On April 3, 2002, the following statement was issued by Monsignor Jean-Pierre Ricard, president of the French Conference of Catholic Bishops. The declaration was released in the wake of violence against French synagogues.

In recent days, attacks were committed against several synagogues in France, in Lyon, in Marseilles and in Strasbourg. The Jewish communities are deeply struck in their most precious places of worship. Such acts of violence always make one fear the worst.

Even if the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has taken a dramatic turn in recent days, this does not permit in France such an escalation of intolerance. To strike a community, whichever it is, in its religious sensibilities and faith, is a particularly grave act, which affects our democratic life with full force. In condemning these attacks with the greatest firmness, the Catholic Church in France expresses its profound sympathy and solidarity with the Jewish communities. The Church calls all our citizens to a particular vigilance. This is the cost of true social peace.

Bishop Jean-Pierre Ricard
President of the French Bishops Conference
(unofficial translation by Delia F. Powers)