According to the newspaper Le Figaro, about 30 protesters were removed by police, who said this happened "without incident." St. Rita church was not owned by the state and was used by the small Gallican Catholic Church, drawing crowds for its traditional Latin Mass and its monthly animal Mass. When news spread that an eviction was planned for Wednesday, protesters traveled to the church for Mass. Images of police forcibly removing priests and worshipers from the church were shared widely online. Many observers drew direct parallels between the attack on Hamel and the scenes at the church, suggesting that France's Christians were under siege.

Source: Washington Post August 03, 2016 15:59 UTC