French historian shot himself in Notre Dame cathedral to protest against gay marriage

Notre Dame cathedral just had 520th anniversary. (photo credit: Don Julen Photography)

It was just a quiet day in Notre Dame cathedral then suddenly the calm atmosphere was disturbed by the sound of gunshot.

A distinguished French historian, Dominique Venner (78), shot himself in the head today to protest against gay marriage.

Venner was a former member of OAS, the nationalist terrorist movement and a presenter on a Catholic-traditionalist radio station.

Venner placed a sealed letter on the altar before putting the pistol in his mouth and pulled the trigger in front of a group of tourists. He staged his death in the cathedral to symbolize the religious traditional union of a man and a woman.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com