Myanmar junta has ordered the demolition of the historic Sacred Heart Cathedral in Taungoo, a move seeking to erase history and an act of profound sacrilege.
Newsroom (25/08/2025, Gaudium Press ) In a sweeping assault on the nation’s spiritual patrimony, Myanmar’s military junta has ordered the demolition of the historic Sacred Heart Cathedral and nearly two dozen Buddhist sites in Taungoo, a move decried by the faithful as an erasure of history and an act of profound sacrilege.
The State Administration Council (SAC), the formal name of the junta, issued the directive under the pretext of expanding archaeological excavations in the 16th-century city, known historically as Ketumati. The order, first reported by UCA News and confirmed by local religious and aid organizations, targets not only the heart of the local Catholic community but also 16 Buddhist monasteries, a nunnery, a retreat center, and a pagoda.
The threatened demolition of Sacred Heart Cathedral strikes a deep chord of grief for Taungoo’s Catholics. Its foundations, laid by Italian missionaries in the late 19th century on land granted for Christian soldiers, have nurtured generations of the faithful. The current structure, rebuilt in 1987 after destruction during World War II, has been the sacramental home for countless baptisms, weddings, and funeral Masses—a living testament to a resilient community.
“As a Catholic, we are so sorry for this news. We can confirm this news is real,” said a local resident, Andrew, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Although there is a rumour about a 16th-century excavation site, they seem to be targeting religious groups like Buddhists and Christians.”
The junta’s actions reveal a pattern of escalating religious persecution that has intensified since the 2021 coup. For the Catholic minority, the pain is twofold: the immediate loss of their mother church and the terrifying uncertainty of whether they will be permitted to rebuild.
“The problem is we Catholics dare not raise our concern as a minority group,” explained Jacinta, another parishioner. “Whether we can get substitute land back from the authorities… is a major concern. And as the Ministry of Religious Affairs under the junta is not providing any permission for religious building construction, we are worried.”
This latest blow is part of a broader campaign against religious institutions that symbolize civil resistance. The Church in Myanmar has suffered greatly under the junta’s rule, with bishops forcibly displaced from their dioceses in Hakha, Bhamo, Loikaw, and Lashio. The cathedral in Bhamo was set ablaze by soldiers just three months ago, a stark symbol of the regime’s brutality.
Independent monitors report the destruction of over 300 religious sites nationwide since the coup, many leveled in airstrikes and raids. The exiled National Unity Government alleges these actions are a deliberate strategy by junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing to crush all sources of moral and civic opposition.
The planned destruction in Taungoo is more than the loss of brick and mortar; it is a violent severing of living memory and a source of grace. As the community watches bulldozers draw near, they are united in sorrow with their Buddhist neighbors, who also face the loss of sacred ground.
In this via crucis, the faithful cling to a quiet resolve, finding solace in prayer and a steadfast hope that, by God’s providence, their sacred spaces may one day be restored. For now, they stand in solidarity, a testament to the enduring power of faith in the face of earthly powers.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Asianews.it
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