The Sendang Pawitra Sinar Surya Catholic shrine in Tawangmangu, Surakarta, Central Java, was vandalized by unidentified individuals on Wednesday evening
he Sendang Pawitra Sinar Surya Catholic shrine in Tawangmangu, Surakarta, Central Java, was vandalized by unidentified individuals on Wednesday evening.
A statue of the Virgin Mary was decapitated, several other statues were destroyed and a large crucifix was stolen, according to a priest.
Rev. Sunaryadi of Karang Anyar St. Pius parish church in Surakarta said the incident took place around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
“Not only did the perpetrators destroy the statue of the Mother Mary, they also removed a 1.5-meter-wide cross and destroyed statues of angels and a holy water fountain,” Sunaryadi said.
“We have failed to find the head of the Virgin Mary statue,” he added.
Semarang archbishop Mgr Johannes Pujasumarta urged the authorities to investigate the act of vandalism.
“This beheading has offended Catholics. We are calling for law enforcement to investigate this incident and punish the perpetrators in accordance with the principles of Pancasila,” Pujasumarta said in a statement.
The Maria Sendang Pawitra Sinar Surya shrine is a popular destination for Catholic pilgrims in Surakarta.
Catholic priest Benny Susetyo, who is also the secretary of the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI), called on Catholics in the country not to be provoked by the act of vandalism.
“Trust this to the police, and we expect them to be professional in handling the case,” Benny said as quoted by kompas.com.
Benny also said that Catholics in Tawangmangu had a good relationship with other locals.
He said that locals often offered help when Catholics performed their rituals.
The decapitation at the Catholic shrine follows a string of acts of vandalism in a number of cities committed by members of firebrand Muslim groups over what they perceive as evidence of idol worship.
In 2010, a local group called the Islamic Community Forum demanded the removal of a statue that it deemed symbolic of the Holy Trinity. The statue was designed by a Balinese sculptor.
In September this year, hardliners destroyed four statues depicting Javanese wayang figures in Purwakarta, West Java.
The statues, erected by Purwakarta Regent Dedi Mulyadi, included a figure of Bima on Jl. Ibrahim Singadilaga and another of Semar on the Bunder-Mekargalih Jatiluhur fork.
The hardliners said the statues were symbols of musyrik — those who worship deities other than God.
In late September a terror attack occurred at Bethel Injil Sepenuh Church (GBIS) in Surakarta, Central Java, when a suicide bomber blew himself up during a Sunday service inside the building.
In recent years, Surakarta, one of two centers of Javanese culture, has been seen as a hotbed for radicalism with a number of terror suspects being rounded up in the city and its surrounding areas.
Surakarta is also host to the Ngruki Islamic Boarding School run by radical cleric Abu Bakar Ba’asyir.
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