All cases
Profanation of a Church in Czestochowa
February 24, 2015, PolandUnknown assailants vandalised the church of the Mystery of the Resurrection in Emmaus in Czestochowa. The perpetrators drew satanic signs on the facade of the church.
Christian Graves Desecrated in Matoury (French Guiana)
February 19, 2015, FranceSeveral graves in the cemetery of Matoury, French Guiana (15 km from Cayenne) were intentionally vandalized.
A Statue of the Virgin Mary Desecrated in Châtel
February 19, 2015, FranceUnknown perpetrators have committed various degradations and profanations in the main town of the resort of Châtel in Haute-Savoie. The statue of Our Lady of Skieurs in front of the church was the main target for the vandals.
Dozens of Christian Graves Vandalized in Calvados
February 17, 2015, FranceChristian symbols on graves were vandalized in the cemetery of the town of Tracy-sur-Mer in Calvados. Unknown perpetrators vandalized dozens of crucifixes and displaced them. The Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve expressed his outrage and promised that "every effort will be made to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of these outrageous acts that violate our values and respect that seals our community".
Church in Delémont Soiled by Offensive Graffiti
February 17, 2015, SwitzerlandInside and outside the Catholic church of Saint-Marcel Delémont was vandalised by offensive graffiti. The perpetrators are suspected to have been anarchists or leftists.
St. John the Baptist Church in Lecce Vandalized With Offensive Graffiti
February 16, 2015, ItalyThe church of Saint John the Baptist in Lecce was vandalized. A statue of the Virgin Mary was spray painted in red and graffiti saying "God is a transgender" and that "Priests are pedophiles" was painted. Other graffiti clarified that the reason for the attack was the pro-family conference organized the previous week by organizations "Se alla famiglia" and "Alleanza Cattolica". Offending graffiti also attacked a judge and former deputy Minister Alfredo Mantovano, who spoke at the pro-family event.
Statues in Church in Friedrichshafen Severely Vandalized
February 16, 2015, GermanyA church was vandalized and desecrated in Friedrichshafen in Baden-Württemberg. The Catholic community of the parish of St. Peter Canisius of the diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart was very much in shock.
After Numerous Acts of Vandalism Bishop Orders Removal of the Eucharist
February 10, 2015, FranceIn a response to the repeated, severe acts of vandalism which have taken place in ten French parishes during the last few weeks, the bishop of Bellay-Ars ordered that the Eucharist should be removed from all parishes and chapels of his diocese.
Series of Desecration and Thefts at Churches
February 8, 2015, FranceFive French churches were the victims of theft, vandalism and desecration within three days at the hands of unknown perpetrators.
Graves Devastated in Severan
February 7, 2015, FranceAccording to the local sources, twenty graves were vandalized in the downtown cemetery of Severan. The unknown perpetrators were exceptionally brutal toward Christian symbols that adorned the graves. Police is investigating.
Arson of Protestant Church in Plauen / Saxony
February 5, 2015, GermanyIn Stockheim (in the diocese of Augsburg) an arson attack took place in Protestant St. Michael's church. The fire was discovered by the sexton of the church who together with his wife managed to extinguish the fire in the altar area. Despite their efforts, according to the police report, the fire spread to the rest of the church. The couple was taken to the hospital for the observation. According to a police report, there is evidence of intentional vandalism, even though religious motivation has not yet been publicly confirmed.
Devastation of St. John's Church in Plauen / Saxony
January 21, 2015, GermanyThe interior of the Protestant Church of St. John's in Plauen (Saxony) was vandalized with fire extinguisher powder. The total damages are estimated at 10,000 euros.
Vandalism in Miesenbacher Chapel in Ruhpolding
January 12, 2015, GermanyThe Daily "Traunsteiner Tagblatt“ of Bavaria reported on January 12, 2015, an incident of vandalism in the Miesenbacher Kapelle in Ruhpolding (Chiemgau). Vandals threw blessed liturgical candles around and hit a statue of the Virgin Mary with a statue of the baby Jesus, breaking the hands of the Jesus figure.
