All cases

Vandalism and Several Sacred Objects Stolen from Church in Luneburg

May 17, 2022, Germany

During the night of May 17th, unknown perpetrators broke into the St. Michaelis Church in Luneburg and stole two silver wine jugs, a host's tin box and two patrons. While in the church, they broke several doors and the property damage and stolen items amounted to a cost of several thousand euros. They left the church unnoticed and the police were asking the public for information.

Statue of Madonna Vandalized in Dortmund Church

May 16, 2022, Germany

The wooden statue of Madonna and Child in Dortmund's Propstei Church, once again had wax poured over it from the sacrificial candles on May 16th. The statue is from the 15th century so will now have to be restored in a special workshop. The church was considering using lights without wax to prevent this crime from happening again but they still wanted to keep the church open for all.

Half-Naked Protesters Wear Religious Symbols in Front of Churches

May 16, 2022, Spain

The police in Spain had to stop a protest that was taking place at the door of the church "Virgen de la Luz" in Cuenca, in which several half-naked women were wearing religious symbols. This was reported on the 16th of May by the online news "El Debate". Later on, "Abogados Cristianos" opened proceedings against the group for hurting religious feelings, after the same incident took place in other churches.

Arson and Desecration in Romsthal Church

May 10, 2022, Germany

On May 10th, a church on Kirchstrasse in Romsthal was the victim of an arson attempt. The criminals set fire to several parish letters under a stool and burned some prayer texts near the altar. In addition, they knocked over an offering box, and some candles, and spread the wax over the floor. The fire was out by the time it was discovered and the property damage was around 150 euros but could have been much more. The police were looking for witnesses.

Church in Rotherham Trashed by Illegal Party

May 10, 2022, United Kingdom

On May 10th, vandals broke into the Rotherham Church and trashed the interior. They drank wine and left broken bottles everywhere as well as destroying the church-run nursery which is used to help single mothers with childcare. The incident forced the nursery to close for a week.

Bad Wörishofen Cementery Ransacked by Vandals

May 10, 2022, Germany

Unknown vandals have rioted in the cemetery of Bad Wörishof and knocked over a large gravestone. The cemetery caretaker, Frank Stehr, says that the cemetery is the target of thieves and vandals almost every day. He says flowers and grave arrangements or even gravestones are stolen regularly. "Again and again, people come to me and report that they have lost various such objects," he reports. Still, the last incident was unprecedented. "It was vandalism in its purest form," said Stehr.

Destruction of Tombs and Crosses in Piekary Śląskie Cemetery

May 8, 2022, Poland

Around 30 graves were destroyed by unknown vandals in the St. Józef cemetery of Piekary Śląskie on May 8th. Tombstones were pushed over and crosses were broken in an act that showed complete disrespect for a place that is sacred to so many. The crime was investigated with the support of forensic technicians who were trying identify the villains.

Satanist Profanation of Cementery in Chișinău

May 6, 2022, Moldova

On May 6, 20 crosses and 70 funeral wreaths were set on fire at the St. Lazarus Cemetery in Chișinău, Moldova. Law enforcement officials found evidence of a satanic"ritual" at the site. The following May 13, a 35-year-old man was arrested for the theft of an electric bicycle in the capital - he was linked to these acts of desecration and indicted. He faces up to four years in prison and a fine of over 3,000 euros.

Sacred Pictures of Saints in Milazzo Ruined with Knife

May 1, 2022, Italy

Pictures in the Madonna del Lume church of Milazzo were ruined by an unknown individual who cut them with a sharp object on the 1st of May. It was a series of ten prints including pictures of the Martyrdom of St. Sebastian, the statue of St. Rita, and one of Madonna del Carmelo. The pictures were slashed through the middle and the mayor of the city said of the act: "This gesture was made by people who disgust me."

