All cases
Relic of Pope John Paul II Stolen from Cologne Cathedral
June 5, 2016, GermanyGerman police report that unknown perpetrators stole a small piece of fabric with a drop of the Pope's blood.
Church the Victim of Two Fires in One Day
May 24, 2016, BelgiumIn Mont-Sainte-Geneviève, two fires significantly damaged an historic church. The first started in the sacristy. The fire fighters had just left the scene after managing to control that fire when another much bigger fire in the church roof was reported.
Three Incidents in Churches in the Same Region in Just Two Weeks
May 22, 2016, FranceIn a press release Father Benoît Delabre reported that on May 15th the altar in the Church of St. Madeleine-de-l'Île was set on fire in Martigues, about 800 kilometers south of Paris. On the same day, another unknown person desecrated the tabernacle which contained the consecrated hosts in the church at Jonquières in the same region. Additionally, Father Delabre himself was attacked a week later by a man he caught at the church door who appeared to be “trying to steal something.”
Evangelical Church Attacked in Manosque
May 18, 2016, FranceAn Assemblies of God church in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azurin was the victim of arson. Bibles and other books inside the church were stacked up and burnt, according to Pastor Alain Denizou.
Vandalism at Catholic School in Nantes
May 11, 2016, FranceCatholic School Notre-Dame de l’Abbaye in Nantes was vandalized twice in two weeks.
Arms of Jesus on Crucifix Statue Broken
May 3, 2016, GermanyTwice in four weeks, an unknown perpetrator broke the arms off the Jesus figure displayed above hotels along a route frequently used by walkers and cyclists.
Arson in Calais Church
March 28, 2016, FranceL’église Saint-Pierre suffered deliberate damage during the afternoon of Easter Monday: five separate fires started inside the building while it was open to the public. The abbot has filed a complaint.
Several Statues Vandalized over Ten Days in Lyon Churches
March 22, 2016, FranceOn March 22nd, several statues of St. Joseph, located in the chapel of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges and the church of Saint-Pothin, were destroyed by vandals.
Vandals Hit a Chapel in Upper Bavaria
March 19, 2016, GermanyDuring the night of March 19, unknown perpetrators entered a small chapel in Obervockling, removed a statue of the Virgin Mary, and set a plastic flower vase, small altar cloths, and some branches on fire inside the chapel.
Series of Suspicious Fires in Blois Cathedral
March 18, 2016, FranceFirefighters responded quickly to extinguish the fire, which originated with burning furniture in the Cathédrale Saint-Louis during the afternoon of March 18th.
Chapel Vandalized in Mailleroncourt-Charette
March 14, 2016, FranceA small chapel dedicated to St. Léger was the victim of vandalism and attempted theft. Unknown perpetrators broke through the iron doors and dismantled the limestone slab floor, with the apparent intent to steal the materials.
Second Church in Valence Tagged with Graffiti
March 13, 2016, FranceThe facade of the church of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Valence was tagged with anarchist slogans in black spray paint and covered with red paint. It is the second such incident over the weekend in Valence.
Valence Church Vandalized with Paint
March 12, 2016, FranceThe facade of Notre-Dame church in Valence was splashed with red paint and tagged with anarchist graffiti some time between Saturday, March 12th and Sunday, the 13th. The priest discovered the damage before Mass on Sunday.
Côte-d'Or Chapel Vandalized
March 11, 2016, FranceThe 13th century chapel of Saint-Ambroise of Busserotte-et-Montenaille, in Grancey-le-Château, was found completely ransacked.
Graffiti Attack on Barcelona Church
March 8, 2016, SpainThe parish of San Andrés de Palomar was sprayed with the words "Fuego sálvanos de la Iglesia" (Fire: save us from the Church) accompanied by an anarchist symbol.
Ljubljana Cathedral Vandalized with Graffiti
March 8, 2016, SloveniaThe words (translated from Slovenian) "Church get out of my womb" and "RCC (Roman Catholic Church) get out of our vaginas" were sprayed on the wall of the Franciscan church.