Desecration of Tabernacle in Chapel in Barbizon
January 10, 2015, FranceAn incident of desecration took place in the chapel of Barbizon, near Fontainebleau. Vandals broke open the door of the tabernacle, which is the place where the consecrated wine and host are kept. Both religious items, which carry significant meaning for Catholics, were thrown on the ground. Nothing was stolen.
Profanation and Devastation of Statue of Mary in Perugia
January 9, 2015, ItalyA statue of the Virgin Mary was vandalized by a group of North-African immigrants with a Muslim background, according to locals. The parish priest of St. Barnaba, Fr. Alessandro Scarda, recounted: “They broke the statue in two pieces, and they then kicked it as if it was a ball. Afterward, they urinated onto the pieces.” The people of the parish gathered the remains of the statue, cleaned and glued them. The small statue was put back at its original location. The parishioners have gathered to pray at the statue after the vandalism. The police are investigating to confirm the identity and the background of the perpetrators. Muslim organizations and public figures have condemned the act.
Desecration and Theft of the Church Notre-Dame-des-Marais in Montluel
January 8, 2015, FranceUnknown perpetrators profanated a tabernacle. A chalice and consecrated hosts were stolen. Police was notified about the devastation, but the perpetrators remain unknown. The following Sunday morning Mass in the church had to be moved to the neighboring town of Dagneux. The Notre-Dame-des-Marais church had to be closed for five days.
Muslim Devastated the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cles/Trento
January 3, 2015, ItalyWhile entering the church, a Moroccan-origin Muslim was yelling in Arabic phrases from the Koran. Then he destroyed five religious statues and other religious objects in the church causing severe damage. Eventually, the 67 years old male was arrested by the Police and is now facing criminal charges.
Lifesize Calvary Scene Statues Overthrown in Cabourg
January 1, 2015, FranceLifesize statues of a calvary scene behind a church in Cabourg (Calvados) were vandalized in the night between December 31, 2014 and January 1, 2015. The statues of Mary and St. John were over thrown and found lying on the ground. The statues had been recently renovated.
Topless Protester Lifts Baby Jesus From Vatican Nativity Scene
December 25, 2014, InternationalA woman of the activist group Femen disrupted the nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. The topless woman had ‘God is a Woman’ written on her torso. She stole a figurine of baby Jesus which had been unveiled by the pope the day before. The woman rushed to the manger in the center of the square, grabbed the Jesus figurine, and raised it above her head while shouting slogans against the Catholic Church. Police intervened.
Devastation of the Nativity Scene in Pecq
December 25, 2014, FranceThe Nativity Scene at the parish church of St. Wandrille in Pecq was severely vandalized by unknown perpetrators. The Holy Family and the cradle were stolen.
Church in Aisne Vandalized and Desecrated
December 25, 2014, FranceThe Church of St. Hilary of Berry-au-Bac in Aisne was devastated by vandals. The perpetrators have not only stolen valuable things, but also vandalized, defiled and profaned holy items of the church, including the church's tabernacles. The vandals remain unknown.
Image of Virgin Mary Burnt in Cordoba
December 4, 2014, SpainThe image of Virgin Mary was completely destroyed by a fire in the chapel of San Sebastian Hospital in Palma del Rio. Evidence suggests that the fire was intentionally caused by arsonist, because nothing else got burnt. However, the mayor reminded people that it may have been the result of an unfortunate accident due to wiring. Many local faithful could not stop tears, because the image, an object of faithful adoration, was one of the oldest in Palma del Rio.
Femen Vandalizes a Madrid Cemetery
November 20, 2014, SpainThe cementry of the Martyrs of Paracuellos del Jarama was vandalized by Spanish group Femen which is famous for physical and verbal agression against Christians. Activists carried signs such as "STOP20N” (the expression for not celebrating the date of death of famous Spanish dictator Francisco Franco and supporting his rule). They also wore slogans "No celebrate fascism” and "Stop fascism canonizing” on their bare torsos. People declared Femen's protest as act of an desecration of the sacred place. http://infocatolica.com/?t=noticia&cod=22550&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=NoticasTw&utm_source=infocatolicatw
Islamist Graffiti on a Monastery in Kosovo
October 13, 2014, KosovoA graffiti in support of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the Albanian National Army (AKSh) appeared on the gate of monastery Visoki Decani in Kosovo on 13th October early in the morning. Another such graffiti were found on some of the buildings inside the compound of the medieval monastery protected by UNESCO.
