A big scandal unfolding in Bordeaux
The Second Vatican Council marked big changes in the life of Roman Catholics, amongst which was the introduction of the mass in the vernacular. Some people want to maintain the old Latin Tridentine Mass (established by the counter-Reformation council of Trent) and a group has long existed in Bordeaux. In 2002 a church was given by the Town Hall for these folk to establish their own parish. There's also a school funded entirely by parents and other donors.
A right-wing group called somewhat charmingly Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) has since started meeting in a basement down the road from the church, and there's also a church bookshop.
Anyway last week France 2 ran a documentary showing hidden camera films of kids and teachers at the school, allegedly chanting antisemitic slogans and expressing nazi views. A history teacher allegedly taught that deGaulle was a deserter, that Petain did wonderful things for France in collaborating with the Nazis and apparently omitted the holocaust from his lessons, saying, "The kids hear enough about all that".
So the Town Hall is threatening legal action. The chair of the Governors of the school is also threatening legal action against France 2, and swastikas have been painted on his house and the windows of the bookshop have been vandalised.
You can see the unfolding articles on this link.
A right-wing group called somewhat charmingly Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) has since started meeting in a basement down the road from the church, and there's also a church bookshop.
Anyway last week France 2 ran a documentary showing hidden camera films of kids and teachers at the school, allegedly chanting antisemitic slogans and expressing nazi views. A history teacher allegedly taught that deGaulle was a deserter, that Petain did wonderful things for France in collaborating with the Nazis and apparently omitted the holocaust from his lessons, saying, "The kids hear enough about all that".
So the Town Hall is threatening legal action. The chair of the Governors of the school is also threatening legal action against France 2, and swastikas have been painted on his house and the windows of the bookshop have been vandalised.
You can see the unfolding articles on this link.
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