Vandalized churches in Seine-Saint-Denis: Darmanin on site to support the faithful

Nina Droff, edited by Solène Delinger 5:29 pm, January 13, 2022

The Catholics of Seine-Saint-Denis are still in shock.

During the night of January 9 to 10, two churches, one in Bondy and one in Romainville, were the target of acts of vandalism.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin went to Romainville to support parishioners. 

Theft of vases and sound equipment

On the spot, the Minister of the Interior met the priest, the prefect as well as a certain number of faithful.

He was able to observe the few degradations in this church: a torn trunk or the fractured tabernacle, as well as the theft of sound equipment and several sacred vessels.

Acts that he strongly condemns. 

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"A church is often a very open place and we take advantage of this generosity on the part of Catholics", he lamented at the microphone of Europe 1. "It is a place that belongs to the municipality. It is quite obviously unbearable that this theft of objects is done, what is more in a place of worship ".  

This morning I went to the Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois church in Romainville, to give all my support to the Catholics following a series of thefts and acts of vandalism which have affected several places in recent days. of worship.

Investigations have been opened.

pic.twitter.com/zt0nUbpNOo

- Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) January 13, 2022

Gérald Darmanin therefore affirmed that the prosecution and the police were mobilized to find those responsible.

Around the church, many inhabitants of the city came to watch the minister and learn a little more about the facts.

They were obviously very shocked by this theft, like Abdellatif, a resident of the neighborhood.

"Me, I do not understand someone who dares to steal a church because it is sacred. It touches me, of course, when I heard that. I was angry", he testified on Europe 1. 

The "legitimate" fear of Catholics

For Samuel Lieven, editorial director of the magazine

the fear of Catholics facing such acts is "legitimate" because they come on top of the assassination of Father Jacques Hamel in 2016 or the attack in the basilica. of Nice in 2020. "Afterwards, we must differentiate between anti-religious acts and truly terrorist acts," he said in

. 

The Minister of the Interior, who announced the opening of two investigations, should soon go to Bondy, in the second church which has been degraded.