Arson Attack on the Coptic Orthodox Church in Lichtenberg, Berlin
October 6, 2014, GermanyIn the early morning, unknown men pushed and lit a garbage can in front of the entrance of the Church of St. Anthony in Lichtenberg in Berlin. The fire spread to the oak door of the church. Fortunately, firefighters could prevent the fire from spreading. Nevertheless, the entrance area of the church had been badly damaged.
Church Set on Fire in Berlin
October 4, 2014, GermanyA Coptic church in Berlin was set on fire by yet unknown perpetrators in the early morning hours of October 4th. A dustbin was moved to the main door of the church and set on fire. The fire spread from the dustbin to the historical wooden door which was seriously damaged
Pharmacy in Neukölln Vandalized for Refusal to Sell “Morning-After-Pill”
September 26, 2014, GermanyIn the night from 25th to 26th September a pharmacy in Neukölln was vandalized because of the owner’s refusal to sell the morning after pill. Pharmacist Andreas Kersten refers to reasons of his conscience. The show window and the entrance room were painted all over by red color, the damage amounts to more than 500 Euro.
Attack at a Church in Berlin and at Christians Assembled in March for Life
September 19, 2014, GermanyA church in Berlin was seriously damaged because it offered its premises for abortion opponents. Also the Christians peacefully assembled at the so called “March for life” – a pro life manifestation in Berlin became targets of variety of attacks. Several German politicians criticized the event and described attending Christians as "religious fundamentalists".
Devastation And Profanation of the Church of the Ascension
September 14, 2014, GreeceUnknown vandals broke into the church of the Ascension on the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and devastated it. They destroyed Christian symbols and icons and left the inscription „Eat shit, it’s a treat from Zeus“ on the altar. This shocked local faithful, priests from the church and the couple who saw the incident. Locals appealed to the police to catch the perpetrators.
Devastation of the Church Of Saints Helen And Konstantin in Nafplio
September 14, 2014, GreeceUnknown vandals broke into the church of Saints Helen and Konstantin in Nafplio and totally devastated the sacristy and the courtyard. They damaged stairs and walls of the building and soiled the backyard. Priests appealed to the police to identify the peretrators and asked people to help them.
Vandalism and Death Threats at Church in Leoben
September 2, 2014, AustriaThe Stadtpfarrkirche, the main city parish church, of Leoben was vandalised and damaged in the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 2nd. The perpetrators ripped apart paintings, and destroyed crosses and candle holders. The altar was displaced despites its heavy weight, and on the altar cross the writing „death to priests“ was smeared. The parish priest was also personally threatened with the smeared words „Priest go home, otherwise we will burn down your church.“ A woman was identified a few days later who claims that voices told her to vandalize the church.
Vandalism of a Statue of Christ in Krems
August 29, 2014, AustriaAn unidentified vandal destroyed a Calvary statue of Christ on the Mount of Olives of 200 kg weight in the Piaristen church in Krems. The damage amounts to 5.000 Euro. A similar act of vandalism took place 9 years ago, when a vandal was caught and condemned by court.
Church in Liege Repeatedly Vandalized
August 26, 2014, BelgiumThe Saint-Pierre Church of the Province and the Diocese of Liege in Belgium was vandalized again. Stones were thrown through the windows of the church breaking ten of them. A trunk with candle offerings was also broken again.
St-Pierre Church in Liege Vandalized Again
August 26, 2014, BelgiumSaint-Pierre Church of the province and the Diocese of Liege in Belgium was vandalized once more. Stones were thrown into the windows of the church and ten of them have been broken. Beside, a trunk with candle offerings was broken into.
Theft of Consecrated Hosts at a Pilgrims’ Hostel in La Roche-sur-Foron
August 17, 2014, FranceThe renowned Christian pilgrims’ hostel Benite-Fontaine in La Roche-sur-Foron in France was burglarized during the night from 16th to 17th August 2014. Bottles of communion wine were drunk and the consecrated hosts were stolen from the tabernacle.