Glindenberg Church Devastated by Vandals

April 28, 2022, Germany

The St. Nikolai Church of Glindenberg was devastated on April 28th and had to be closed as a result. The inside of the church was devastated: the altar cross was torn off as well hymn books were left in the streets with their pages torn out. The police were looking for the perpetrators.

Satanic Graffiti and Desecration in Graz Church

April 28, 2022, Austria

Satanic graffiti appeared in the St. Vincent church in Graz on the 28th of April. The word Satan, upside-down crosses, and the Antichrist number 666 were painted with red spray paint on the walls and altar of the church. The vandals also sprayed an angel's face red and burnt a bible. The Priest, Wolfgang Pucher commented, "It's just unbelievable."

Jesus and Saint Statues Broken and Chapel Vandalized

April 28, 2022, Poland

A chapel near the village of Pokrzywna was the victim of a vandalistic attack that left a statue of Christ ruined. In the past years, this statue has been targeted, but on the 28th of April, both its legs were broken off just below the knee. A statue of Mother Biska was also torn out and thrown into a stream and a small piggy bank was stolen. The crime was reported to the police but due to the absence of security cameras, the perpetrators may be difficult to identify.

1500 Euro Worth Destruction and Vandalism in Attendorn Cathedral

April 26, 2022, Germany

The police were called to investigate a crime in the St. John the Baptist church in Attendorn on April 26th. The church said that the destruction was done to candlesticks, the Agatha altar, a holy water font, parts of a bench, and a disinfectant dispenser. Books and writings were also thrown around. The damage, around 1,500 euros, was thought to have been done by a slim young man, with dark hair, between the ages of 15 and 20.

Teenagers Vandalize Crosses in Novara School

April 25, 2022, Italy

During the weekend of the 25th of April, minors broke into a gymnasium in Novara to destroy several crosses and write satanic and blasphemous thing on the walls. The then posted their actions on social media. The culprits have been identified and although some who are 14 years old cannot be charged, their parents can be made to pay the damages. The act also showed a worrying lack of respect for religious symbols by people at such a young age.

Goblets Stolen from Church in Florence

April 21, 2022, Italy

A 66 year old native of Sicily was arrested for stealing two golden goblets form a Florentine church in via di Caciolle. The police were alerted to the theft and managed to recover all the stolen goods as well as catch the man. Thankfully, the pyxes, which are used to hold the consecrated hosts, did not sustain any damage.

Picture of Santa Rita Burned by Teenagers in Alassio

April 18, 2022, Italy

Two young boys entered the church in Alassio and started a fire in the votive candle box on April 18th. They also burned a picture of Sant Rita and the parish priest who intervened, was at risk of getting burnt.

Statue of Christ Smashed in San Salvo

April 18, 2022, Italy

A Statue of Christ in the church of Addolorata in San Salvo, was thrown to the ground and smashed on April 18th. The author of this act of vandalism appeared to use an object to break the statue into tiny pieces. The parish lodged a complaint.

Church Near Dieppe Closed after Repeated Acts of Vandalism

April 17, 2022, France

The church in Arques la Bataille, near Dieppe in the Seine Maritime region, which is open during the day, was closed during the Easter school holidays after two vandalistic incidents, in which young people scattered and lighted candles in the church and climbed up the rostrum, then threw music scores and songbooks from up there. It will still be decided when the church will b opened again.

Brass Crosses and other Items Stolen From Wleń Cemetery

April 16, 2022, Poland

Police were informed of the theft of a brass cross from the cemetery of Wleń on the 16th of April. Upon investigation, they found that surrounding graves were also missing letters, crosses, and other elements. They began an investigation and were looking for witnesses.

Drunken Men Ruin Church Service in Kłodzko

April 16, 2022, Poland

Two drunken men entered a church service in Kłodzko and are now facing five years in prison for offending religious feelings. They threw a cross to the ground, tore a stoup off the wall, and pointed their middle fingers at the priest. The shocked worshipers quickly notified the police who detained the men and found them to be intoxicate.

