All cases
Fire Set to Syrian Orthodox Church in Norrköping
August 6, 2018, SwedenSt. Maria's Syrian Orthodox Church in Norrköping began to burn just after 2am on 6th of August. When rescue services arrived at the scene, there were open flames across the facade of the wooden church. 30 firemen from seven stations were able to get the fire under control by 3.40am. The police came to the conclusion that the fire was the result of arson when a fire dog found a flammable liquid on the scene, which technicians confirmed. The church was heavily damaged and it will take some time for it to be renovated. Members of the church, to which 1100 people belong, were upset and shocked. Police are searching for the perpetrator.
"KISS" Graffiti on Facade of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
August 6, 2018, SpainA 12th century sculpture on the facade of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was painted to make the statue look like a member of American rock band KISS. The name "KISS" was also written across the body of the statue. The marble statue was restored the same afternoon and the police started looking for the perpetrator who, if found guilty, would face a fine of between 6,000 and 150,000 euros.
The chapel Notre-Dame-des Affligés vandalised
August 6, 2018, FranceThe chapel had been vandalised before, but not damaged to the same degree it was on August 6th. The broken door was found in the neighbouring pasture, many statues were broken, some even crumbled, the wooden base of the Virgin Mary was damaged, chairs and vases were broken, the interior walls were marred. The police has stated that " in the view of the law, it is more religious desecration than vandalism". They have started an investigation. The door has been repaired by people of good will and put back in its place. Concerning the broken statues, the ARARCO association has been contacted to evaluate the finances necessary to restore the chapel. The people responsible for the church have said that if the amount of finances needed is large, a call for donations will be launched on the internet. Many people affected by this act of vandalism have offered to give them statues and vases to bring the small chapel back to life.
Four Fires Set in Saint-Pierre de Neuilly
August 5, 2018, FranceOn the 5th of August Four fires were started in the parish church Saint-Pierre in Neuilly-sur-Seine at about 2:30 in the afternoon. They were noticed by two people who had been waiting for the bus on the Avenue du Roule but had entered the church to cool down. They smelled smoke and found fires at four different locations near the entrance. The passersby rushed to extinguish the flames with water to keep the fire from spreading. Fourteen firemen with three engines were called to the site. The perpetrators had started the fires by setting flames to flyers and a prayer book. They had also left a piece of paper on a candle at the foot of a statue. No material damage was caused. The parish filed a complaint and the police started an investigation.
Jewelry Dedicated to the Virgin Mary Stolen from Church
August 5, 2018, ItalyThe Church of Corlo di Formigine was robbed during the night between the 4th and 5th of August. The thieves took advantage of village celebration of the feast of la Madonna della Neve to steal golden chains, bracelets, and rings that had been donated by the faithful as a pledge to the Virgin Mary over the years. The jewelry was kept inside the reliquary which protects the fresco of the Virgin Mary and had been displayed in the church for the occasion of the festival. This act of vandalism has left the community upset.
Figure of Virgin Mary Damaged in Important Marian Shrine
August 3, 2018, PolandThe statue of the Virgin Mary in the small Shrine of Our Lady - the Teacher of Young People in Warsaw-Sierkierki was destroyed by vandals some time between August 2nd and 3rd. The perpetrators opened the glass case which protects the statue and damaged the statue. The shrine is important because of the Marian apparitions that appeared in the Siekierki region between 1943 and 1949. Police began an investigation and the parish held a reparation Mass for the vandalism and prayed for the conversion of the perpetrators.
Vandal damages outdoor furniture of church Santa Corce in Villaseta
August 1, 2018, ItalyA vandal went on a rampage outside the church of Santa Corce in Villaseta, a district of Agrigento. He broke pots of plants placed around the statue of Padre Pio and other outdoor furniture. He tried to enter the church where dozens of faithful had taken refuge. The vandal himslef hurt himself during his escalation and even left traces of blood scattered on the floor. The parishioners themselves called the police. An investigation was started and footage from surveillance cameras retrieved. The police believe it was a fifty-year-old from the area.
