In Normandy as in other regions of France, thefts and damage committed in churches continue with the indifference of the country's political leaders. The Catholics of Calvados probably do not deserve the trip of a minister after the desecration of the Notre-Dame de Vire church.
On its website, the diocese of Bayeux and Lisieux published a press release on October 28 written by Monseigneur Jacques Habert, bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux. The latter explains that the day before, the tabernacle of the Notre-Dame de Vire church was broken into and that the consecrated hosts were stolen as well as the ciboria. He denounces a “profanation”, recalling that “the Eucharist is the treasure that brings us together every Sunday, it is the most precious expression of God’s love”. “We are hurt by such an act,” added the Bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux, who wanted to express his “indignation” and his “anger”.
For its part, the Vire gendarmerie opened an investigation to try to identify the vandals. Monsignor Jacques Habert also mentioned in his press release the “social climate in which we operate” with “violence which is increasing towards people and property”.
Following this desecration, a mass of reparation was to be celebrated on Tuesday October 29 at 4 p.m. in the Notre-Dame de Vire church.
Finally, if the Bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux believes that “we must never respond to violence with violence”, the question of securing the building should still seriously arise.
Especially since Calvados is not spared from this increasingly uninhibited Christianophobia in France: the Abbey of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives had been desecrated on the night of May 8 to 9, 2024, the night preceding therefore Ascension Thursday.
At dawn on May 9, the sad spectacle was discovered by the sacristan, who came to open the doors of the abbey where a mass was to welcome the faithful a few hours later. On site, she noted that break-ins or attempted break-ins had targeted several tabernacles. Furthermore, a cabinet containing liturgical vestments and located in the sacristy of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives was also the victim of vandals.
At the time, the diocese of Bayeux and Lisieux, speaking through its episcopal information advisor, Father Laurent Berthout, said it was “deeply saddened and shocked by this desecration, and in awaiting the results of the investigation. An investigation which resulted in no arrests…
Photo credit: YouTube capture (illustrative photo)
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