All cases

Insults Tagged on Augsburg Cathedral and other anti-Christian Hate Crimes

January 10, 2023, Germany

on the 10th of January, the online news source MK-Online reported a rise in anti-Christian hate speech and vandalism in Bavaria. The most recent incident was red graffiti on the Cathedral of Augsburg that said "F*ck Jesus! He would have wanted it this way". The historical church dates back to Roman times. The reasons behind the perpetrator's actions are still under investigation and the cost of the damaged property lies around a couple of hundred euros. Other cases have been reported in Munich, where the Jesus figure was stolen. In an Augsburg Catholic Church perpetrators threw eggs and left insulting graffiti on the wall against the Word of God.

Vandalism Attack on the church of Saint-Lois Roi in Lyon

January 10, 2023, France

On the afternoon of January 10., it was reported that the Saint-Louis Roi church of Champagne-au-Mont-d'Or in Lyon was heavily vandalized by a perpetrator. The vandal broke windows and tossed to the ground two crucifixes, candles, books, and cases. District Councillor Tiffany Joncour posted a picture on twitter of a broken crucifix laying on the ground after the attack. The Minister of the Interior Gérald Dramamine later shared on Twitter that the suspect had been arrested.

Chapel of St. Julien Desecrated and Vandalized in Morbihan

January 8, 2023, France

The chapel of St. Julien in Morbihan has been desecrated and vandalised by unknown perpetrators on the 8th of January. The newspaper Le Télégramme revealed that all crosses were turned upside down, a statue of the Virgin Mary was wrapped with red electric lights, an ex-voto was damaged and a fire extinguisher was poured out on the church. According to the mayor of Morbihan, Patrick Le Roux, such acts had not been seen in the past in this city, "It is for me the expression of absolute evil and stupidity," he added. The destruction was found by a parishioner on Sunday afternoon.

Jesus Figure Stolen from Wayside Shrine Crucifix

January 8, 2023, Germany

Between the 19th of December and the 8th of January, the wayside shrine in Icking was vandalised. An unknown perpetrator unscrewed the Jesus figure from its cross and took it away. Now, the police have been notified and they are investigating the case.

5000 Euro Damage: Perpetrators Throw Explosives Towards Church

January 7, 2023, Germany

In the city of Halberstadt, a form of pyrotechnics were used to destroy church property at the Lüttgenfeldstraße, amounting to 5,000 euros in damage. Around 3:45 a.m. unknown persons threw crafted explosives over the fence of the church and caused damage to a nativity play which was handcrafted with plastic and wood. The explosion also caused damage to the façade of the church and a window. The police are seeking witnesses to find the perpetrators.

1,000 euros Worth of Damage to church in Ottersheim

January 7, 2023, Germany

Between the 7th and 9th of January, unknown perpetrators damaged the cupboards of the St. Martinus Church in Ottersheim. The police is running an investigation and looking for the perpetrators. The damaged cupboards amount to about 1000 euros worth.

Statue of Baby Jesus destroyed and Desecrated At church of St. James

January 6, 2023, Poland

During the night of 6. January, the statue of Baby Jesus from the Nativity Scene in the St. James Church was vandalized in Brzesko. According to the report, the right hands were cut off, and the statue was destroyed and left at the Jordan park. The pastor of the church commented: "This kind of profanation is not only an expression of stupidity, vandalism or thuggery on the part of some people, but it is first and foremost an attack on our religious feelings."

Two People Vandalise the St. John's Church in Miltenberg

January 4, 2023, Germany

It was reported that two young people vandalised St. John's Church on the 4th of January. They left traces of foam from the fire extinguisher all over the church and special items. The sacristan came to the church right after the incident happened and reported the crime. A cleaning crew tried to remove the foam, textiles and other valuable Paramentes also had to be cleaned. It seems that the Altar Bible has suffered permanent damage. The police are investigating.

Deadly Knife Attack Against Ukrainian Priest inside the Church

January 2, 2023, Ukraine

On the morning of January 2. in the Holy Virgin Church in Vinnytsia, an unknown man attacked the priest Anthony Kovtonyuk and cut him on the throat. The unidentified man had entered the church and started turning everything over, so the priest reprimanded him. Then, the perpetrator attacked the priest with his knife, as it was reported by the diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The police came to the scene and apprehended the attacker, who has been arrested. Father Anthony was taken to the emergency services later transferred to the intensive care unit in a Vinnitsia hospital.

