All cases

Filtered by: Desecration

Dead Animals Buried in Graveyard

December 14, 2011, Germany

A member of the St Vincent Parish in Lenne found a dead cat in a family members grave when she went to tidy it. The cat had been buried right beneath the dirt with only the feet sticking out. Several weeks later half a chicken was found buried in another grave.

Catholic Cemetery of Sussargues Vandalised

November 12, 2011, France

The cemetery of the village of Sussargues in France has been vandalised. The perpetrator(s) damaged about thirty graves and memorials. Crucifix were broken or turned upside down, statuettes of the Virgin Mary were planted head in the ground. Satanists tags are visible on many graves.

Church Desecrated in Vauréal

November 12, 2011, France

The church of Sainte-Claire of Vauréal has been desecrated and Christian symbols specifically attacked. A city councilor criticizes the lack of response of governmental institutions.

Vandalism at St. Georg Church in Munich

November 5, 2011, Germany

For several years local youth have been vandalizing St. Georg Church in Munich. They took tiles off the roof, sprayed graffiti on the outside walls, urinated into the holy water vessels and set fire at the local graveyard. The attacks were ongoing in November 2011. Some of the youth are known to the parish priest, who does not reported them to the police. One of the youth stated in a TV interview with blurred image that he was Moslem and felt uncomfortable with the majority denomination. The priest says that many youth are aggressive towards the Church due to emotional neglect they suffer at home.

"Occupy Rome" Activists Destroyed Sacred Icons During Demonstration

October 15, 2011, Italy

A group of youth who were marching as part of the anti-capitalist movement "Occupy Rome", detoured from the main stream of the parade, and made their way into Saints Marcellino and Pietro Parish, located between Labicana and Merulana streets. The youth, with their heads covered and handing sticks, broke into the parish house and took the statue of the Immaculate Conception and a crucifix. They carried the sacred icons outside the parish premises to the street, where both were destroyed and the debriefs left on the street.

Catholic Cemetery of Buxy Wrecked

September 13, 2011, France

Twenty graves and tombstones have been desecrated in the small village of Buxy in Burgundy. The 2,000 residents of Buxy and their mayor are shocked and incredulous, the police has opened an investigation.

Vandalism at St. Ann's in Ascheberg

July 28, 2011, Germany

Unknown perpetrators urinated into a Holy Water vessel of St. Ann Catholic church, in Ascheberg. They also damaged organ pipes, several apostle statues and a censer. The damage amounts to several thousand Euros. The police has not yet convicted the vandals and does not rule out that they are a gang of teenagers.

Cemetery of Saint-Lys Desecrated

June 30, 2011, France

The cemetery of La Moutonne of Saint-Lys in the department of Haute-Garonne has been vandalized in the night from Thursday to Friday, June 30th, 2011. Memorial plaques were lying on the ground, damaged. A bench of the cemetery had been split into pieces, urn compartments had been opened and no less than twenty graves had received stroke of large stones flung against them, thus breaking plaques, ceramics and flower pots.

Vandalism in the Cemetery of Belleville-sur-Meuse

June 30, 2011, France

Fifteen Christian graves were damaged in the cemetery of Belleville-sur-Meuse and many crosses and statues broken into pieces. Ashes of three deceased have been scattered. Several crosses, marbles and plaques were broken into pieces and scattered on the ground. Statues of Christ were wrenched and let to lay on the floor.

200-year-old Greek Orthodox Chapel Demolished “By Accident” in Northern Cyprus

May 26, 2011, Cyprus

The 200-year-old Greek Orthodox Chapel of Saint Thekla in the village of Vokolida, Cyprus was demolished, allegedly by accident. The demolition was condemned publicly by the Turkish Cypriot authorities and two individuals were arrested for destroying the church and a promise was made to rebuild it. Nevertheless, due to several reasons, this has not yet been performed.