Church fires

A man was taken into police custody after a major fire broke out at the historic Church of the Immaculate Conception in the northern French town of Saint-Omer in the morning hours of Sept. 2, causing its bell tower to collapse.

The only church to feature artwork by members of the famed Group of Seven Canadian artists burned to the ground, taking with it the “stunning” murals on its walls and dome.

A call to condemn the most recent arson attack on a Christian church — Feb. 9 at Blessed Sacrament Church in downtown Regina — failed to gain unanimous approval in the House of Commons.