Dominique Venner: French Historian Kills Himself in Church Over Gay Marriage

Impact

Dominique Venner, a 78-year-old French right-wing historian, shot himself dead Tuesday at Notre Dame Cathedral — in Paris — in front of 1,500 horrified tourists after dramatically placing a letter on the altar, reported CNN.   

Venner was critical on his blog of the same sex marriage legislation President Francois Hollande signed into law on Saturday. He also decried what he called, "a future Islamist takeover of France." The right-winger also voiced support for a May 26 march against same-sex marriage, and said the Paris rally should also denounce "the replacement of the French and European population with Muslims."

"There certainly have to be new actions, spectacular and symbolic, to shake up the sleepiness, to shake the numbed consciences and wake up the memory of our origins. We're entering into a time when words must be authenticated by actions," Venner wrote on his blog according to CNN.    

Failed 2012 right wing French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen is facing online backlash for tweeting her "respect" for Venner, and saying that his "last gesture, which was highly political, was to try to wake up the people of France." 

If you also think this is straight out of 'The Da Vinci Code,' tell me on Twitter @marin_alex