Catholic Politician's Home Targeted with Vandalism
August 1, 2018, United KingdomConservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg's Somerset home was vandalized with graffiti, condoms were hung on a small cross in the garden, and a sex toy covered with a condom was stuck on a car. While the politician has been controversial for his support for Brexit, media reports indicate that police suspect the sexual items were meant to target Rees-Mogg's Catholic faith and opposition to birth control.
Theft from Freto Church
July 30, 2018, ItalyJust a few days after a theft from the cathedral in Modena, two people, taking advantage of a deactivated alarm in the small church in Freto (Modena), stole a marble baptismal font. Although the theft was captured on surveillance cameras, the identity of the thieves was unclear. This was not the first theft from the isolated church and the nearby cemetery. The residents of the area were upset by the theft from the church.
Repeated Vandalism at Chiesa del Calvario
July 30, 2018, ItalyFor the third summer in a row, unknown vandals broke into the ancient Chiesa del Calvario and destroyed objects. This year, they broke the hands of a 16th century statue of the Madonna and destroyed a second statue. The parish priest said the Catholic community was "horrified by vandalism towards statues of the Madonna, as well as the disfigurement of the heritage of the religious site." He called upon officials to investigate and take action to protect the site.
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.
Graffiti on Pillar of Warsaw Church
July 12, 2018, PolandThe pillar of the All Saints Church (Kościół Wszystkich Świętych) was vandalized with graffiti some time between July 12th and 13th. The same church had been vandalized about two weeks earlier and police began an investigation.
Romanesque Church Vandalized
July 11, 2018, SpainThe facade of the San Millán church in the city center of Segovia was sprayed with green paint by unknown vandals.
Suspicious Fire at Chêne de la Vierge
July 11, 2018, FranceA fire destroyed the Chêne de la Vierge (the "Oak to the Virgin"), a popular place of pilgrimage and devotion, on July 11th. The tree, which had been covered with statues, crosses, rosaries, and small shrines to the Virgin Mary was ravaged by a fire. The fire was reported to be suspicious because there had been no reports of lightning in the area, and this tree was the only one in the forest to have been burned.
300 Year Old Sandstone Crucifix Damaged and Stolen
July 10, 2018, GermanySometime between July 8th and 10th unknown perpetrators smashed the "Hansenkreuz" with an object heavy enough to break the cross from its base and stole the sandstone crucifix, leaving only fragments behind. The Hansenkreuz had been standing at a crossroads in Dierscheid in the forest area of Kellerberg for 300 years. Police opened an investigation.
Confessionals and a Stoup Vandalized with Ink in Płońsk
July 9, 2018, PolandPolice arrested a 59-year-old man after CCTV cameras caught him pouring ink in two confessionals and a stoup (a basin for holy water) in the parish of Michała Archanioła. Damage was estimated at PLN 1,000.
Parish Priest Closed Church after Finding Urine in Holy Water
July 9, 2018, ItalyAfter discovering urine in the holy water in the Chiesa Santa Croce (better known as "Chiesa dei Morti” or "church of the dead") in Canneto Sull'Oglio, the parish priest decided to close the church for a few days. The church is a sacred place for the local community, as the walls of the church have been covered with photos, plaques, and headstones of deceased loved ones since 1630.
Door of Nativity Church burnt
July 9, 2018, ItalyThe door of the nativity church at Villa Muti in Frascati, near Rome, was burnt.
Vandalism and Desecration at Madrid Church
July 9, 2018, SpainThe church of San Bartolomeo in the municipality of Fresnedillas de la Oliva was robbed and desecrated. The intruders tore the tabernacle off the wall and threw it to the ground, left sacred objects scattered on the floor and stole the money from the offering boxes. The sacristy and the catechism rooms were ransacked. The ciborium containing consecrated Hosts was overturned and the contents were scattered on the floor. The incident was reported to the police and the Archbishop of Madrid scheduled a Reparation Mass.
Fire at Base of San Pio da Pietralcina in Frascati
July 8, 2018, ItalySomeone set fire to the base of the bronze statue of San Pio da Pietralcina in Frascati, near Rome, which blackened the feet of the statue of the saint. The police started an investigation.
Confessionals Burnt in Cathedral
July 8, 2018, ItalyA 58-year old man from the area set fire in one of the four confessionals of St. Peter's Cathedral in Frascati, near Rome, by igniting the padded seat. The perpetrator was caught due to the footage of 12 surveillance cameras in the cathedral. The man was described as mentally disturbed and was known for vandalizing places of worship in the past. He was arrested by the local police for arson and damaging a place of worship.
