Fifth Church Desecrated in Series of Incidents in Indre-et-Loire
On 21 August, Saint-Joseph Church in Joué-lès-Tours became the fifth church in the Indre-et-Loire region to fall victim to vandalism in one month. In the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, the tabernacle was forced open and consecrated hosts were found scattered on the floor. The incident has forced the church to close temporarily and caused strong emotions among the local Catholic community, which spoke of an attack on the faith and the faithful. The Diocese was prompted to announce a Mass of reparation.
On the night of the 20 to 21 August 2026, at Saint-Joseph Church in Joué-lès-Tours, Indre-et-Loire, the doors of the Blessed Sacrament chapel were forced open with a fire extinguisher, the tabernacle was broken into and consecrated hosts were found scattered on the floor. The targeting the consecrated hosts is a grave act of desecration for the Catholic faith community.
The incident was the fifth reported desecration or attempted desecration on a church in the department within approximately one month. The series began with incidents reported from 21 July 2026 and included burglaries and attempted desecrations at Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc Church in Tours and Sainte-Geneviève Church in Luynes and acts of desecration and the theft of liturgical objects from Saint-Symphorien Church in Chambray-lès-Tours (OIDAC reported).
The latest incident caused strong emotion within the Catholic community, with the Diocese of Tours making a statement concerning the incident in a Facebook post. They wrote: "The door to the Blessed Sacrament chapel and the tabernacle door were forced open...this is indeed a desecration: this time, no theft has occurred." According to the post, the community is "shocked and hurt" by the incident, which is seen as an "attack on the faith of the faithful and on the practice of worship."
The church was closed following the profanation, and Archbishop Vincent Jordy was scheduled to celebrate a Mass of reparation on 25 August 2026.
Sources: lanouvellerepublique, ici.fr, lanouvellerepublique, sevenradio
Image: Wiki Commons
