All cases
Church Hymnals Set On Fire
July 27, 2019, GermanyUnknown perpetrators set a row of hymnals on a shelf on fire in the St. Mauritius Catholic Church in Kippenheim in the early evening of July 27th. Witnesses noticed the fire and notified the police who were able to extinguish the fire and are now investigating.
Four Stations in Way of the Cross in Fatima Vandalized
July 26, 2019, PortugalFour of the 14 chapels of the Valinhos Way of the Cross or the Shepherd's Way in Fatima were vandalized with yellow spray paint during the night between July 25th and 26th. The unknown perpetrators sprayed the heads and intimate areas of the figures, along with obscene words. The Shrine of Fatima covered the chapels and will carry out the extensive cleaning work required to remove the paint.
Break-in And Theft in Augustdorf Church
July 26, 2019, GermanyUnknown burglars forcefully opened a door of a church in Augustdorf and stole the money from the offertory box for candles between July 26th and 27th.
Belgian Radio Station Promotes Festival with Provocative Poster
July 26, 2019, Belgium"Pure," a Belgian [French-speaking] public service radio station run by the RTBF, promoted a pop music festival with poster campaign with a sexualized image of a man and a woman, dressed with priest's collar and nun's head covering.
Judge Opens Proceedings Against "Pederoclastia" Installation
July 25, 2019, SpainThe Spanish Association of Christian Lawyers has sought a court order to shut down an artist’s installation entitled "Pederoclastia" that contains "ornaments used in Catholic worship" and "figures of children in explicitly sexual postures." The Association also said on July 19 that it would file a criminal complaint against artist Fernando Barredo de Valenzuela (who is also the coordinator for Toledo Laica) for offending religious sentiments and inciting hatred, and may take steps against the Círculo de Arte de Toledo for "attacking the feelings of Catholics." On July 25, Toledo’s Court of First Instance No 2 opened a preliminary investigation into the possibility that the case constituted corruption of minors but had not ordered the exhibition to be shut down.
Two Fires Intentionally Set in Autun Church
July 22, 2019, FranceAt 4:30 pm on July 22th, a parishioner noticed the smell of smoke emanating from the Notre-Dame church in Autun. When she entered the church, she discovered that two people were already there extinguishing the fire with their feet. The police reportedly found that there were two distinct fires set: one near the altar and the other near prayer chairs. An investigation is under way.
Graffiti on Church in Heiden
July 21, 2019, GermanyUnknown vandals vandalized large areas of St. Paulus Protestant Church's exterior in Heiden between July 21st and 22nd. They targeted a park bench, the church wall, six windows, and the surrounding bricks.
Man Arrested for Defacing more than 80 Graves with "666" in Church Cemetery
July 21, 2019, DenmarkA 46-year-old man was charged with spray-painting the number ‘666’ on 87 tombstones in a church cemetery in North Jutland, Denmark. Staff from the Hadsund Church noticed the damage on Sunday morning, July 21st. After an investigation, the man was arrested on July 24th after witnesses came forward. The man, who had been convicted of similar vandalism of a cemetery in 2016, denied responsibility for this incident.
Bells Stolen Of Two Chapels of Saint-Damase and Penitents
July 20, 2019, FranceDuring the night of Thursday to Friday, one bell of the chapel of Saint-Damase and another one from the 12th century of the chapel of the Penitents, which was renovated only two years ago, were stolen. Both bells weight at least 300 pounds each. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Arson Suspected in Hyvinkää Old Church
July 19, 2019, FinlandIn the early hours of July 19th, a passer-by notified the fire department that the warehouse of the Old Church in Hyvinkää was in flames and the church building itself was also on fire. Due to the results of the preliminary investigation, the chief inspector suspected the fire was set intentionally and opened an arson investigation. The wooden church itself remained mostly intact, however, the storage facility housing gardening tools was completely destroyed by the fire.
Reformation Wall Vandalized with Rainbow Colors in Geneva
July 15, 2019, SwitzerlandThe monument, known as Reformation Wall, depicting Calvin, Farel, Bèze and Knox was covered in paint with the rainbow colors by unknown vandals on July 15th. The city filed a criminal complaint complaint.
Church and Chapel Vandalized in Quimper Diocese
July 14, 2019, FranceDuring Sunday Mass on the 14 of July, parishioners learned of vandalism in both the church and chapel of the Saint-Mathieu parish in Pays d'Iroise (diocese of Quimper, Finistère). In the church of Saint-Budoc à Porspoder damage included a vandalized offertory box, cigarettes left in front of the altar of the Blessed Virgin, the door of the sacristy obstructed by the insertion of gravel in the lock, and vomit in the holy water stoups. In the Chapelle Saint-Samson à Landunvez, the most photographed chapel in France, an offertory box was vandalized and a cross thrown in the trash.
Medieval Norfolk Church Torched by Arson
July 12, 2019, United KingdomOn July 12th, firefighters were called to a fire at St. Margaret's Ruined Church in Hopton after a motorbike was set on fire underneath the 13th century building. While the incident was ruled an arson by officials, the investigation was closed in October due to lack of evidence.
Repeated Vandalism and Thefts in the Parish Church of Mainz
July 12, 2019, GermanyThe parish church in Ingelheim has repeatedly been the target of severe vandalism, as reported on the 12th of July 2019. The acts included cigarette ash in the confessional, holy water basins filled with urine, candles lighted on the altar. The church was closed because of this abuse.
Paris: Vandalism in 13th Arrondissement Church
July 11, 2019, FranceAn unknown person intentionally set off the alarm in the church of Saint-Hippolyte in Paris around 9:30 am on July 11th and once the church was evacuated, took the opportunity to vandalize the payment terminals for church contributions (Denier de l’Église). As a result, the church restricted its opening hours to afternoons in July and August.
Man Arrested with Cans of Gasoline in Cathedral
July 8, 2019, FranceA man in his thirties was arrested on July 8th at around 7 pm, after he entered the cathedral of Sées with several cans of gasoline. Witnesses apprehended him and handed him over to the police. According to reports, the man, who suffers from psychological problems, was taken to the psychotherapeutic center of Orne for compulsory hospitalization. However no criminal prosecution will be launched against him. According to the public prosecutor, "there is a total absence of discernment. He is totally irresponsible ... No criminal action may be taken."
Two Suspicious Fires in Four Days in Bourg-Achard Church
July 2, 2019, FranceBetween June 26th and June 30th, two fires were discovered in the 13th century église Saint-Lô in Bourg-Achard (Eure). According to the police in charge of the investigation, there is a high probability that these two fires were deliberately set.
Spanish teenager given 6 months for death threat against Indian priest
June 26, 2019, SpainA juvenile court has sentenced a 16-year-old boy to six months in custody for racial slurs and for threatening to kill the parish priest, a native of India, in the Malaga provincial town of Benajarafe.
Vandals Decapitate Statue of Archbishop in Ireland
June 26, 2019, IrelandSometime between June 26th and 27th, unknown perpetrators beheaded the marble statue of former archbischop Patrick Leahy that is only a few meters away from the main entrance of the Cathdral of the Assumption in Thurles, County Tipperary, which is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. The statue was 'an integral part of the heritage and fabric of the town of Thurles' according to superintendent Pat Murphyand and Irish police Gardaí, who are investigating and appealing for witnesses, described it as a 'wanton act of violence' to decapitate it and then steal the head.
Marseille Crucifix Vandalized for Third Time in Two Months
June 26, 2019, FranceThe crucifix monument on the grounds of the church of Saint-Patrice in the Croix-Rouge district was discovered defaced with red paint on June 26th. The Christ figure had been previously painted with blue paint twice in May.