Attack at church, Archdiocese calls for action

ST LUCIA

The Archdiocese of Castries has condemned a May 8 attack at the Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Vieux Fort, where a man exploded two incendiary devices inside the building. No one was injured and the fire was extinguished. The man was later arrested by police.

Following is the press release from the Archdiocese:

Dear brothers and Sisters in Christ, all citizens of our beautiful country, Saint Lucia.

The Archdiocese of Castries condemns with the rest of the country, the outrageous and unprovoked assault on the Catholics of the Parish of the Assumption, Vieux-Fort, who for a second time, have had their constitutional right to worship violated and their sacred space of worship desecrated.

The Archdiocese is mindful of the history of such assaults on the Catholic community in the past. These include the murder of Sr Francis Theresa Keenan SJC during Mother’s Day Mass in Grace, on May 8, 1977; the kidnapping of Bishop Lester Guilly SJ in Castries in December 1980; the brutal murder of Sr Theresa Egan SJC during the Cathedral attack on December 31, 2000, which also resulted in severe burns to Mr Victor Reyes and Mr Mark Beaubrun, and the death of Fr Charles Gaillard in April 2001; and the attempt on the life of Kelvin Cardinal Felix, then Archbishop of Castries, after the Chrism Mass in 2006.

This catalogue of atrocities suggests a targeted pattern of aggression which is unacceptable in a democratic and Christian society. I call upon government, civil society, religious groups and men and women of good will to stand resolutely and condemn all forms of bigotry, hatred, discrimination, and intolerance, both in words and actions, that manifest themselves in Saint Lucian society.

Aware that some of the perpetrators of these heinous acts were allegedly persons of questionable mental health, the Catholic Church takes this opportunity, during Mental Health Week (May 9–15, 2022), to support the call for greater awareness, education, information on mental health in our society and the provision of better care and facilities for the mentally challenged.