07/09/2022 Malaysia (International Christian Concern) – A Malaysian cathedral in the Diocese of Keningau has reported an incident of vandalism during its worship service.
At around 7:30 a.m., a 34-year-old man entered the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral located in Malaysia’s Sabah state and damaged a statue of Mary and parts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
As ward members and local police gathered to collect evidence and file a report, the man’s mother came and reported that her son suffered from mental illness. She then authorized the police to detain her son.
Despite the damage done, the diocese has decided not to replace the items, saying the incident encourages personal reflection on its own breakdown and “need to be healed by the presence of God.”
Mercy for the man was verbally extended by parish administrator Nancy Jones, who calls for prayers that the perpetrator’s family will not be further burdened. Additionally, Bishop Cornelius Piong of the Diocese of Keningau has publicly stated that “as Christians we must forgive, it is not necessary to condemn the author.”
The church will hold a special mass service on July 14 to ask for God’s forgiveness, believing that such events are happening because of the church’s own negligence.
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