France Archives

Why Father Jacques Hamel’s legacy belongs to the whole Church
- Analysis
- July 27, 2017
Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the slaying of Father Jacques Hamel in Normandy, France, on July 26, 2016. Today Hamel is a candidate for sainthood, and there are several powerful reasons why his legacy is important – among them, he’s a reminder that old-school martyrdom still occurs in the here-and-now, and that even the simplest believers are capable of great heroism when push comes to shove.
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Recalling priest’s murder, Archbishop says ‘Father Hamel is still alive’
- Global Church
- July 26, 2017
During an anniversary Mass on Wednesday at the small Church of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, where Father Jacques Hamel was killed by having his throat slit on July 26, 2016, by two 19-year-old Muslim terrorists, Archbishop Dominique Lebrun of Rouen said, “Though he is dead, Father Jacques Hamel is still alive.” The Mass was attended by several French dignitaries, including President Emmanuel Macron.
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Sister of martyred French priest says he’s now a ‘brother to all’
- Global Church, Interviews
- July 26, 2017
One year ago today, 85-year-old French Father Jacques Hamel was brutally slain while saying Mass in his small parish in Normandy. Today, his sister says Hamel has become a “brother to all,” and also stubbornly professes hope, both for Christian/Muslim coexistence in France and even for newly elected French President Emanuelle Macron, who will be at Hamel’s anniversary Mass.
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Father Jacques Hamel’s martyrdom and Church unity in France

It is the one-year anniversary of the murder of Father Jacques Hamel outside of Rouen, France. The extraordinary response to Hamel’s martyrdom throughout France has been one of unity and an abiding belief that his sacrifice would yield a greater good for both the Church and the country.

France accords highest honor to abortion champion and Holocaust survivor Simone Veil

Simone Veil — who died June 30 at the age of 89 — championed a 1975 law that legalized abortion while she was serving as health minister of France. Despite Veil’s stated intentions of keeping abortion rare and exceptional, at present more than 200,000 abortions are performed each year in France.