The Catholic church on the outskirts of Ballymena, Co Antrim, which is being picketed by loyalists, was subjected to an arson attack early yesterday.
Two men are being questioned by the RUC after a fire, at Our Lady's Church in Harryville. A window was broken in the building and flammable liquid poured inside.
The fire was noticed by a passing police patrol which put it out. Loyalists have picketed the church for the past 12 weeks in protest at the rerouting of Orange marchers in the nationalist village of Dunloy, Co Antrim.
The local priest, Father Frank Mullan, said the sense of euphoria he had felt when Saturday night's protest had passed off relatively peacefully had now disappeared. "We really thought that this could be the turning point of the whole thing especially coming up to Christmas with the lights switched on in the town.
"We are back in darkness now and this attack indicates more things to come and a spiralling into the abyss."
The attack was condemned by the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, who said: "Nothing can justify it."