During a deadly hostage-taking at a Catholic church in Normandy, in the Church of Saint-Etienne du Rouvray (Seine-Maritime), a priest was killed and another person seriously wounded.
The Catholic priest, the Rev. Jacques Hamel, 86, was killed when two men stormed the church.
The Union of Federations of the Adventist Church in France (UFA) issued the following statement:
"Faced with such a barbarity in a place of worship, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in France, wants to express solidarity and compassion.
When a (Catholic) Church is desecrated, it is the believers who are suffering. Churches and places of worship are spaces of peace, prayer, sharing and refuge.
This escalation of brutality and heinous crimes committed by humans against other human is unjustifiable. Despite all legitimate feelings of sadness and revolt, we must always continue to fight evil with good, and act for peace. We pray that God may change our hearts and minds.
The Adventist Church encourages its members to respect the dignity of all men, according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. "
