Demonic Art Exhibit at Catholic Church Causes Outrage, Diocese Blindsided

Shut down after three days…

Demonic Art Exhibit at Catholic Church Causes Outrage, Diocese Blindsided

On June 30, 2024, the French traditionalist web site Riposte Catholique reported on a scandalous exhibition taking place inside Notre-Dame d’Epinay Church in Saint-Aubin-Épinay, France. The church is part of the parish family of Sainte Marie Madeleine de Darnétal Val d’Aubette and part of the archdiocese of Rouen.

Some research into the matter discloses that the exhibit was organized not by the parish or the diocese but by the city. The parish administrator was apparently not aware of what was going to be on display until after the thing had already opened.

Various photos of the exhibition speak volumes, and commentary is hardly necessary:

(All images taken from Instagram and cropped / fair use)

The occult ‘artwork’ displayed — sculptures, paintings, drawings — is clearly demonic, obscene, blasphemous, and diabolical, and its placement in a church is meant precisely to offend and defile the sacred edifice.

This is abundantly clear also from the fact that some of the infernal sculptures were placed not only inside the vestibule or nave of the church but specifically in front of an altar and even inside the baptismal font, as the above pictures show.

Originally scheduled to run from June 29-July 7, the display was abruptly closed early at the intervention of the parish administrator and/or diocese.

On July 1, the diocese released the following press statement:

An exhibition entitled Trylobite was organized by the town of Saint-Aubin d’Épinay in the church of Notre-Dame d’Épinay and inaugurated on Friday, June 29, 2024. Father Adrien Kanengele, the parish priest, discovered its scandalous content [only] after the opening. It depicts death and phantasmagorical animals in the place which, for Christians, celebrates the living God, Jesus Christ.

Informed of the project by the sacristan, the parish priest had asked to be officially notified. This was not done. The elected representatives contacted recognize that this event is regrettable. As of Tuesday, July 2, the church will be closed and the exhibits removed. Father Adrien Kanengele thanks the Mayor for his understanding and swift reaction.

As soon as possible, Father Adrien Kanengele will celebrate a mass of reparation.

(Source; translation via DeepL)

Although the Novus Ordo authorities there at least acted properly by immediately moving to get things shut down, one cannot help but notice the soft and conciliatory tone of the statement. There is very little outrage, and even the affirmation that Catholic churches are dedicated to the living God, Jesus Christ, appears subjectivized as being only so “for Christians”.

Nevertheless, we don’t want to be too critical here. It appears that, for once, such a demonic presentation was actually not approved by the Novus Ordo authorities of the diocese, and they tried to get it removed as soon as possible, and even offered a Novus Ordo ‘Mass’ of reparation of sorts, which took place on July 12, as reported with photos here. (Of course, objectively speaking, the Novus Ordo ‘Mass’ is itself an even greater blasphemy and defilement than the demonic garbage on exhibit, but that is something most Novus Ordo people do not realize, so let’s credit them for at least trying to do the right thing.)

All this requires some further explanation.

It appears that in France, all, or at least many, Catholic churches (now Novus Ordo churches) are actually owned and kept up by the state, with the Catholic (now Novus Ordo) hierarchy merely being allowed to use them. The 1905 French Law on the Separation of the Churches and the State suggests as much (Pope St. Pius X reacted to this judicial catastrophe in his 1906 encyclical Vehementer Nos).

The members of the Saint-Aubin-Épinay city council that permitted this abomination are featured here. The nightmarish display had been advertised by the secular authority using the following poster (it has since been removed; still accessible on this archived page):

(image: Web Archive / fair use)

The ‘artist’ who created all this junk is one Jérémy Lebouteiller. The photos posted on his Instagram and Facebook accounts show more of his ‘work’. Of course he laughs off the accusation of Satanism.

According to a report by Paris Normandie, “…40 or so canvases and other unusual objects on display since Friday June 28, 2024 were all handmade, made from salvaged objects and for the most part taken from Jérémy’s dreams” (translation via DeepL).

It is reported further that between 350 and 400 people ended up seeing the garbage exhibit, which is reminiscent of Voodoo and Santería. Its official title is Trylobite (‘Trilobite’), a term for a particular kind of marine anthropod that is now reportedly extinct. That Lebouteiller’s is not a display meant to educate the masses in matters of marine biology, is pretty evident, however.

Another article notes that Lebouteiller is upset and confused by the negative reactions encountered mostly on social media. Though the poor fellow feels misunderstood, he nevertheless “decided to withdraw his exhibition, ‘to put people’s minds at rest, because this has gone too far. It’s censorship.'”

Good riddance!