Two churches desecrated in one day in Gravelines
On 25 September, the churches of Saint-Willibrord and Saint-Thomas-Becket were vandalised and are now closed. In both churches, the vandals broke the tabernacle and scattered the consecrated hosts, without stealing anything. The parish priest sees this as a clear sign of deliberate desecration.
Unknown assailants have attacked two churches in the French commune of Gravelines. The parish priest, Father Christophe Husson, discovered scenes of vandalism and desecration. On entering one of the two churches, he found the tabernacle broken at the back and the hosts scattered about. The same thing happened in the second church: there had been some damage, but no theft.
Father Husson commented on the situation: "For us it is a desecration because we are touching the heart of the faith of Christians. It is the body of Christ, the hosts that the priest gives to the faithful on Sunday".
Alain Boonefaes, the deputy mayor of Gravelines in charge of security, has reported the case to the police, who are now investigating. Residents are shocked. "I can't understand it. I can understand someone damaging a wall like that if they don't know what to do, but in a church, I don't understand it," said one, while another added: "Every place of worship should get the respect it deserves."
Source: bfmtv.com, francebleu.fr
Image: Wikimedia Commons