The Church of Saint-Laurent in Mugron was the victim of severe burglary including the desecration of consecrated hosts. This event is part of a broader pattern targeting Catholic churches in the Landes region of France.
In the Landes region of France, the Catholic Church of Saint-Laurent in Mugron was burglarised between the June 14 and 17. Among the several liturgical vessels reported missing from the sacristy there were eight chalices, several patens, and the consecrated hosts contained in the church tabernacle.
The crime of desecration is considered particularly grave in the Catholic Church as consecrated hosts are considered one of their most sacred elements. The parish priest was reportedly deeply affected by the event, along with the mayor of Mugron who wrote, "I am still stunned. It bothers me that this type of crime can be committed in a place of worship."
This is not the first time such theft has been reported in the Landes region. Last summer, over twenty Churches reported theft and desecration of consecrated hosts and sacred vessels (OIDAC reported). According to reports, for French Catholics this event is a witness to the growing deterioration of France's religious heritage.