Activists Attack Church in Lérida
March 7, 2016, SpainThe youth organization Arran has taken responsibility for a graffiti attack against a church in the Catalonia region. The wall outside the church was painted lilac and the words "Contra los ataques de la Iglesia. Juntos somos más fuertes" ("Against the attacks of the the Church. Together we are stronger.")
Paint Bomb Attack at Evangelical Academy in Gießen
March 7, 2016, GermanyIn the night between March 7-8, the Freien Theologischen Hochschule (FTH) building in Gießen was hit with paint bombs. An anonymous claim of responsibility was published on a left-wing internet platform
Statue of Pope Benedict XVI Vandalized in Bavaria
March 6, 2016, GermanyDuring the night from March 5-6, unknown perpetrators sprayed the monument to Pope Benedict in front of the St. Oswald church in Traunstein with pink paint. Police are investigating.
Peaceful Protest in Stuttgart Disrupted by Counter-Demonstrators
February 28, 2016, GermanyA peaceful manifestation by 4,500 supporters of Demo für Alle against a proposed education program was disrupted by counter-demonstrators, resulting in clashes with police and 18 people injured, including 3 police.
Serbian Orthodox Church Desecrated and Looted in Kosovo
February 28, 2016, KosovoOn February 28th, Slobodan Djoric, the priest of the Church of the Dormitition of the Most Holy Mother of God in Pejčići, reported to the police that the 17th century church had been the victim of theft and vandalism.
Church in Aube Looted
February 28, 2016, FranceThe church of Saint-Martin of Dommartin-le-Coq was the victim of a burglary sometime between the 23rd and 27th of February.
Antifa Admits Attack on Demo für Alle
February 26, 2016, GermanyIn advance of a planned peaceful demonstration on February 28 in Stuttgart by Christian activists against a new school curriculum emphasizing gender ideology, the radical left group "Antifa" attacked the building owned by a financier of the buses provided for the demonstration.
Church in French Antilles the Victim of Desecration, Theft, and Vandalism
February 24, 2016, FranceDuring the night between February 23-24, burglars entered the church of Saint-Augustin in the Guadeloupe town of Saint-Claude and destroyed the tabernacle, opened the ciborium and removed the consecrated Hosts, and stole the entire sound system.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye: A Series of Profanations of Shrines in a Forest
February 17, 2016, FranceSeven small religious shrines, little boxes topped by a cross and containing statuettes of saints, have been desecrated for years.
Chapel Vandalized in Trévé
February 13, 2016, FranceThe chapel of Saint-Pierre, originally dating from the 5th century and which is being restored, was vandalized. Portions of the posts of the portico holding the roof were sawn with chainsaws. Motives are unclear, as there was no wood taken. The mayor is outraged and the police are investigating.
Longueville Cemetery Crucifixes Vandalized
February 10, 2016, FranceOn the evening of Wednesday, February 10, a municipal officer discovered 16 vandalized crucifixes in a cemetery.
Church Vandalized near Graz
February 8, 2016, AustriaOver the weekend of February 6-7, an unknown vandal left graffiti on the parish church in Kalsdorf bei Graz, in Styria. The graffiti included vague symbols and letter combinations, as well as a swastika smeared on the pillar of the church canopy.
Parish Church of Kervignac Vandalized
February 6, 2016, FranceOn February 6, 2016, the parish church of Kervignac (Diocese of Vannes) was the victim of vandalism: papers scattered on the floor, an umbrella left in pieces, candles broken, all the confessionals left wide open, flowers thrown to the ground, and the altar cloth left in rags.
Chapel Vandalized in Lyon
February 1, 2016, FranceOn February 1st, an unknown perpetrator broke into the chapel of la Famille Missionnaire de Notre-Dame à Lyon around 5:00pm and vandalized the statue of the Virgin Mary, which was found on the ground with a demolished head.
