Nantes’ 600-year-old Gothic church, the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, one of France’s most cherished landmarks, was intentionally set ablaze by arsonists on July 18. During the conflagration, some 16th century stained glass windows were blown out and shattered, while a priceless 17th century church organ was entirely consumed in the inferno. Repairs to the structure will take several years.
In the meantime, myriad questions have been reignited concerning religious persecution against France’s Christian and Jewish communities. This was the first widely-reported French church-burning incident in 2020. However, France’s religious freedom record has been under scrutiny for some years, thanks to two disturbing realities: rampant anti-Semitism and widespread attacks on churches.
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