All cases
Man Vandalized Churches, then Fired Gun at Witness
July 30, 2018, PolandA man was observed vandalizing two churches in Krakow with paint by a passerby. When the passerby tried to intervene, the man fled the scene. The man then returned with a gas pistol which he shot at the witness, but the witness was able to overpower the attacker and called the police. The man was charged with possession of an illegal weapon, as well as damage to the churches.
Elda Hospital Chapel Desecrated
July 28, 2018, SpainAt about 10pm on Saturday the 28th of July 2018, vandals broke open the tabernacle of the chapel of the Virgen de la Salud Hospital in Elda (Alicante) and stole the ciborium with the consecrated hosts. The ciborium was later found in the parking lot and the consecrated hosts were scattered around the entrance area of the hospital. Some were found lying on the sidewalk and trampled. The parishes in the area held acts of reparation for the desecration and to pray for the conversion of perpetrators. The police began an investigation.
"Offensive" Christian Symbols being Hidden at Funerals in Scotland
July 27, 2018, United KingdomThe Scottish Inspector of Crematoria, Robert Swanson, said in his annual report that demands for the removal of Bibles and crosses by humanists and other minorities are on the rise. The Humanist Society of Scotland has said failure to remove Christian symbols leaves their members “open to discrimination” under the Equality Act.
Fire in Church; "Allahu Akbar" Sprayed on Walls
July 25, 2018, FranceA fire was set in the church Saint-Pierre du Matroi in Orléans on the 25th of July. Sheet music was burned, furniture was damaged, and smears of graffiti were found on several walls, including one reading "Allahu Akbar." The fire brigade was able to intervene early enough to prevent further spread of the fire, thus preserving the support structure of the church. The police believe the fire was intentionally set.
Stones Stolen from Statue in Cathedral
July 25, 2018, ItalyUnknown thieves, likely taking advantage of renovation works, removed a protective case and stole stones from the pastoral cross on the ancient wooden statue of San Geminiano in the Duomo of Modena. While the stones have very little monetary value, they have tremendous historical value and the statue is sacred to the community because San Geminiano is the patron saint of Modena. The theft has been called 'sacriligious' and offensive to the religious feelings of the church and the entire city. Police began a forensic investigation.
Vandals Ransacked Church; Apologized to Priest
July 23, 2018, SpainIn the early hours of July 23rd, two young men broke into the town church of Adrados and destroyed everything they could, causing extensive damage -- up to €30,000. Shelves, books, and even the altar were tipped over, and paintings and figures were badly damaged. The Diocese of León filed a complaint with the Civil Guard, which immediately opened an investigation that focused on several young people who were in the mountain town that night. The perpetrators were identified and they "asked for forgiveness although they are aware of the consequences that resulted from their prank," according to the parish priest.
Robbery of Saint-Pierre d'Equainville
July 21, 2018, FranceDuring the night between the 20th and the 21st of July 2018 the church Saint-Pierre d'Equainville, in the parish of Beuzeville, was robbed. The offenders entered by the sacristy door and stole everything that was of value: liturgical objects and candle holders. They rummaged through everything and scattered unconsecrated Hosts in the sacristy. Finally, they broke the tabernacle and stole the ciborium filled with consecrated Hosts. A complaint was filed and the police came to investigate.
Desecration and Vandalism in Chiesa di San Clemente in Latera
July 21, 2018, ItalySometime in the morning of July 21st, vandals entered the San Clemente church and threw holy water to the ground, scattered the cloth and liturgical object from the altar, and left feces underneath the altar table. Police immediately began an investigation.
Series of Sacred Figures Destroyed in Andria
July 21, 2018, ItalyAn Italian citizen was arrested after being caught in the act of destroying the glass of the votive chapel of Cristo Redentore. He was also accused of vandalizing a statue of the Virgin Mary and another sacred figure “Madonna of Altomare,” as well as breaking the head, arms, and legs of a public statue of the crucifixion of Jesus. Luigi Mansi, Bishop of Andria said, “The way in which the statue has been destroyed causes in me and in all the priests immense sadness: the head has been torn off, broken legs and arms; only one piece of the body remained attached to the cross.”
Statue of Virgin and Child Vandalized in Sulniac, Morbihan
July 20, 2018, FranceThe gate protecting the oratory was torn off and the statue was toppled, causing damage.
University Fired Priest after Rosary of Reparation for Glasglow Pride Parade
July 19, 2018, United KingdomA Catholic priest in Glasgow has been removed as a university chaplain after hosting a rosary of reparation for the city’s gay pride parade. The July 16 Rosary service was held in response to a gay pride event in the city on July 14. After complaints from LGBT groups, University principal Pamela Gillies announced that “Following due consultation, Father Mark Morris will not return to his chaplaincy role at the university in September,” the BBC reported.
Crucifix in Mountain Hut Vandalized
July 19, 2018, FranceA hiker in Wihr-au-Val in Alsace discovered an act of vandalism in the Krizle wooden hut located at an altitude of 688 m, at the crossroads of five hiking trails. The hiker reported that the carved wooden crucifix with a metal Christ had been desecrated, with the arms and legs broken off.
Theft of Crucifix from Altar
July 19, 2018, GermanyThe crucifix standing in the middle of the altar of St. Michael's Church in Lüneburg was stolen by unknown persons during the public visiting time of the church between 3 pm and 5 pm. There was a damage of several thousand euros.
Theft from Church Crypt in Hythe, Kent
July 16, 2018, United KingdomThieves broke a lock and stole 21 ancient skulls from the ossuary crypt of St. Leonard's Church in Kent sometime between July 15th and 16th. The church, known as the "church with the bones" houses the largest bone collection in the UK, including 700 year old remains of the people who died in the Battle of Hastings.
Vicar of Oyonnax Parish Assaulted
July 15, 2018, FranceA priest was assaulted after trying to calm a group of young people who were attacking customers who were celebrating the French World Cup victory in an outdoor cafe.
Church Window Vandalized
July 15, 2018, United KingdomUnknown vandals threw concrete through the window of St James the Great Church causing £500 worth of damage.
Church Vandalized in Bouloire
July 15, 2018, FranceOn the morning of July 15th, the church of Saint-Georges in Bouloire, served by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter ( FSSP ) was discovered vandalized. Father Thomas Leclair reported, "Sunday morning [July 15] we discovered a missal in the holy water, in addition the wooden column on which the trunk for of the sale of the candles was fixed had been broken (surely to steal the trunk), devotional candles were broken, and a liturgical cloth was found partially burned in the hole made in the column. A complaint was lodged with the gendarmerie. Identical acts had been recorded in November 2016 and the town hall had not wished to lodge a complaint."
Fire and Vandalism at Village Church
July 14, 2018, GermanyUnknown vandals set a small fire and destroyed several items in the village church in Rigersdorf, prompting local volunteer fire departments to respond with six fire engines. The damage amounted to several hundred euros.
Man with Knife on Metro screamed "I target all Catholics"
July 14, 2018, FranceA man caused panic in the Paris metro on July 14th when he threatened the passengers with a knife, screaming "I am a Muslim and I target all Catholics." The police took the 23-year-old Egyptian "Emad F." into custody.
Bus Company Pulls Adverts for Franklin Graham Event
July 12, 2018, United KingdomBus ads promoting the September 2018 Franklin Graham "Lancashire Festival of Hope" at Winter Gardens Blackpool were pulled in response to criticism from LGBT communities. Graham, like many evangelicals, preaches the biblical definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.