Historic Bruyères-le-Châtel Church Vandalized; Consecrated Hosts Stolen
January 31, 2016, FranceUnknown perpetrators broke a window, overturned the tabernacle, stole the ciborium containing consecrated Hosts, and sacked the sacristy. The bishop of Evry called it a "rampage." According to a parishioner, this was not the first time the church had been a victim, as graffiti had been found last year. However, this attack was much more serious. "Consecrated Hosts were stolen. For someone who doesn't believe, this probably does not matter much. For [Catholics] it is the most serious. It is the body of Christ. It is Jesus who was attacked." For the bishop of Evry, "this is a real attack against the Catholic Church. It is the symbol of the sacred that has been affected. There is a will to do harm." (Translated from French).
1,700 Year Old Orthodox Church Damaged
January 28, 2016, TurkeySt. Mary Church, a Syriac Orthodox church, was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, destroying a portion of the wall in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir.
Seville Church the Victim of Burglary
January 24, 2016, SpainThieves have stolen three silver ciboria, chalices and the contents of collection boxes from the Corpus Christi church.
Bouches-du-Rhône Church Hit with Vandalism
January 23, 2016, FranceOn the 23rd January, Deputy Mayor Marcel Galli discovered that the Sainte Marie Madeleine de Plan-de-Cuques church (of the Marseille diocese) had been smeared with tar on three facades, with many circles painted on the walls, and large lines were drawn on the ground. The large wooden doors of the entrance to the church and the sacristy, the surface of the front porch, and entrance hall were also damaged by tar.
French Crèche the Victim of Vandalism
January 17, 2016, FranceTwenty figurines in the Nativity scene installed in the church of Chamaret were beheaded.
Cantal: Church Robbed of Ciborium and Consecrated Hosts
January 15, 2016, FranceA theft occurred in the Church of Notre Dame de Quézac, sometime between Thursday, January 14th and Friday 15th. A ciborium, a gold sacred vase containing a hundred consecrated Hosts, was stolen from a tabernacle, a small wardrobe. The police have opened an investigation.
Montauban Church Vandalized
January 14, 2016, FranceSaint-Jacques church, located in the city center, was the target of vandalism by unknown perpetrators.
Theft and Vandalism at Orthodox Church in Kosovo
January 11, 2016, KosovoOn January 11, 2016, a member of the St.Demetrios Church in Sušica discovered a broken window and the theft of the trunk for offerings had been stolen. The police are investigating.
Nantes: Fire in the Basilica of Saint-Nicolas
January 10, 2016, FranceAround 4pm, a parishioner noticed two individuals at a table covered with tablecloth. They left quickly and the parishioner immediately noticed a fire had broken out on the furniture. She extinguished the fire with her shoes.
Arson and Desecration at Fontainebleau Church
January 10, 2016, FranceThe sixteenth century church Saint-Louis was entirely burnt out, images, including that of the baby Jesus, were desecrated, and the ciborium containing consecrated Hosts was stolen.
Seine-et-Marne: A Cross Vandalized in the Forest of Fontainebleau
January 10, 2016, FranceOn the same night that an arson fire swept through the church of Saint-Louis of Fontainebleau, a historic cross in the forest was toppled from its base.
Vandalism Sparked Uproar in Morigny-Champigny
January 8, 2016, FranceA Catholic church in Morigny was tagged with grafitti, just days before the Fontainebleau Church was the victim of a serious arson.
Nativity Scene in French Church Vandalized Twice
January 6, 2016, FranceOn December 30 and January 6, wax statues in the nativity scene were vandalized. These figures were more than a century old and familiar to the faithful of Sainte-Catherine parish in Le Passage-d’Agen. The abbot of Thibaud de La Serre, the parish priest, and the mayor issued a joint press release to express the town’s dismay and sorrow over the incidents.
44 Crucifixes Stolen From Cemetery in Petite-Ile
January 4, 2016, FranceOn the morning of January 4, as he opened the cemetery, a guard discovered that many crucifixes had been removed.
