It is a parish priest who seems to be targeted. An investigation was opened after the discovery of insulting tags on four churches Thursday morning near Péronne, in the Somme, we learned from the gendarmerie.
“Four churches were discovered desecrated over the morning with the same types of inscriptions”, in the small villages of Barleux, Brie, Flaucourt and Eterpigny, a spokesman for the gendarmerie told AFP. in Picardy, confirming information from Mail Picard.
The inscription “charo”
“On the four religious buildings, we have inscriptions in red, which suggest a common author”, but “no suspect” has been identified or arrested at this stage, he continued. The name of a priest from the parish of Péronne “appears each time on the tags, with on at least one door of one of the churches a male gender drawn. It is completed by the inscription “+ charo + “”, specified this spokesperson.
The meaning “remains to be studied”, one of the possible interpretations being, “if one is interested in slang”, that the term “charo” is associated “with someone who seeks to establish romantic relationships with several people,” he added.
“Serious and unfounded insinuations”
The bishop of Amiens, Mgr Gérard Le Stang, “strongly condemns these tags and assures his full support” to the targeted priest, a spokeswoman for the diocese told AFP. “He has total confidence in him, there is absolutely no suspicion to have,” she insisted, deploring “serious and unfounded insinuations”.
At least two mayors of the villages concerned have lodged a complaint, but not the priest concerned at this stage. The diocese “will advise accordingly” of the progress of the investigation.
“It’s the first time it’s happened. I am shocked by such degradation in a place of worship. We don’t know the motive, or if it’s personal revenge, (…) but it’s serious, ”commented the mayor of Barleux, and president of the community of communes of Haute-Somme, Eric François.