France: Anti-gay activist commits suicide at the alter of Notre Dame

In an apparent protest of France's recently passed marriage equality law, an anti-gay activist shot himself in the head today after placing a letter on the altar of Paris' famed Notre Dame Cathedral.

From the Daily Mail:

Dominique Venner, who had recently been campaigning against gay marriage in France, is said to have calmly walked past the crowds milling around the 850-year-old Cathedral, one of the most popular tourist sites in the world, before taking out a Herstal automatic pistol.

The 78-year-old put the gun in his mouth and fired before collapsing on to the altar, according to French media reports.

The Cathedral was full of visitors when the horrific incident took place, at around 4pm.

My small understanding of the relationship of religion and suicide is that it is considered a mortal sin.

So, not to be unkind, but this man would rather commit a mortal sin and burn in hell forever than live with the fact that people who love one another can marry?

Wow - he really showed us, didn't he?

I am sad that so much hate can be whipped up in the world that would lead someone to this end.