Vandalism against Sisters of the Lamb in Béthune
August 9, 2014, FranceOn Saturday, 9th August 2014, nuns of the Dominican Congregation the Sisters of the Lamb discovered that a caravan located in their premises that had been provided by a donor for various projects had been seriously vandalised. All of their tools were scattered on the floor, boxes of nails were overturned, there were several holes drilled in the roof, cabinets were ransacked etc. Books were piled under a bush indicating that the vandals were about to set a fire. Inscriptions on the door (their handwriting) give evidence that the vandals were probably young people.
Devastation of the Chapel of Saint Andrew in Kimolos
August 1, 2014, GreeceUnknown vandals broke into the chapel of Saint Andrew in Kimolos, destroyed Christain symbols and icons and totally damaged the altar of the place.
Burglary And Robbery In The Chapel Of Saint Theodore in Tripoli
July 31, 2014, GreeceUnknown vandals broke into the chapel of Saint Theodore in Tripoli and damaged it. Additionally, they stole objects from the altar such as a baptismal font.
(/Northern Ireland) Arson Attack on a Church in North Belfast
July 20, 2014, United KingdomThe Catholic church in Newtownabbey has been a target of several hate crimes already. On July 20th, it was an arson attack. The wooden doors of the church were damaged by flammable liquid.
Vandalism of Church in Trebes in Languedoc-Roussillon
July 2, 2014, FranceWhen the sacristan wanted to close the doors of the curch in Saint-Etienne in Trebes, he had the unpleasant surprise to find candles cut into pieces and scattered inside the ecclesia. Other candels were used to burn documents of the church office in the baptismal font. This was not the first time Saint-Etienne had been vandalized.
Vandalism and Theft in Saint Michael's Church in Leuven
July 1, 2014, BelgiumA Portuguese student destroyed and damaged the interior equipment, among these were counters with leaflets, candles, and he also has thrown two stones at the images of Peter and Paul who were placed in front of the main altar. He also stole money from the poor box. An eye witness called the police but the young man was able to run away.
Vandalism at St. Oswald Church in Traunstein
June 16, 2014, GermanyAn unknown person vandalised the church where Pope emeritus Benedict XVI celebrated his first mass as a Catholic priest in Traunstein, Germany. The perpetrator destroyed a statue of an angel and took off pieces of the altar. An arm and a foot of the corpus of the crucifix on the tabernacle were also broken off. The motivation of this attack is unknown. The motivation of this attack is unknown.
Vandalism at St. Clement Church in Nantes
June 14, 2014, FranceOn 14th June 2014, anonymous vandalists spraypainted the portal of St. Clement inscription: "Help thy neighbor?"
Defamation of and Threat against a Christian Pub in Paris by LGBT Person
June 4, 2014, FranceDefamations and threats were sprayed on a Christian pub in Paris saying: “Today tags, tomorrow bombs” or “Death to holy fuckers”. The claims were signed with LGBT.
Devastation Of Christian Symbols In a Church in Aigion
June 3, 2014, GreeceAn unknown vandal attacked a church in Aigion and destroyed the miraculous icon of Mother of God. Before the act, he asked prayers to leave him alone with the icon and explained he need to pray in peace. While he was alone, he devastated an image with stones, probably hidden in his pocket. This behaviour shocked local faithful and priests.
Notre Dame in Fribourg Vandalized by Minors
May 22, 2014, SwitzerlandTwo adolescents at the age of 14 and 15 were caught vandalising a Catholic church. They broke the paschal candle, pulled of one station of the cross, painted on the wall a leaf of cannabis and threw cigarette butts and papers around the altar.
St. George and Catharine Church Vandalised in Traunstein
May 20, 2014, GermanyAn unknown person attacked the St. Georg and Catharine Church in Traunstein, Germany. The invader broke a holy water vessel off the wall with a large stone. The motivation for the attack is unknown.
Arson in the Catholic School St. Mary Weg Riquet in Aubagne
May 20, 2014, FranceA fire broke out in a class room during the night of May 20th destroying four classrooms. The Police found out that many fires were set. The attacker is unknown. The St. Mary Weg Riquet School remained closed on the day after.
