A SHOCKED parish priest has called an attack by vandals on his Canowindra church a "vendetta against Christianity". Vandals went on a spree inside the St Edward's Catholic Church between 7pm Sunday and 7am Monday, damaging mirrors, candles, the Stations of the Cross paintings and a chair. Crosses and statues were moved and toilet paper was strewn around the church while some of the most significant damage was to a large painting of Jesus of unknown value. Police forensics have inspected the scene and taken fingerprints from numerous items in an attempt to catch the culprits. ALSO MAKING NEWS: Parishioner Margaret Wallington called it "really nasty stuff". "Some of it is horrific," she said. "When you look at the Stations of Cross they've all been slashed, a beautiful painting of Jesus has been slashed, it's got disgusting Hail Satan scratched into it." A statue of St Patrick was moved and laid on an altar. "That's hideous in itself," Ms Wallington said. Whoever scratched Hail Satan into the painting of Jesus stood on top of a stack of chairs to reach it, prompting parish priest Laurie Beath to speculate "it looks like it is someone with a vendetta against Christianity". The painting was also slashed across Jesus' throat and a large section torn away, and seven Stations of the Cross paintings sustained significant damage. "We're in a small community here where most of our parishioners all belong to other community groups where they are helping the community constantly, a small community we share together," Ms Wallington said. "To think that someone would vandalise and desecrate our worship place is pretty sad." Anyone with information should contact Cowra Police on 6341 5099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Parish Priest Laurie Beath to speculate "it looks like it is someone with a vendetta against Christianity".
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A SHOCKED parish priest has called an attack by vandals on his Canowindra church a "vendetta against Christianity".
Vandals went on a spree inside the St Edward's Catholic Church between 7pm Sunday and 7am Monday, damaging mirrors, candles, the Stations of the Cross paintings and a chair.
Crosses and statues were moved and toilet paper was strewn around the church while some of the most significant damage was to a large painting of Jesus of unknown value.
Police forensics have inspected the scene and taken fingerprints from numerous items in an attempt to catch the culprits.
Parishioner Margaret Wallington called it "really nasty stuff".
"Some of it is horrific," she said.
"When you look at the Stations of Cross they've all been slashed, a beautiful painting of Jesus has been slashed, it's got disgusting Hail Satan scratched into it."
A statue of St Patrick was moved and laid on an altar.
"That's hideous in itself," Ms Wallington said.
Whoever scratched Hail Satan into the painting of Jesus stood on top of a stack of chairs to reach it, prompting parish priest Laurie Beath to speculate "it looks like it is someone with a vendetta against Christianity".
The painting was also slashed across Jesus' throat and a large section torn away, and seven Stations of the Cross paintings sustained significant damage.
"We're in a small community here where most of our parishioners all belong to other community groups where they are helping the community constantly, a small community we share together," Ms Wallington said.
"To think that someone would vandalise and desecrate our worship place is pretty sad."
Anyone with information should contact Cowra Police on 6341 5099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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