Rome church stops holy water over satanic rite fears
Pastor Dale Morgan
Rome church stops holy water over satanic rite fears*
Published: June 16, 2009
The Santa Maria Stella Maris church at Fiumicino, near Rome, has stopped
offering holy water to worshippers because the parish priest fears it is
being stolen for satanic rituals.
Parish priest Fr Walter Palombi said the water is no longer provided for
people to bless themselves, Adkronos reports.
"We fear the water is being stolen for satanic rites. So we decided to
remove it," said Walter Palombi, quoted by Italian daily Il Messaggero.
Instead the church is placing flowers in the basins where the water was
held and many worshippers think the move is "extravagant".
"We asked ourselves for a long time why he had done it. We thought Fr
Walter wanted to give a personalised touch to the church," said Bruno di
Carlo, from the neighbourhood committee of Isola Sacra Nuova.
"In reality, poor thing, he was forced to do so. He is a very good man,
he had tried everything."
Several chalices and tablecloths used on the church's altar have also
disappeared.
"We have motives to believe that these are used for a 'black mass'
(satanic mass). Usually the person who carries out these practices needs
items that are 'blessed' as well as holy water," said Palombi.