Basilica of St. Nicolas in Nantes Vandalized Again
May 13, 2014, FranceThe Basilica of St. Nicolas in Nantes was again victim of vandalism. The perpetrators wrote on the door satanic and anti-Christian motives. In March obscene graffiti was painted on the same building.
Attempted Arson and Vandalism at Notre-Dame de la Plaine in Billere
May 11, 2014, FranceOn March 11th the church Notre-Dame de la Plaine in Billère in Southwestern France was vandalised: The diocese of Bayonne, Lescar and Oloron said that „one or more persons burned the altar shrine and the cross in the sanctuary“. The police confirmed the vandalism and found some feces. The parish priest has filed a complaint and a police investigation is underway.
Bascilia of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse vandalised
May 10, 2014, FranceThe Basilica of St. Sernin was graffitied during the night by a group called G2M. The perpetrators sprayed on one of the portals on the court and on the wall of the Basilica. The CREW G2M is already known in Toulouse since 2010. The Basilica was also sprayed in March.
Arson Attack on Church in Vorarlberg
May 4, 2014, AustriaUnknown offenders started a fire at the entrance of the church in Vorarlberg. At 1:20 am people walking by discovered the flames and were able to extinguish the fire, but the two 52 year-old women had to be brought to the hospital as a precautionary measure. There were suspected injuries of smoke inhalation, however, they were soon discharged.
Karlskirche Vandalised in Vienna
May 4, 2014, AustriaDuring the night from Friday to Saturday unknown perpetrators vandalised the world famous Karlskirche in Vienna’s fourth district. The perpetrators threw several bags of paint on the stonework and some statues in front of the church. Also the words „on repression follows resistance“ were smeared on the walls. The police suspect several perpetrators. The incident was noticed Saturday morning. The damage is severe.
Church of Saint-Michel Vandalised in Locmiquélic (Bretagne)
April 30, 2014, FranceOn the 30th of April, in the afternoon, the church of Saint-Michel in Locmiquélic was once again the victim of vandalism. The candles were broken into several pieces and a hymnal was ripped apart. It was reported that adolescents were identified as having committed the crime.
Memorial of John Paul II Vandalised in Krakow
April 24, 2014, PolandThe monument to John Paul II in Krakow was graffitied with a star of David during the week before the Sunday canonisation of the late pope. The police set up a perimeter while the monument was being cleaned, but rest silent as to the origin of this act of vandalism.
Church in Villers-Cotterêts Robbed
April 21, 2014, FranceOn returning from the Easter Vigil, the local priest in Villers-Cotterêts discovered that someone had forced entry into the church. The sacristy was in disarray, and the poor box had been robbed. This box had already been padlocked because of an earlier theft, but the thief still managed to break in, leaving damages amounting to 80 euros. The box had been recently emptied.
Insulting and Blasphemous Graffiti Near Entrance to the Chapel of Locmaria
April 20, 2014, FranceNear the entrance to the chapel of Locmaria, which is part of the parish of Carnac, sometime during the night of Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday, graffiti was painted on a public signpost. This graffiti made blasphemous and insulting comments that made reference to Catholic fascists and a homosexual Jesus. The rector, Father Jérôme Sécher, filed a complaint with the local authorities.
Church Vandalised in Region of Neuchâtel
April 18, 2014, SwitzerlandA church in Chaux-de-Fonds in the region of Neuchâtel was vandalised during the night by a man who damaged the organ, destroyed the Easter decorations, and ripped out the speakers. The perpetrator appears to have been mentally unstable and was later escorted to a psychiatric hospital. The church intends to keep its opening hours in spite of the event.
Chapel Saint-François in Rennes Vandalised
April 9, 2014, FranceUnidentified people broke into the Chapel of Saint- François in Rennes on April 9th breaking open the door to the sacristy. They left lying on the floor the vestments, liturgical linens, and other sacred objects. The perpetrator(s) emptied the poor boxes, but most importantly, the tabernacle was opened and the ciborium tampered with.
