All cases

Offensive Graffiti Appeared on Sant Cugat Monastery

April 14, 2022, Spain

The Police were investigating the offensive words written on the church of Sant Cugat del Vallès on April 14th. Images showed two men who had written the words "F*** Moses" in Spanish on the wall of the historic building. Work had begun to remove the deeply offensive comments but the police were still uncertain of who committed the act.

Stations of Cross Destroyed in Wintersweiler

April 13, 2022, Germany

Harald Hofmann, chairman of the parish council, was shocked to find several stations of the Cross destroyed on April 13th. He was not sure who did it but a cross was torn out, the devotional board was knocked over, and boards were taken off a resting bench. The parish had been working on them for months so this was very disappointing.

Several Sacred Objects Stolen from Aragona Church

April 12, 2022, Italy

At some point between last November and March of 2022, chalices, copes, pyxes and stoles were taken from the church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Piazza Umberto I in Aragona. The theft of these sacred objects was investigated by the police but there was little information which makes it difficult to discover who may be the thief and where the items are.

St. Mary's Church in Parchim Vandalized

April 12, 2022, Germany

The St. Mary's church in Parchim was targeted by an act of vandalism on April 12th. Unknown malefactors broke the organ, smeared the floor with a chalky substance, stole two door keys, and damaged a prayer table. The police investigated the incident.

Four Figures of Mary Destroyed in Lewniowa

April 11, 2022, Denmark

To the shock of all, four statues of Mary were destroyed on the 11th of April, three in Lewniowa and one in the neighboring Gnojnik. The statues were quite near the Church of Our Lady and made of concrete so it definitely took considerable force to break them. Artur Seniuk, the mayor of Lewniowa, said: "It is sad, especially that it happened before Easter."

Halstenbek Church Vandalized Again after 3 Days

April 11, 2022, Germany

On Friday the 8th of April, the Halstenbek Redeemer Church was vandalized by unknown people who burned pages of the alter Bible, scattered sand everywhere, and stole metal digits from the "song display." Now, just three days later on April 11th, the pastor, Malte Lei, found the church in a similar state. The police were looking for witnesses to to give more details about the incidents.

Sacrilegious Theft at Church in Cortona

April 11, 2022, Italy

A thief, whose identity remains unknown, stole a rosary held in the hands of a statue of Madonna and took a cross above the statue's head. This took place in the Lower Church of San Marco in Cortona which has no money to replace the stolen items. Andrea Rossi, who is the custodian of the church, hopes that people will leave donations so that the sacred objects can be bought again.

Priest and Parish People Attacked in Rome

April 9, 2022, Italy

Don Guido Panella, the priest at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Marsala, was physically and verbally attacked by a homeless woman on April 9th. Before this, a homeless man had entered the church and was yelling at everyone until the priest gave him a euro and he left. He then returned with two others, including the woman, and they began shouting at people and the woman even slapped the priest. Two police officers then arrived on the scene at which point the men left but the woman remained and was taken by the carabinieri.

Tabernacle Stolen from Church in Leipzig

April 8, 2022, Germany

The tabernacle was stolen from the Provost Church in Leipzig on April 8th. The shrine was found a short distance from the church with its lock damaged and some of the hosts within were missing or broken. The police were investigating the incident and the leader of the church, Gregor Giele, described the theft as a "bitter experience."

Children: Church Pew Set on Fire in Aalen-Waldhausen

April 8, 2022, Germany

A pew in the St. Nicholas church in Aalen-Waldhausen was set on fire on April 8th. It was discovered by a 56-year-old woman who an hour and a half earlier saw three children about eight years old run out of the church. She extinguished the fire with a blanket so the fire brigade, which was notified by the sacristan, was thankfully not needed.