Country Battles Surge In Church Vandalism
Across France, a rising number of attacks on churches and clergy have sparked concerns among advocates who warn of an increasing wave of “Christianophobia.” Recent incidents include physical assaults on priests, threats of arson, and the desecration of sacred sites. One notable event took place on May 10 at the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Repos church in Montfavet near Avignon, where Father Laurent Milan was confronted by around ten young men who entered the church under false pretenses, then shouted insults against Christianity and threatened to burn the church down. The priest filed a police report, prompting law enforcement to increase security at subsequent services.
This attack was part of a wider pattern of anti-Christian acts occurring nationwide. In southern France, a church in Saint-Aygulf was broken into, with the tabernacle forcibly opened and the Eucharist stolen, an act described by local church authorities as a deliberate desecration. Other acts of vandalism targeted church buildings and parish halls in Maurepas near Paris, Rennes, and Normandy. Additionally, in Paris, a man carrying a knife entered a church before mass but was quickly apprehended without injuries reported. Separate violent incidents have included the kidnapping and robbery of a 96-year-old priest in Cambrai and physical attacks on priests during Holy Week in Normandy and Provence.
Despite the severity of these events, coverage in major national media has been limited, with much of the reporting appearing primarily in local or conservative outlets. The French Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, who oversees religious affairs, has not publicly addressed the attacks. The term “Christianophobia,” as explained by observers, refers to hostility or hatred directed at Christians and their beliefs, often manifesting as discrimination or marginalization, especially in secular or politically charged environments.
Tensions have been heightened by broader social issues, including economic hardship and immigration, with Archbishop François Fonlupt linking some violence to poverty in affected areas while cautioning against inflammatory media reporting. Other recent violent acts in France include the stabbing of a Muslim man at a mosque near Nîmes, which President Emmanuel Macron condemned, emphasizing the need for religious freedom and denouncing hatred based on faith. The influx of immigrants from Africa and other regions has added complexity to the religious and social climate in France.
Data from a recent intelligence report shows that religiously motivated offenses in 2024 included 31% anti-Christian acts, 62% anti-Semitic incidents, and 7% anti-Muslim offenses. Arson attacks on Christian sites increased significantly, rising by 30% from 2023 to 2024, mostly on mainland France but also in territories like New Caledonia. Other troubling incidents include vandalism of graves and religious symbols with Islamist slogans. Historically, France has seen violent attacks motivated by religious hatred, including the 2012 shooting of Jewish children in Toulouse, the 2016 murder of Father Jacques Hamel by extremists, and the 2020 church attack in Nice. A European watchdog group reported over 2,400 anti-Christian hate crimes in 2023, nearly half of which occurred in France, mostly targeting places of worship and cemeteries.