In the small Italian community of Pannaconi di Cessaniti in the southern Italian region of Calabria, the local priest is under threat. Strangers have been putting Don Felice Palamara under enormous pressure for weeks. His car was damaged and he received threatening letters. Finally, bleach was added to water and wine before Mass.
After consecrating water and wine for Mass at the Church of San Nicola, the priest noticed that both smelled unusually. He didn’t drink it. He reported the incident and a laboratory analysis later showed that bleach had been poured into the cups.
Numerous attempts at intimidation
The priest has recently been the victim of intimidation attempts. His Fiat was damaged twice in the past month. He also found threatening letters on the windshield of the car.
“My shield is forgiveness”
However, the priest announced that he would not be intimidated. “My vengeance is love, my shield is forgiveness, my armor is mercy. I will not let obstacles stop me, nor will I be deterred by the darkness,” he wrote. He only wants to take revenge with ‘love and forgiveness’, but justice must take its course.
Pastors in nearby towns are also threatened
In recent days, the priest of the nearby town of Cessaniti had also received threats. He also found a dead cat on the hood of his car. A connection between the two incidents is suspected, partly because both pastors are strongly involved in social work.
Bishop condemns attacks
The local bishop of the Diocese of Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea condemned the incidents. “Our diocese complains of attempts at intimidation that have nothing to do with normal Christian life in the parishes. “I therefore once again appeal to Christian communities not to be discouraged by this language of violence,” he stressed. The investigation into both cases is still ongoing.
Cassaniti is considered a difficult city. The mayor resigned in August 2023 and there were rumors about the possible influence of the mafia on the municipal government.
Source: Krone
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