Children: Insults and Destruction in Potenza Church

April 16, 2022, Italy

Three children entered the church of San Michelle on the eve of Easter and while shouting curese, destroyed the brazier intended for the religious service the next day. President of the Basilicata Region, Vito Bardi, addressed the several acts of vandalizm to the historic city center of which this was included. He said, "It is within the family environment that the first and basic rules of civil coexistence are learned, whose value system based on respect, education and responsibility contributes to forming the person."

Statue of Mary Destroyed in Krosno

April 15, 2022, Poland

A figure of Mary was torn of its pedestal and destroyed at an intersection in the district of Krosno on April 16th. The statue dates back to 1959 and is in the Municipal Heritage Register but it was not known who completed the act.

Tabernacle Door Stolen in Schiavonia

April 15, 2022, Italy

On Good Friday, someone broke into the church of Schiavonia and stole the wooden door off the tabernacle in the altar of San Gaetano. The door was made between 1700 and 1800 and of cultural heritage. The church was greatly disappointed by this sacrilegious theft.

Valuable Relics Stolen from Church During Holy Week

April 15, 2022, Germany

During the Holy Week, anonymous intruders entered Neukirchen beim Heiligen Blut church and broke the glass on a case that contained some relics. They then took a cloth with brooches that contained bones from the saints as well as an angel sculpture from the high alter. The police were looking for witnesses and described the relics as having "inestimable immaterial value."

Crucifix Stolen from San Francesco Church

April 15, 2022, Italy

It was discovered on April 20th that the crucifix from the chapel of Sant'Antonio in San Francesco was missing. Upon further investigation, it was realized that the brass item, which is about 70 cm tall, must have been stolen as it could not be found. The parish priest Fr. Gabriele Monnanni lodged a complaint.

Way of the Cross Devastated in Jerzmanowice

April 15, 2022, Poland

The Way of the Cross on Mount Kalwaria in Jerzmanowice was completely destroyed by unknown persons on April 16th. The larger crosses were cut down with a saw. Their supporting ropes were cut while the smaller ones were smashed with an ax. The head and feet of the Mother of God figure were broken and statues of saints were destroyed. This was only part of the damage which the mayor, Tomasz Gwizdała, described as a profanation.

Statue of Virgin Mary Beheaded and Head Stolen in Badajoz

April 14, 2022, Spain

In Badajoz, municipality of Los Santos de Maimona, thieves cut the head off the Virgin saint in a sanctuary and took it along with her crown. This occurred halfway through the Holy Week and the Guardia Civil and the Police were investigating the "serious act." The chapel was forced to close until the necessary repairs and investigations had been done.

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.

Cross Stolen from Church in Mainz

April 8, 2022, Germany

On Friday the 8th of April, a cross made of bronze was stolen from an Augustinian church in Mainz. A nun noticed that the cross was missing from the altar and, upon reviewing video, the police were able to recognize a 51 year old man who had previously stolen goods. They were then able to locate the cross, along with three alter candles, and return them to the church. The man was convicted of the theft.

Church in Halstenbek Ransacked

April 8, 2022, Germany

The Redeemer church of Halstenbek was the victim of a targeted attack on April 8th that left the church a mess. The rioters destroyed alter candles, scattered sand in the worship place, burned pages of the Bible, and took metal letters from the "song display." Due to the severity of the act, police were investigating and wanted witnesses who might be able to give them information about who committed the crime.

Church of San Gottardo Tagged with Obscene Symbols

April 7, 2022, Italy

The church of San Gottardo in Vittorio Veneto has been once again vandalized in an attack that was described as blasphemous and brutal. The incident was reported on the 7th of April. Unknown perpetrators inscribed Insults and phallic symbols in black on the walls of the sacred temple. Due to the lack of surveillance cameras, those who did it will be hard to find but after this act, the Municipality was considering putting some in.

