All cases

Filtered by: Vandalism (form of hate crime)

Theft and Desecration in Bazas’ Cathedral

October 9, 2010, France

An unknown number of burglars entered the cathedral, broke-opened the tabernacle and took a 1930 monstrance of brass and wood. They also broke several stained windows. For Father Arnaud, the parish priest, “this attacks the very essence of our faith.” He experienced this burglary as “a sacrilege and a desecration,” he said.

Vandalism in Austrian Church Building

September 29, 2010, Austria

Repeated vandalism including defecation committed by youth in church building in Upper Austria.

Chapel Desecrated in Bastia, Corsica

September 26, 2010, France

The chapel of the crypt of Notre-Dame de Lourdes, in Bastia, was attacked most likely on Monday, September 27th. The altar was sprayed with urine and statues of the Virgin were plunged into a water vase, head down.

20 Graves Damaged in Frontenay-Rohan-Rohan

September 21, 2010, France

About twenty graves were desecrated, tombstones and memorial plaques scattered in the Catholic cemetery of Frontenay-Rohan-Rohan.

Church Vandalised in Juniville

August 26, 2010, France

During the night of August 26th to 27th, the church of Juniville has been attacked and vandalised: candles were thrown on the ground, the tabernacle was broken and posters were torn and burned on the ground.

Cemetery Vandalised in Laon

August 22, 2010, France

During the night of Saturday 21st to Sunday 22nd of August, about fifty graves in the German military cemetery of Laon were vandalised. Crosses were extracted from the ground or completely broken.

Cemetery Vandalised in Hénin-Beaumont

August 8, 2010, France

Fifteen graves and a Catholic chapel have been targeted. A cross was destroyed. Among the graves vandalised, three vaults were particularly damaged. The doors of three grave buildings were broken open and their windows broken. On other graves, funerary objects such as crosses or flowers pots were broken and scattered all around the cemetery.

Church of Pouan-les-Vallées Wrecked

July 27, 2010, France

The XIIIth and XVIth century’s church of Saint-Pierre-les-Vallées in Pouan was wrecked in the night of July 26th. An employee noticed the knocked over Cross in the church’s courtyard. As he went to inspect the rest of the church, he saw the disastrous state of the church: crucifixes overturned, glass chandeliers smashed to pieces on the pavement, stations of the Cross burnt, an altar overthrown and the ogive vault overlooking the high altar very damaged.

Church Wrecked in Limoux

July 24, 2010, France

In the parish Church of Limoux, the chandeliers, the statue and the crucifix which decorated the tabernacle were overthrown and vandalized. They laid on the ground, bent or broken, when the acts were discovered. Behind the altar, the nativity scene and the chapel of the Virgin Mary were wrecked. The church is open continuously, visitors discovered the damage in the beginning of the afternoon and called the police. The police had to close the church for the afternoon but it could be reopened for a scheduled evening concert.

Church Desecrated in Echillais

July 18, 2010, France

On Monday July 21st, the sacristan of the medieval church of Echillais discovered that the church had be stained, desecrated and that the vandals had probably entered in it with there scooters.

Christian Cemetery Vandalised

May 14, 2010, France

Acts of vandalism in cemetery target Christian graves in particular.

Church Burglarised and Vandalised

May 13, 2010, Switzerland

Unidentified criminals burglarised and vandalised a Catholic church in Switzerland. The act included desecration of the Eucharist and of the Bible.

Blessed Sacrament Chapel Vandalised in Salindres

May 13, 2010, France

An unknown individual vandalized the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament of the church of Saint André de Salindres and urinated in the chapel.

Several Attacks on Churches Recorded

May 1, 2010, Germany

The renowned daily reports on a noticeable rise in quality and quantity of attacks against Church buildings.

Birth Place of Josef Ratzinger Vandalised

April 13, 2010, Germany

In the night of April 13th the birthplace of Josef Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI, was vandalised. The house in Marktl am Inn was sprayed on with "insulting contents".

Church in Nizna Village Vandalised During Easter Holiday

April 6, 2010, Slovakia

Spray-painters tagged the church in the Nižná village with rude writings and fascist signs on April 6, at the time of the most important Christian festivities. The writings were about one meter high in size and in black colour. The vandals also damaged the near-by standing monument. A similar incident had taken place during Christmas the year before.

Anti-Christian Graffiti on Church Wall

March 23, 2010, Spain

A day after a pro-life manifestation had taken place in Plaza Nueva, Seville, a graffiti was found on one of the walls of San Román Church. The graffiti displayed the phrase: "Put your rosary away from our ovaries". The church wall was cleaned on the same day after a public outcry on intolerance and vandalism.

Church Left In Ruins After Fire in Westry

March 19, 2010, United Kingdom

A 19th century Cambridgeshire church has been gutted following a massive fire, reportedly started when yobs set Bibles and prayer books alight. The horrific fire in Westry, near March, left the village church in tatters with only the external brickwork remaining.

Theft and Tabernacle Desecrated in Quimper

March 18, 2010, France

The church of Sainte Clair of Quimper was burglarized on the night of Thursday, March 18th, 2010. The tabernacle was also desecrated. Burglars broke into the church; all the furniture were forced-open, the liturgical cloths thrown to the ground and every room was carefully searched including the bell tower. But in the end, visitors left with only a CD player and a microphone.

Church Vandalised in Arras

March 16, 2010, France

The Bible was thrown to the ground, tiles were broken, benches overturned, flower pots broken in the parish church of Arras. It is not the first time damage was noted in this church. This case of vandalism deeply shocked Father Berthe, who evokes the "lack of respect while the good news of Jesus' love is a source of hope for everyone."