite has to be Brixworth - not only 1350 years old but made from Roman fabric quarried from a villa nearby.

In the 1970s they had a larynx bone on display (now held elsewhere) - I presume of St Boniface - I can't remember the actual saint they credited it from, but it was a reliquary of an orator.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Donuel
Date: 01 Nov 17 - 07:23 PM

My shirt was quarried in Italy
I'll get me jacket.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 02 Nov 17 - 04:54 AM

The fund to repair the damage has reached almost 15,500 euro, still a long way to go to get anywhere near the 70,000 needed.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 03 Nov 17 - 05:58 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Greg F.
Date: 03 Nov 17 - 11:09 AM

"At least three mosques in New Jersey have received threats in the wake of Tuesday?s terror attack in New York City.

We?re going to burn your mosque down,? a voice said angrily in a voicemail left on the mosque?s phone.

?We?re coming to kill you,? another said.

This was just one of eight terrifying voicemails left at the Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC) in New Jersey less than 24 hours after a driver plowed a Home Depot rental truck into a bike path in lower Manhattan."

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 04 Nov 17 - 03:06 AM

I am a little surprised that this thread has attracted so few comments.

Although not a christian I was shocked to see the desecration of this church and had expected the people on this forum to express some horror at the destruction.

The fund for the restoration has stalled at ?16,500.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: DMcG
Date: 04 Nov 17 - 03:18 AM

Fair point, Raggytash. I didn't comment because I didn't think I could do much more than echo what I imagine most people feel: a pointless destruction, probably just for the fun of it. A failure of us all that we have let that sort of attitude develop. Great uncertainty about what we can really do to prevent it...

I did make a small donation but am aware that this is just one of many instances of vandalism, some within a few miles of me - not churches, but I can point to cafe's and art centres that have had similar attacks.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 04 Nov 17 - 03:32 AM

I agree with you DMcG but for some reason destruction of such violence to a place of worship even affected me. I sent an email to my entire mailing list which am I glad to say has made some financial contribution in addition to my own. I'll be over there in a couple of weeks and will see if I can add anything with my labours.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 05 Nov 17 - 07:23 AM

Some nice kind person has donated 500 Euro today !!


Appeal Fund

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 07 Nov 17 - 04:33 AM

The fund for the restoration of the church has almost, but not quite, reached 20,000 Euro, a long way from their target of 70,000 Euro.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 07 Nov 17 - 07:48 AM

It is sad when any unique building is vandalised, or mosques threatened as reported by Greg.

In some countries Christian churches and Shia mosques have actually been destroyed along with their congregations.

More than sad.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 07 Nov 17 - 08:11 AM

True K, which is the very reason I brought it up here. I know that one or two good people on here have made a contribution to the fund.

I emailed my entire address book to try and generate some donations, and to some effect I'm glad to say.

The more we can disseminate this the better so I would ask that you "spread the word" as it were.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Thompson
Date: 08 Nov 17 - 09:19 AM

I threw a few quid in. Are you in or around Clifden, DMcG? What's the reason for all the vandalism, and who's doing it?

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 08 Nov 17 - 09:23 AM

As yet unknown Thompson, lets hope the perpetrators are brought to book for the appalling destruction they visited upon the church.

Are you suggesting there have been other instances around Clifden?

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Thompson
Date: 08 Nov 17 - 11:31 AM

DMcG wrote: I? am aware that this is just one of many instances of vandalism, some within a few miles of me - not churches, but I can point to cafe's and art centres that have had similar attacks.

I was asking if DMcG was in or near Clifden and was referring to more vandalism around the town.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 09 Nov 17 - 05:34 AM

Hi Thompson, DmcG doesn't live in Clifden (as far as I know) and I've not heard of other vandalism in the town.

The church that has been vandalised is some distance from the town, about 5-6 kilometres and is situated in a very quiet and remote spot. Someone, unless very local, made an effort to get out there, it's not on a main road, it's some distance down a single track road.

One good bit of news is that some kind person has made a donation of 2000 euro to the restoration fund bringing the total so far to over 23,000 euro.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Nov 17 - 10:52 AM

I drove up to Errislannan today to visit the church. It is a stone built, slightly squat but it has a beauty in its simplicity. Set down a lane a couple of miles from the main road in wild bleak and bare countryside. The damage inside is still clearly apparent. Every pew is broken to a lesser or greater degree. The altar rail is torn down and utterly smashed beyond repair. Ten windows are smashed . The plupit is not recognisable as such. The modern(ish) wrecked and a beautiful old organ (foot bellows) built in 1896 is ruined.

Two youths have been found to be the guilty parties but as they are below the age of criminality in Ireland will not face court.!!

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: DMcG
Date: 16 Nov 17 - 01:58 PM

Juat reread this thread. No, I live near Southampton. I had in mind an Arts Centre in more or less the middle of the town and a coffee shop some way from the centre but much closer to me. Which was juat my way of saying such vandalism is very widespread. Deciding which to donate to is not easy by any means.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 17 Nov 17 - 01:15 PM

I am not used to such vandalism in Ireland. I agree in England it is sadly far more common. A very poor reflection on our society which ultimately we as older adults are resonsible for.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Nov 17 - 02:25 AM

I think it's important to realize that such vandalism is caused by a very small minority. It can't be blamed on one denomination or another, or one ethnic group or another. Most people are pretty good folks and the majority of all people of good will are offended by such senseless destruction.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Raggytash
Date: 18 Nov 17 - 12:17 PM

In this case Joe it was two local youths who because they are under the age of criminal responsibility will go unpunished. The mother of one of them runs a stall on a nearby market. I think she will probably feel the effects more than her child.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Nov 17 - 02:59 PM

It may be worth noting that the website linked in the first post is no longer accepting donations.

Subject: RE: Church Desecration
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Nov 17 - 09:19 PM

This page (click) says that the "age of criminal responsibility" in Ireland is 12. Was all that damage done by children under the age of 12?

And even then, it does not seem that children under 12 who commit crimes escape entirely without punishment. This article (click) gives me the impression that many juvenile crimes are being handled through diversion and restorative justice programs. If done well, these programs can be very effective.

-Joe-