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CV NEWS FEED // Authorities have arrested a male suspect following the devastating fire at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer, France, according to recent reports.
The suspect, whose name was not provided by the outlet, was born in 1985, according to an unofficial English translation of a September 3 article by Valeur Sactuelles.
Valeur Sactuelles reported that the suspect is “known for similar acts of arson,” and has “numerous prior offenses,” according to Saint-Omer prosecutor Mehdi Benbouzid.
The fire occurred in the early hours of September 2. As CatholicVote previously reported, the deputy mayor informed parish priest Fr. Sébastien Roussel about the fire around 4 a.m.
After arriving at the church, Fr. Roussel received permission from the firefighters to enter the burning church to save the Blessed Sacrament.
Fr. Roussel later explained, “I wanted to evacuate the Blessed Sacrament (consecrated hosts) and the reliquary bust of Saint Cornelius.”
The Catholic Church teaches that during Mass at the consecration, the hosts and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
No casualties have been reported from the fire, according to news outlet Franc Bleu. A total of 57 residents who lived near the church had to evacuate.
