The Church of the Immaculate Conception in France burned down in early September, becoming the latest traditional church to suffer fire damage in Europe. Authorities are still trying to determine the motive for the attack, with data suggesting anti-Christian extremists and Islamists are the main culprits.
It was reported that a suspect in last week's church arson attack has been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to the Saint-Omer church. French BlueHe was recently released from prison and is suspected of targeting churches on multiple occasions.
The suspect, Joel Vigoreuz, reportedly had a history of posting on social media sympathetic to left-wing views and videos of Islamic preachers.
Francia. Enjoy the Consezione Immacolata della Chiesa della Chiesa in Saint-Omer. Joel Vigoreux, 38 years of arrests so far. Social Post anti-Razisti, pro-Palestinian and Islamic Prediction Video. pic.twitter.com/v8h1ezudOx
— Leonardo Panetta (@LeonardoPanetta) September 3, 2024
“There is a general anti-Christian sentiment in France that has existed unchallenged for many years due to the country's history of anticlericalism and radical secularism,” Anja Hoffmann of the European watchdog on Christian intolerance and discrimination (OIDAC) told the Caller. “It is not all that surprising if these attitudes at some point erupt into violence.”
She said there was an “increasing number” of perpetrators of crimes targeting Christians who were members of anti-Christian “ideological, political or religious groups.” (Related article: Traditional churches in France burn one after another, authorities investigate cause)
Hoffman pointed to examples of vandalism by both Islamic extremists and the far-left: During the course of 2024, OIDAC Europe recorded one church, two chapels, five crosses and more than 50 graves being defaced with phrases such as “Submit to Allah” and “Make war on Christendom,” he said.
In July 2024, the Notre-Dame-du-Travail church in Paris was vandalized with graffiti reading “Submit to Allah” and a knife was thrust into the throat of a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. Reported.
“Submit to Allah, O infidels”
Deadly Islamic threat targets Paris church, Virgin Mary stabbed in the throat
The Notre-Dame du Travail Cathedral in Paris was vandalized between the night of Sunday, July 14th and Monday, July 15th due to deadly threats made by Muslims.
The vandalism included desecration, vandalism, and… pic.twitter.com/KRq9kXux3g
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) July 18, 2024
In March, an Egyptian national with ties to the Islamic State was arrested for plotting an attack on Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, Le Journal du Dimanche reported. ReportedThe same month, an Albanian man was arrested at Saint Eulalia Church after he interrupted Holy Thursday Mass by shouting “Allah is great.” According to To Midi Libre.
In May, a Turkish man who was said to have mental health issues reportedly shouted “Allah is great” after knocking over a Catholic cross with a van. Exit FDS. (Related article: President Macron makes Faustian deal with far-left to keep French right-wingers out of power)
“In short, a full-scale jihad appears to have been declared against the Church in France, and its atheist leaders are turning a blind eye when they're not actively covering for it,” Raymond Ibrahim, author of In Defence of the West, said on his website. document attacks on Christians by Muslims.
Hoffman pointed to how the Church of St. Bernadette in Montpellier was vandalized with the slogan “Only a burning church can shine” and photos show anarchist symbols graffitied next to ominous threats. Reported Midi Libre.
According to news reports: #Saint-Omer The arsonist is a “far-left Antifa activist, anti-Christian and ISIS sympathizer.”
The church's bell tower and roof were completely destroyed, while only the altar remained largely unaffected by the fire.https://t.co/GO5OCiV2Fj pic.twitter.com/ohOVxXyyBj
— EU Observatory for Christian Intolerance (@OIDACEurope) September 4, 2024
OIDAC Europe collects data on anti-Christian hate crimes, and Hoffman said France “consistently” ranks in the top three countries on the continent.
In 2022, the group recorded 106 anti-Christian hate crimes. Report, Only Italy and Germany have higher figures.
The report follows the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) definition of hate crime as “criminal acts motivated by prejudice or discrimination against a particular group.”
The OIDAC Europe report said the majority of hate crimes were committed by far-left groups, but there were also attacks by “far-right, Satanist and radical Islamist groups.”
The Catholic Arena told the Caller that the two main causes of church burnings are arson and “ravages due to neglect.” One of the most common attacks on churches is the destruction of the tabernacle, according to the outlet. (Related: Olympics removes video of opening ceremony featuring drag queens mocking Christianity)
Catholic Arena noted that it is the state's responsibility to protect most churches. French President Emmanuel Macron said last year: increase Funds have been provided for the restoration of churches, but the destruction of churches has not stopped, the outlet told the Caller.
France
A man suspected in an anti-Catholic terror attack on the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer has been arrested.
The suspect was 39 years old and lived in a shelter.
Police say he has a long history of arson incidents. pic.twitter.com/jqdoHN9W28
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) September 3, 2024
Between August 25 and September 1, OIDAC Europe recorded six cases of arson and attempted arson against churches in Europe.
