Three Catholic Churches Desecrated in France

The Archdiocese of Tours said three Catholic churches in Chambray-lès-Tours, Luynes and Tours were desecrated over several days.

According to the Church, the perpetrators stole from and damaged collection boxes, forced open doors, destroyed liturgical chalices and opened a tabernacle, desecrating the Eucharist, the Catholic News Agency reported.

Photographs showed communion wafers and feces scattered inside one of the churches. The archdiocese described the incidents as deeply painful for the faithful and said they reflected growing violence, declining social values and a lack of respect.

Reconciliation Masses will be celebrated in the affected churches. Michel Lamy, the mayor of Chambray-lès-Tours, strongly condemned the attacks, saying that nothing could justify the destruction of sacred buildings that form part of France’s cultural heritage.

The archdiocese said it had recorded similar desecrations at four churches last November.

(mja)