Children Vandalized a Saint-Laurent de Rozoy-sur-Serre Church
April 9, 2014, FranceThree children at the age between 7 and 11 vandalized the church of Saint-Laurent de Rozoy-sur-Serre in France. They turned the seats of the church, threw objects on the altar and the prayer books scattered on the floor. The police was able to catch them because of the traces of their shoes.
Insulting Graffiti at the Vatican on Right Side of Bernini’s Colonnade
April 5, 2014, ItalyBernini’s Colonnade, which had been restored in preparation for the canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, was found to have graffiti on the right side with the words, in poor English, “Catalic is Hitler.” Implying that a Catholic is like Hitler.
Religious Statues Broken in the District of Linz-Land
April 3, 2014, AustriaTwo saint statues were damaged between Friday, March 28th and Thursday, April 3rd. The statues had been located in a niche in front of the church of Hofkirchen im Traunkreis in the district of Linz-Land. The amount of damages was not officially known. The police have undertaken an investigation and are requesting leads in order to find the culprit(s).
Catholic Church in Târgu Mureş Targeted for Graffiti
April 2, 2014, RomaniaA Catholic church in Târgu Mureş, Romania, was found with the graffitied image of a swastika cross and suspicions lie with the extremist organisation called Noua Dreaptă (New Right).
Church in Havré Vandalised
April 1, 2014, BelgiumSt. Martin’s Church in Havré became again the victim of vandals who destroyed some of the area around the entrance, tearing off some slate from above the door.
Catholic Private School Graffitied in Périgueux
March 31, 2014, FranceThe Catholic private school Saint-Jean de Périgueux was graffitied with the phrase, “Quand je serai grande, je serai gouine” which means, “When I grow up, I’m going to be a dyke” (a crude way of saying lesbian).
Church in Mayenne Robbed of Hosts
March 31, 2014, FranceThe Church of Saint Peter in the community of Bouchamps-lès-Craon in Mayenne was robbed of its ciborium and the Eucharistic hosts inside. The police arrived on scene on Sunday, the 6th of April, and the bishop of Angers intends to celebrate a mass of reparation.
Four Churches in Vienna Heavily Vandalised
March 29, 2014, AustriaOn Saturday, March 29th, St. Stephen’s cathedral, the parish church of Breitenfeld (Josefstadt), the parish church of Neuottakring (Ottakring) as well as the Lazaristenkirche (Neubau) were vandalised. The spokesperson of the diocese said the attacks have never before been so hard.
Church of Sacré-Cœur in Lourdes Attacked
March 27, 2014, France“Robbers” entered the Church of Sacré-Cœur in Lourdes sometime during the night of March 27-28, 2014 and broke open the poor boxes. More importantly, they broke open the tabernacle and stole the ciborium with the consecrated hosts that it contained. The parish priest responded by organising a prayer session.
Man Apprehended for Fifteen Acts of Vandalism in Morbihan
March 25, 2014, FranceA series of vandalisms in the region of Morbihan has finally been explained with the arrest of a 34-year-old man who admits to fifteen acts of vandalism since June 2013 including the destruction of religious symbols and several attempts at burning a chapel. He was identified by his DNA and now awaits trial, although, there is some question of his mental balance; apparently he spent some time in a psychiatric hospital.
Cemetery Desecrated in Trémuson
March 24, 2014, FranceA local resident saw two men desecrating tombs in the Trémuson graveyard. When the police arrived on scene, they affirmed that flower pots had been moved around and funeral objects broken. The two 27-year-olds were later apprehended and will face a tribunal.
Christian Demonstrations Violently Attacked by Left Wing Radicals in Baden-Württemberg and Cologne
March 23, 2014, GermanyA new governmental sex ed curriculum of Baden-Württemberg has caused outrage among Christian parents. Several manifestions suffered serious attacks by left wing activists which were later identified as LGBT activists. Eyewitnesses reported in shock to the Observatory.
Tabernacles in Churches Pouancé and Bouchamp-lès-Craon Robbed of Hosts
March 23, 2014, FranceAt the end of March and the beginning of April, two churches were vandalised in France and the consecrated hosts were robbed from the tabernacle. One was the church in Pouancé and the other that in Bouchamp-lès-Craon.