Historical Church of St Peter and St Paul in Turin Defaced with Graffiti

January 2, 2023, Italy

The Romanesque Church of Saints Peter and Paul located in Chianocco, Turin, has been spray painted by unknown vandals. The perpetrators painted inappropriate or obscene drawings and words on the stone wall of the old church. This was reported on the 2nd of January. In the next days, volunteers will come and help clean up the mess that was left behind. The police are investigating.

Facade of Church defaced with paper bombs by young vandals

December 31, 2022, Italy

In the town of Marigliano, the facade of thee church The Lady Most Holy of Mount Carmel was vandalized with paper bombs by young vandals. The perpetrators ruined the facade and caused shock among the residents, who expressed their emotions and anger. The incident was filmed with smartphones and the images were shared on social networks.

Three Young Women Set Fire to Church in Ireland

December 30, 2022, Ireland

The police in North Kerry are investigating an act of vandalism against a church in Ballyduff. Three young women entered the St. Peter and St. Paul church and set fire to the altar cloth. The incident happened on the 30th of December, during the opening hours of the church. Detectives are investigating the motive behind the incident. The altar cloth did not go up in flames, so the damage was not extensive.

Vandals Break Windows and Break Into Church in Germany

December 29, 2022, Germany

On the 29th of December around midday, unknown persons broke into a church and removed the fence. They entered by breaking the kitchen window, but they did not cause other damage to the interior. The police has estimated the damages to be of 2,000 euros.

Nativity Scene Figures Repeatedly Vandalized - One Statue Decapitated and Jesus Stolen

December 29, 2022, Germany

On the 29th of December, unknown vandals stole the Baby Jesus of the nativity scene in Waren and beheaded one of the three wisemen figures. The display belongs to a Baptist Church and it has been vandalized many times in the last few years. This last incident included two consecutive nights of vandalism. The municipality is trying to help with the investigation. Apart from the main figures, a sheep and another figure were scattered on the meadow and other figures were knocked over.

Vandals Burn Nativity Scene Figures

December 29, 2022, Spain

In the city of Zamora, the locals and neighbours showed shock and sadness towards an attack on a nativity scene, which was reported on the 29th of December. Unknown vandals, suspected to be a young group of people, burned the figures of the Christmas display. Some people commented that the fire looked like a bonfire as vandals were burning religious figures.

Three Church Oratories Vandalized Around Christmas

December 29, 2022, Italy

Around the Christmas time, there were several cases of vandalism to oratories in Melegnano. Vandals broke into oratories and destroyed rooms, religious objects, as well as the façade of the Church building. There is an ongoing investigation to find the perpetrators.

Break-in to Church and Vandalism by group of Teenagers

December 29, 2022, United Kingdom

At around 3.45 p.m. on the 29th of December, the St Peter’s Church door was busted open by teenagers. Once inside, they damaged a cross, a statue and candles. The suspects are four boys and four girls who were seen by residents running away from the church with dark clothes on and heading toward Claydon High School. The faces are yet to be identified but the police are asking for any cam footage from cars that were there parked near the scene.

Thieves Steal Baby Jesus from Nativity Scene and Ask for "Ransom" Money

December 28, 2022, Spain

In the town of Barbera del Valles, thieves "kidnapped" the figure of the baby Jesus from the open-air nativity scene on the 28. December at night. They then posted a video on social media with covered faces and distorted voices demanding a ransom of 10,000 euros for the precious figure. According to Spanish media, the city council of the town expressed the hope that it could be a sort of prank. But this is not the first theft of the small figure from the Nativity scene in the church square.

Catholic Owned Centre Vandalised Twice in Two Weeks

December 28, 2022, Italy

In the city of Corticelle, vandals targeted the building adjacent to the Pieve church on the 28th of January. The building is a Catholic-owned centre that belongs to the Amici della Pieve association. The news reported that unknown perpetrators caused major damage by breaking the windows and doors and committing burglary. The police are said to investigate under surveillance cameras since vandals have caused two events within two weeks.

Vandals Steal Baby Jesus from Church in Florence

December 28, 2022, Italy

On December 28, the surveillance camera showed how unknown suspects stole the statue of the Baby Jesus from the nativity scene. The reports have also mentioned that several young people were hiding the statue of Baby Jesus under their clothes and walking around the city with it. The figure was later found at a restaurant terrace and other acts of vandalism have been investigated previously by the police.