The threats occurred during a procession from the parish of Les Fontenelles in Nanterre.
Newsroom (December 24, 2021, 4:30 PM, Gaudium Press) Back in December 8 evening in Nanterre, France, Catholics wanted to celebrate the Immaculate Conception. How? With a procession, one of those that have taken place for about 2,000 years, after the first one when Christ entered Jerusalem acclaimed with applause, just before his Passion.
Moreover, the parish church of Les Fontenelles, where the events took place, is dedicated to this immaculate attribute of the Mother of God, a quality that has always been defended in the firstborn daughter of the Church, remembering that the University of Paris required the oath of defense of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.
Yes, but France is no longer what it was.
30 faithful, 10 attackers
As 30 faithful were walking in procession with torches, they were attacked by 10 people who uttered insults and threats to priests and pilgrims. The procession directors preferred prudence, shortening the planned route in order to reach the pilgrimage’s end point more quickly.
The procession left St. Joseph’s church and was to go as far as St. Mary’s church, a distance of 1 km. It was already a traditional annual procession, one of those that take place in many places.
However, around 7 pm, and after having covered only a few meters, strangers attacked the members of the procession with insults and threats: “Kouffars” (infidels); “This is not your house …”. And against a priest: “On the Koran I will behead you“.
There were at least 10 assailants and three who directed them, the permanent deacon in charge of Les Fontenelles parish told Le Figaro. “They also threw water on us, pulled out one of the torches and threw it in our direction.”
The police who had been present at the beginning of the procession returned, causing the attackers to flee.
Le Figaro also reports that the Nanterre prosecutor’s office “has opened an investigation into death threats or crime, and offense against persons and violence at gatherings.” “These offenses are aggravated by the fact that these acts were committed because the victims belong to the Catholic religion,” Caroline Gontran, assistant public prosecutor, explained to the French newspaper.
Compiled by Zephania Gangl