Perpetrators Urinate in Holy Water Vessels in Two Churches in Memmingen
March 22, 2014, GermanyUnknown perpetrators urinated into the holy water vessel in the Assumption church and in the St. Josef’s church in Memmingen on Saturday, March 22. They also meddled with different objects in both churches.
Sacré-Cœur in Paris Again Victim of Vandalsim
March 22, 2014, FranceThe Sacré-Cœur basilica in Paris, after having been marked with graffiti indicating anarchist origins, was again found graffitied within a few days of the previous vandalism.
Montmartre Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in Paris Graffitied
March 18, 2014, FranceThe forecourt and pillars of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in Paris were found graffitied with phrases such as “Fire to the chapels,” “Neither God, nor master,” “Fuck tourism,” and “Down with all the authorities.” The last, along with the phrase “Solidarity Monica and Francisco,” could be an indication that the vandalism was committed by an anarchist group. Monica Caballero and Francisco Solar were two militants imprisoned in Spain after the attempted bombing on the Spanish basilica of El Pilar.
St. Peter’s Church in Pléhédel Vandalised
March 16, 2014, FranceA church in Pléhédel, Brittany, was vandalised on Sunday, March 16th. The candles were smashed into the carpet and fire damaged the carpet and the cloth tabernacle altar covering as well as the steps leading up to the altar. It is reported that some youths were spotted at the time.
Church in Brie-Comte-Robert Robbed of Consecrated Hosts
March 11, 2014, FranceUpon arriving at the church on a Monday morning, one of the priests in charge of serving the parish of Saint-Étienne discovered that the door to the chapel was open and the tabernacle had been robbed. The hosts that had been stolen were consecrated ones, considered by Catholics to be sacred. The tabernacle was the only thing robbed. Police rapidly intervened and dusted the area for fingerprints. The community reacted in a spiritual way, organising a prayer session.
Graffiti on Church of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse
March 11, 2014, FranceAnticlerical graffiti was found on the church of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse. One of the inscriptions read “Fuck the Church.”
Obscene Graffiti on the Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Nantes
March 9, 2014, FranceObscene graffiti was found on the church of Saint-Nicolas in Nantes, France. The graffiti, located near the entrance of the church, said “Jesus Fucked.” The media was silent on this subject.
Desacration and Devastation Of The Holy Icons in Pogoni, North Epirus
March 1, 2014, GreeceUnknown vandals broke into the Chapel of the Mother of God in Pogoni of North Epirus and devastated and burned Holy Icons and other objects. The act shocked local faithful and priests.
Church in Rennes Target of Shaving Cream Graffiti
February 27, 2014, FranceThe church of Saint-Germain in Rennes was the target of vandals who “painted” the words “Raser l’Eglise” with shaving cream onto the exterior wall of the church. The translation of these words is either “Shave the church” or, alternately, “Demolish the church”. The same church had been the victim of vandalism at the beginning of January when its Nativity scene was burned.
Cross Desecrated in Rennes
February 24, 2014, FranceA large cement monument of a cross was covered in graffiti during a left wing “Antifa” event on 8 February. It remained covered in graffiti for weeks despite services clearing up the city in preparation for another event. It seems that desecrated religious buildings and sites do not enjoy the same respect as other parts of the city.
Vandalism and Bulglary in Churches in Crete
February 23, 2014, GreeceThe churches of Saint Spyridon and Saint Paraskevi were profanated and devastated by unknown vandals. There was also an attempt to burn Christian symbols and object on the altar. Local faithful and priests were shocked and terrified.
Desecration of the Chapel of the Olympic Village in Grenoble
February 21, 2014, FranceIn the morning when a faithful arrived to prepare the religious services, he found damages to the chapel of the Olympic Village. Furthermore, the ciborium containing the consecrated hosts had been stolen. The intention of the perpetrator is not known.
Tabernacle in French Alsace Target of Break-in
February 19, 2014, FranceA chapel in the French city of Mulhouse was broken into, and it appears that the tabernacle was the intended target. Nothing was vandalised, but the lock on the tabernacle shows signs of an attempt to open it. The perpetrators did not succeed, however, the lock is now broken and must be replaced.
