French RCC cathedral parishioners protest against quest games in their church

An escape game is planned to be held in an ancient Catholic basilica. Photo: Tribune Chrétienne

Parishioners of the Catholic Basilica of Saint-Quentin in France have demanded the cancellation of a quest game in the cathedral. The faithful have sent an official protest to the local clergy over plans to turn the active cathedral into an entertainment venue, reports Tribune Chrétienne.

The local tourism office has scheduled the game for August 19, 21, 28, and 29, 2026. The organizers hope to attract young people to the church and present the religious heritage from a different perspective. Participants will be invited to explore the building in search of various clues to unlock a box containing puzzles. There are already no available spots for the August sessions.

The faithful sent a letter to Father Matthieu Saur, a parish priest of Saint-Quentin–Notre-Dame, with a copy to Father Bernard Proffit, an administrator of the diocese of Soissons, Laon, and Saint-Quentin. "Over the course of four days, the organizers will cause serious harm to the sanctity of this place, which is precisely the definition of the word 'desecration'," the parishioners stated in their appeal. "We find it hard to believe that the church authorities have permitted such entertainment."

The authors of the letter recalled that the relics of Saint Quentin, martyr and enlightener of Picardy, rest in the basilica. The cathedral serves exclusively as a place for prayer and the celebration of the sacraments. The faithful cited the canonical law of the Church, which permits the use of sacred space only for worship and piety. The authors of the appeal also referenced the 1905 law on the separation of churches and the state, which prohibits the use of churches for purposes other than their intended function.

The parishioners demanded that the game be immediately moved to any civil building. They stated that secular shows and exhibitions that offend the feelings of Christians have been held in churches with increasing frequency of late. Many of the faithful hope that diocesan administrator Bernard Proffit will take the necessary measures, affirm the sacred status of the cathedral, and remind all concerned of the inadmissibility of turning the basilica into a gaming venue.

As the UOJ previously reported, a discotheque with a DJ booth on the altar was held in a Roman Catholic church in France.

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