Church in Alsace Tagged with Satanic Graffiti; Windows Broken
Parishioners of the Catholic church of Reichstett (Bas-Rhin) discovered that one of the century-old stained glass windows, as well as all of the windows of the adjoining restrooms. "666" and "Satan" were found sprayed on the walls. The town's mayor called it an attack on religious freedom.
Residents reported hearing noisy teenagers near the church during the night before the vandalism was discovered. Police began an investigation.
The town's mayor Georges Schuler was appalled, saying "It's a question of respect for religious buildings. Last Halloween a Protestant church ws targeted and now this church.... We are asking ourselves questions about why they attack churches. My parishioners are shocked -- this is not a village known for its delinquency."
"We would question the perpetrators to understand their reasons. Is it because of their family environment? From the educational system? Or excessive media exposure? The secularism in the country? Attacking churches, religious places, it represents something: an attack on religous freedom."
The parish priest, Gabriel Tchonang refuses to install any heavy security equipment saying "We cannot hope to counter the phenomenon [of attacks on churches] through security measures. The reflection must be done 'upstream' and the evil is more global."
Sources: France 3 and France Soir