Fire in Church of Sainte-Marie in Le Boulou
February 18, 2014, FranceA fire broke out around 10 am in the church of Sainte-Marie Le Boulou. A large figure of Christ which was made of wood and plaster and installed in the entrance of the church caught on fire and was burning for hours. The fire department and police are investigating.
Church Statue Vandalised in Beaumont-du-Périgord
February 8, 2014, FranceTwo cleaning ladies arrived at the church Sainte-Marie Bastide in Beaumont-du-Périgord, Dordogne, and were shocked to find the statue of Joan of Arc had been vandalised. The base of the statue which was about two meters high had been broken and the statue knocked over.
Church Vandalised for the Third Time in January
January 29, 2014, FranceThe church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Montceau-les-Mines, France, was vandalised for the third time this month. Dozens of candles were broken and the crib was taken. Clay pots and trees and other items were broken and crushed.
Desecration and Vandalism of Church in Charleville-Mézières
January 29, 2014, FranceDozens of candles were burned and destroyed, three chairs were broken and urine left by vandals in the church of Saint-Remi in Charleville-Mézières. Cans of beer were also left on the floor, curses were written on the guestbook. Obscene drawings were scribbled into the book of prayers.
Serious Desecration of Church in Baden-Württemberg
January 27, 2014, GermanyOn the night of January 27th, a unknown perpetrator broke into the Catholic church, Saint Georges which is located in a district of the city of Freiburg in Breisgau. Using a hammer the perpetrator vandalised the church causing damaged which estimates more than 12,000 euro. The tabernacle was also vandalised and the chalice and consecrated hosts stolen.
Chapel Vandalised in Schlierbach, Alsace
January 24, 2014, FranceVandals attacked the Chapel of Our Lady of the Valley of Tears in Schlierbach and damaged the polygonal roof of the small sanctuary. They ripped off and stole copper plates and other pieces of metal.
Church in Haute-Saône Targeted by Vandalism
January 17, 2014, FranceThe Notre-Dame-du-Haut in Haute-Saône, was damaged by vandals who broke a painted window into thousands of pieces. They also damaged the inside of the chapel.
Vandalism at Church of St. Francis in Prato
January 17, 2014, ItalyVandals destroyed a marble font in the courtyard and targeted the Cathedral, where they tried to destroy the century pulpit which is located to the left of the main altar as well as the church of San Pier Fiorelli where a statue depicting St. Joseph was destroyed.
Church in Historic District of Prato in Tuscany Vandalised
January 17, 2014, ItalyA stranger entered the San Pietro church in Prato, Tuscany, and broke a basin and tried unsuccessfully to break another one before fleeing.
Cemetery Desecrated in Bavaria
January 15, 2014, GermanyA cemetery in the district of Pölting in the city of Neumarkt was desecrated. Crosses of several graves were pulled up and put back in upside down. Police suspect that this was done by young Satanists.
Church Vandalised in Gensac
January 14, 2014, FranceThe windows of the church of Our Lady in Gensac, France, were reported to have been vandalised.
Church of Saint-Georges in French Guyane Repeatedly Desecrated and Vandalised
January 14, 2014, FranceIntruders entered the church of Saint-Georges through a window. They pulled down and destroyed a large statue of Christ on the cross and stole two electric fans. When the sisters came for Mass in the morning they were shocked at what they found. This is the second time this month that the church has been the victim of vandalism.
"Anonymous" Hacks Website of Archdiocese of Granada
January 13, 2014, SpainInternet activists "Anonymous,” known for protests against corruption, censorship and undermining the Catholic values, hacked the website of the Archdiocese of Granada.
Theft and Vandalism in Church in Palaia
January 12, 2014, ItalyThe parish church of Villa Saletta in Palaia was devastated by vandals who stole alms and damaged consecrated hosts. They also stole a fold chain that hung around the alter of Our Lady and a chalice from the tabernacle.
Deliberate Arson of a Chapel
January 10, 2014, FranceThe chapel of Aibre, France was found on fire. Police were called to the scene but the doors had already been damaged by the fire. They investigated and found bits of wood used to start the fire as well as remains of a product used to spread the fire more quickly.