Arson Attacks on Christian Churches Surge

Arsonists continue to target Christian churches around the world, and many churches are being completely destroyed.

This from slaynews.com.

At the beginning of September, the Church of the Immaculate Conception in France went up in flames.

And this was only the latest major historical church in Europe to burn.

Authorities are trying to determine what is driving the attacks.

Data points to Islamists and anti-Christian radicals as the primary culprits.

According to France Bleu:

A suspect with a history of committing arson attacks on churches was arrested for setting fire to the Saint-Omer church last month.

The suspect, Joel Vigoreuz, had recently been released from prison and had allegedly targeted churches multiple times immediately after his release.

He reportedly posted leftist content and videos of Islamic preachers on his social media.

Anja Hoffmann of the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians (OIDAC) in Europe told the Daily Caller:

There is a general anti-Christian sentiment in France, from its anti-clerical and radical secularist history, which has gone unchallenged for years.

It should not come as too much of a surprise that these attitudes might at some point translate into violent action.

Further:

[An] increasing number of perpetrators [of the crimes targeting Christians are members of anti-Christian] ideological, political or religious groups.

Hoffmann pointed to examples of vandalism from both radical Islam and the far Left.

During 2024, OIDAC Europe recorded the defacement of one church, two chapels, five crosses, and over 50 graves.

According to Hoffmann:

[T]hey were desecrated with phrases like ‘Submit to Allah’ and ‘I will make war on the Christian world.’

In July 2024, the Notre-Dame-du-Travail church in Paris was vandalized with “Submit to Allah.”

La Croix reported:

A knife was also driven into the wooden throat of a statue of the Virgin Mary.

In March, LeJournal du Dimanche reported:

[A]n Egyptian national with ties to the Islamic State was arrested for planning an attack on the Notre-Dame-de-Paris Cathedral in France.

That same month, an Albanian man was arrested for interrupting a Holy Thursday mass in the Sainte-Eulalie church.

According to Midi Libre:

The suspect was shouting ‘Allahu Akbar.’

In May, a Turkish man reportedly shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ after knocking over a Catholic cross with his van.

Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West, states on his website that documents Islamic attacks against Christians:

In short, it would seem that a full-blown jihad has been declared on the churches of France, and its godless leadership is looking the other way when not actively providing cover.

Hoffmann noted how the church of St. Bernadette in Montpellier was vandalized with the slogan: “The only church that illuminates is the one that burns.”

Midi Libre reported:

Photos show an anarchist symbol graffitied next to the ominous threat.

OIDAC Europe collects data on anti-Christian hate crimes.

Hoffmann said:

France consistently ranks in the top three countries in the continent.

In its 2022 report, the group documented:

106 anti-Christian hate crimes with only Italy and Germany having higher numbers.

The report defers to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) definition of a hate crime:

A criminal act motivated by bias or prejudice towards particular groups of people.

OIDAC Europe’s report says the majority of hate crimes were committed by far-left groups.

However, there were also:

[Attacks by] far-right groups, satanist groups, and radical Islamist groups.

According to The Catholic Arena:

One of the most common attacks on churches is the destruction of tabernacles.

The outlet noted it is the state’s responsibility to protect most churches.

French President Emmanuel Macron promised last year to increase funding for repairing churches.

Nevertheless, the destruction of churches has still not stopped.

From Aug. 25 to Sept. 1, OIDAC Europe documented:

[S]ix arson and attempted arson attacks on churches in Europe.

Final thoughts: Severe punishment to the perpetrators to establish deterrence will not work against the moslems. But to do nothing is a wrong response too. Perhaps a combination of deterrence and deportation.