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From the Daily Caller: The Church of the Immaculate Conception went up in flames Monday in yet another instance of a French church burning to the ground, leading to speculations on the origins of their destruction.
The church burnings highlight the tensions brewing in France’s secular and multicultural country, and its immigration policies have come under increased scrutiny. Weak church structures, bias against Christians and mass immigration have all been brought up as potential factors in the onslaught of church burnings.
The church of the Immaculate Conception was nestled in the northern French town of Saint-Omer, and its bell tower collapsed from the fire. Prosecutors announced Tuesday that police arrested a man in relation to the incident, LeMonde reported.
A Saint-Omer prosecutor told Agence France-Press the man was known for previously committing “similar acts.”
The report explains that the church was first built in 1859, and was reopened in 2018 after being restored. Now it has gone up in flames.
The problem of churches being burned has been ongoing for some time. In 2021, President of the French based Observatory of Religious Heritage Edouard de Lamaze said a church burns down every two weeks in France.
Reportedly, 40 churches have burned in France since January 2023.
Churches keep burning down in France.
Last night, the church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer was completely destroyed.
40 churches have burned since January 2023.
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 2, 2024
France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced in a social media post Monday, “The fire that broke out last night in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer, in the Pas-de-Calais, is now under control. All my thoughts are with the Catholics and the inhabitants of Saint-Omer, @fdecoster. Thanks to the 90 firefighters mobilized. An investigation has been opened to determine the exact origin of the fire.”
Le feu qui s’est déclaré cette nuit dans l’église de l’Immaculée-Conception à Saint-Omer, dans le Pas-de Calais, est désormais maîtrisé. Toutes mes pensées aux catholiques et aux habitants de Saint-Omer, @fdecoster.
Merci aux 90 sapeurs-pompiers mobilisés.
Une enquête est…
— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) September 2, 2024
Below are more social media posts about the devastating fire:
The perpetrator of the church arson was 39-year-old Joël Vigoureux. He has 25 convictions, including eight for church arson. In 2019, he got 3 years, and he set fire to another church on the day he was released. In social media, he likes content about rap, sex, anti-racism and Islam.
🇫🇷 Sprawca podpalenia kościoła to 39-letni Joël Vigoureux. Ma na koncie 25 wyroków, w tym osiem za podpalenia kościołów. W 2019 dostał 3 lata, a kolejny kościół podpalił w dniu wyjścia. W mediach społ. lajkuje treści nt. rapu, seksu, antyrasizmu i islamu.https://t.co/6AiKFU9xLV https://t.co/JWQYViVCS8 pic.twitter.com/oFCLS29PxY
— Adam Gwiazda (@delestoile) September 3, 2024
Fire in the neo-Gothic church of the Immaculate Conception on the night from Sunday to Monday. The church tower collapsed. The church was restored in 2018.
🇫🇷 Saint-Omer. Pożar neogotyckiego kościoła pw. Niepokalanego Poczęcia w nocy z niedzieli na poniedziałek. Zawaliła się kościelna wieża. Kościół został odrestaurowany w 2018 r.https://t.co/xmO7HwaOPU pic.twitter.com/kbbVzo6MyX
— Adam Gwiazda (@delestoile) September 2, 2024
Another Catholic church BURNED DOWN.
The Immaculate Conception Church in Saint-Omar, France, has been destroyed. pic.twitter.com/vrt2MQhpmb
— CatholicVote (@CatholicVote) September 2, 2024
The following footage is of a church recently burned down in Ireland.
“In recent years in Europe many churches have burned and numerous mosques have been built. Strange coincidences,” X user RadioBenoa wrote.
Green Island church burned down in Ireland. In recent years in Europe many churches have burned and numerous mosques have been built. Strange coincidences. pic.twitter.com/EDPxhhbo47
— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) September 2, 2024
Churches are also being burned in Canada…
Another church is burned down in Canada.
This is the historic St. Anne’s Angelican Church in Little Portugal in Toronto.
The church was built in 1907-1908 and a designated National Historic Site.
That’s around 100 churches burned down or vandalized in Canada now to silence by… pic.twitter.com/OiTdsK2kOr
— Kirk Lubimov (@KirkLubimov) June 9, 2024
And in Nigeria, Christians are being slaughtered and churches burned…
Muslims burned down a church in Nigeria, resulting in five deaths. Christians responded by gathering for praise and worship in what was left of the church. pic.twitter.com/T2Am7vN2x6
— Dr. David Wood (@Acts17David) June 22, 2024
VIDEO: Report exposes shocking deliberate targeting and killing of Christians
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