Government Fired Doctor for View that Gender is Determined by Biology
July 8, 2018, United KingdomDr David Mackereth was deemed "unfit" to work as an assessor at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over his refusal to use transgender patient's preferred pronouns because of his view that gender is defined by biology and that God made humans male and female. The Equality Act identifies those undergo or who propose to undergo gender reassignment as part of a protected class. Failure to use preferred pronouns is interpreted as unlawful discrimination.
Priest Assaulted and Spat on during 'Orange Walk'
July 7, 2018, United KingdomCatholic priest Tom White was spat on twice as he greeting parishioners outside St. Alphonsus' Church after Mass at the same time that an 'Orange Walk,' a procession by a Protestant fraternal order, passed by. He was also hit with a baton and verbally abused. A spokesperson for the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland has said that no one from the parade was involved. Police Scotland, who had been guarding the church but were called away before the parade passed by, began a hate crime investigation.
Church Door Set on Fire and Public Cross Toppled
July 6, 2018, ItalyThe door of the church Madonna della Cona in Piazza Battisti in Castel Gandolfo was set on fire during the night and the cross which stood in the square was toppled. Although the church has been deconsecrated, city authorities expressed concern about a series of destructive acts directed at Christian churches and symbols in the area.
Graffiti Sprayed on Town Church
July 6, 2018, United KingdomVandals sprayed "YNWA", "truth", and "greed" on the historic St. Nicholas Church. The reverend called it "disrespectful" and said people were upset about the damage. She said that although youths had been congregating in the area for some time, and leaving garbage in the churchyard, this was first time they caused damage to the building.
Degradations at the Church of la Collégiale Saint-Barnard
July 5, 2018, FranceOn the afternoon of July 5th, damage was discovered in the historic Collegiate Church of Saint-Barnard in the old center of Romans-sur-Isère. The cover of the baptismal font had been broken and found on the ground, and the finger of a statue of Saint John the Baptist was also broken. Police investigated.
Village and Church Tagged with Graffiti
July 5, 2018, FranceSometime during the night of July 5th, buildings in the small town of Saint-Alban-d'Ay were targeted with vandalism with anarchist and communist slogans in red and black paint. The church facade was sprayed with offensive slogans and the interior was ransacked.
Religious Flags Torn Down at "Campus of Religions"
July 4, 2018, AustriaUnknown vandals tore down the flags of the New Apostolic Church and the Vienna Jewish Community at the construction site for a "Campus of Religions" in the new housing complex 'Seestadt' in Aspern. The campus is supposed to become a place where different religions can coexist and meet each other peacefully. It is not the first time the site has been subject to vandalism. The Israeli flag had been attacked twice before, once at the start of the construction in 2015 and again in May 2018. Religious leaders of different Christian denominations have expressed their outrage about the act. The police began an investigation.
Demand for Apology after President of National Assembly Mentions God
July 3, 2018, SloveniaA left-wing member of the National Assembly, Franc Trček, demanded an apology from Matej Tonin, the President of the National Assembly, for concluding a speech with the words "Bog živi Slovenijo," which can roughly be translated to "God bless Slovenia." Trček argued that the words violated the constitution of Slovenia which requires a separation of church and state. Tonin responded that he had no intention of apologizing and that the constitution also protects freedom of speech.
Activist Graffiti found on Church Properties in Poland
July 3, 2018, PolandGraffiti was found on several church buildings in the wake of a discussion on stricter abortion legislation by the Polish parliament. The spray-painted slogans included “Behold my body, behold my blood, buzz off”; “women-murderers” and “We remember Rwanda.” The three damaged buildings included the curial offices of the Archdiocese of Warsaw, the rectory of the Church of St. John the Baptist, and the curial offices of the Diocese of Warsaw-Praga.
Statue Vandalized and Satanic Inscriptions Left in Church
July 3, 2018, FranceA priest discovered that statues in the nave of the church of Saint Jean-Baptiste de Bourgoin-Jallieu had been vandalized and that satanic inscriptions were left defacing a prayer book. The police were notified and opened an investigation.