Catholic News Agency | Catholic Herald | Nov. 5, 2019
Thieves stole chalices, ciboriums and other liturgical objects
A cathedral in southwestern France was robbed of chalices and other religious items after a gang rammed open the door of the church with a specially-outfitted car early in the morning of November 4.
At approximately 2 a.m., a car outfitted with a battering ram was driven into the door of Cathedral Sainte-Marie d’Oloron, breaking it open. The cathedral is in the French town of Oloron-Sainte-Marie, about 30 miles from the Spanish border and located along the Camino de Santiago, a traditional pilgrimage route to the tomb of St. James.
Once inside the cathedral, the thieves made their way to the chapel, where many sacred and liturgical items were stored. The thieves proceeded to saw down the iron bars that were protecting the cathedral’s chalices, ciboriums, and other objects used in the Mass.
Bishop Marc Aillet of Bayonne and Oloron said the crime was a “sacrilegious robbery since they are objects of worship, some of which are still used today in certain great circumstances.”