Bishop closes church after woman spits on font

MANILA, Philippines — Ozamiz Archbishop Martin Jumoad ordered the closure of the Saint John the Baptist parish church in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental on Tuesday to give way to penance and reparation after a woman spat into a holy water font.

The incident, according to a post on Facebook, is considered by the Catholic Church as a grave act of sacrilege.

“The Parish Church of St. John the Baptist in Jimenez shall remain closed until further notice as a sign of penance and reparation. This is to invoke conversion of heart and communal purification as guided by Catholic teaching,” Jumoad said in the post.

The archbishop reminded the faithful that sacred objects and places are vessels of God’s grace and “deserve our utmost respect and reverence.”