Theft, vandalism, desecration are becoming commonplace in France. Criminals have targeted several churches in recent days.
Newsroom (14/01/2022 2:16 PM, Gaudium Press) France has recorded at least 10 cases of vandalism against Catholic churches since the beginning of the year. The desecrations took place in several churches across the French territory.
In a Twitter post, Gérard Darminin, Minister of the Interior, expressed his solidarity with French Catholics and deemed the attacks “unacceptable.”
Authorities resolve to reinforce security
Last Thursday, January 13, Darminin visited the Seine-Saint-Denis region on the outskirts of Paris, where the churches of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois and Saint-Pierre were recently desecrated.
The minister assured Catholics that authorities will reinforce security devices to improve the protection of the faithful and the places of worship: “As a minister, my job is to protect them. We have increased the means to improve, especially the security cameras in places of worship, to fight terrorism,” he urged.
Churches desecrated
The church of Saint-Pierre de Bondy was the target of theft and degradation in the early hours of January 9. As customary, The church was closed at 7 pm on Sunday. The following day at 8 am, the church keeper found the vault cut open with the help of a chain saw.
Upon entering the temple, investigators verified that this was not only a robbery. Apart from stealing a computer, the criminals ransacked the sacristy, smashed a stained glass window and broke into the tabernacle.
The diocese of Saint-Denis officially filed a police report, and the crime is now under investigation.
The same night, a similar incident occurred in the church of Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois de Romainville, also targeted by theft and diverse acts of vandalism.
Mass of Reparation and other acts of hate and vandalism
In recent days, the diocesan Bishop, Most Rev. Pascal Delannoy, celebrated a Mass of Reparation in both profaned churches.
A few days earlier, an allegedly unstable man destroyed three images at the famous Cathedral of Saint-Denis using an iron bar. In Poitiers, the Church of Sainte-Thérèse had several images beheaded. The Church of Saint-Germain in Vitry-sur-Seine had some ambers with consecrated hosts stolen. (FM)
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