Update: Two Men Arrested for Theft and Vandalism of Several Churches in Paris

April 6, 2022, France

Two men were taken into custody by the police on April 6th as they were expected to have committed multiple thefts and sacrilegious acts at Catholic churches in the Paris region. The churches included the Saint-Pierre Church in Bondy and the church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois in Romainville, in which the tabernacle and consecrated hosts were vandalized, as well as thefts in the Grenoble Cathedral, and churches located in Val-de-Marne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis and Paris. The total damage amounted to several tens of thousand of euros.

Orthodox Church in Strasbourg Tagged with Letter Z

April 6, 2022, Germany

The letter Z was painted several times on the entrance of the Russian Orthodox Church in Strasbourg on April 6th. This letter is a symbol that has been associated with the Russian Army and the attack was obviously hateful. A complaint has been filed and the parish commented: "We mourn what is happening and wish a quick return of peace to Ukrainian land."

Russian Troops Commit Sacrilege at Chernihiv Cemetery in Ukraine

April 5, 2022, Ukraine

Russian troops vandalised a large cemetery near Mariupol on March 4th by repeatedly driving over crosses and tombstones with tanks. The necropolis is one of the largest in Europe and those who witnessed the event called it sacrilege. The cemetery was entirely destroyed in this unnecessary, sacrilegious, and inhumane destruction.

Statue of Madonna of Fatima Stolen from Cerreto Guidi Church

April 5, 2022, Italy

A meter-high painted wooden statue of the Madonna of Fatima, along with a small crucifix, was stolen from the Church of the Company in Cerreto Guidi. The sacrilegious theft happened Tuesday, April 7th and greatly upset the people of the town. The statue was of "great emotional value" to the town said archpriest, Father Alessandro Locatelli, and "the Christian people of Cerreto have been deprived of a dear image." The incident was reported to the local police station.

Theft of Religious Objects in Rouillé Church

April 2, 2022, France

It was only noticed on April 2nd that objects of worship had been stolen from the church in Rouillé, Vienne. The last event there was on March 19th so the theft of ciboriums, chalices, and patens, which had all been locked in the sacristy, could have happened any time. This was one of many similar thefts that have recently happened in the area so churches are considering options to prevent such acts in the future.

Stones Thrown at Image of Christ in Via Merlo

March 31, 2022, Italy

Stones were thrown at a picture of Christ in Via Merlo in what could only be described as a hateful act. The incident happened on March 31st and resulted in the glass that was covering the picture getting broken. The vandals also stole candles and flowers and left inscriptions around the sight.

Religious Paintings Stolen in Marian San Nicola Church

March 31, 2022, Italy

Two religious paintings and tens of euros were stolen from the Santissima Annunziata church in Marian San Nicola on March 31st. The money was from the offertory which got damaged during the theft. Don Saji, the parish priest, reported the incident to the carabinieri who were investigating it.

Sacred Objects Stolen from Gleschendorf Church

March 30, 2022, Germany

During the night on March 30th, the Gleschendorf Church was robbed by unknown persons. The perpetrators stole valuable communion objects including a 300 year old baptismal bowl. This unfortunate event demonstrated a disrespect for the church and its proceedings.

Sacred Relic Stolen from Church in Brianza

March 30, 2022, Italy

On the 30th of April, an antique silver cross was stolen from a church in Barlassina. The cross, which was kept in a small box that was forced open, was of little monetary value which makes the theft particularly sacrilegious. Investigations were underway to find out who committed the theft.

59 Religious Buildings, Mostly Orthodox, have been Damaged by Russian Military

March 28, 2022, Ukraine

Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 21st, 59 religious buildings have been badly damaged by Russian attacks in 8 different regions. The Ministry of Information Policy and Culture of Ukraine reported that most of these building had been Orthodox Churches while others were synagogues, mosques, and religious education institutions. The Kremlin claims to "protect Orthodoxy" but these statistics tell a different story.