Another Jesus Nativity Figure Decapitated in Bergamo Region
January 3, 2016, ItalyA nativity scene in Treviglio was destroyed and the Jesus statue taken and beheaded by unknown perpetrators.
French Cathedral Tagged
January 3, 2016, FranceThe Cathedral Notre-Dame-de-l’Annonciation in Nancy was spray painted with "Spray for Paris" - a distortion of the message "Pray for Paris".
Floats for Parade of Kings Burned
January 3, 2016, SpainThe four floats that would be used in the traditional procession of the Three Kings were found burned on the Sunday before Epiphany in Arriate.
Brussels Christmas Tree Destroyed by Petrol Bomb
January 3, 2016, BelgiumYouths in Brussels yelled 'Allahu Akbar' as they set fire to a Christmas tree in a public square using a home made petrol bomb.
Attempted Arson in Evangelical Church in Crégy-lès-Meaux
January 2, 2016, FranceGasoline had been poured inside the church and a half-burnt rag was found on one of the dining chairs.
Statue of St. Joseph Decapitated; Finger of Infant Jesus Broken
January 1, 2016, ItalyPolice are investigating the destruction of Nativity statues in a creche in front of a church in Dorga in the Bergamo region.
Statue of Baby Jesus in Fibbiana Nativity Beheaded; Legs Broken
January 1, 2016, ItalyIn Piazza S. Rocco, Fibbiana not only was the statue of the infant Jesus broken, but the entire nativity was attacked with firecrackers and fireworks.
Nativity Figure of Infant Jesus "Hanged" with Noose in Pitelli
December 31, 2015, ItalyThe act was condemned by the Bishop, as well as the President, of the region of Liguria.
Statue of Hand Painted Baby Jesus Destroyed by Firecracker
December 31, 2015, ItalyIn Villa d'Almè, a group of unknown perpetrators threw a big firecracker into the hut containing the creche where the hand painted statue of the baby Jesus been placed on Christmas Eve.
Haut-Rhin Church & Creche Tagged; Infant Jesus Burned
December 31, 2015, FranceThe figure of the nearly life-size Christ child was burned in a crib display on December 31 at about 10 pm, while the faces of his parents and a wall of the adjacent Catholic church were tagged with spraypaint.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Figures Stolen from Villejuif Creche
December 28, 2015, FranceThe figure of the infant Jesus was stolen first, and the figures of his parents, Mary and Joseph were stolen the next day, along with the crib and straw.
Suspicious Burning of Nativity Display in Giraumont
December 27, 2015, FranceDuring the night between December 27th and 28th, the city's nativity display was burned and partially destroyed.
Creche Vandalized in Aix-en-Issart
December 27, 2015, FranceMayor Pierre La Fonte was awakened at 2am by the police, who reported that the creche in a public square had been vandalized.
Religious Statues Spray-Painted at Site Dedicated to the Virgin Mary
December 27, 2015, FranceSeveral religious statues, among which Jesus Christ was central, as well as a commemorative plaque and the floor were all spray painted red in a grotto altar in Libaux.
Church of Saint-Martin-sur-Ocre Tagged
December 26, 2015, FranceIn Loiret, a church was tagged with vulgar and insulting slogans ("Nique Jesus"), as well as "Allahu Akbar" during the night of December 26-27th.
Statue of Jesus Destroyed on St. Stephen's Day
December 26, 2015, ItalyIn Albino, on December 26, 2015, the crib outside the parish church of San Giuliano containing the statue of the infant Jesus was targeted.
Fire Completely Destroys City Manger Scene
December 25, 2015, SpainThe manger scene in the municipality of Villa del Prado (Madrid) was completely destroyed by a fire on December 25th at 4am.
Two of Thirteen Creche Installations Burned in Masevaux
December 24, 2015, FranceThe first creche was damaged by fire on the night of December 22nd and the second, including the ornaments and figures, was completely destroyed by fire on December 24th.
Public Nativity Scene Attacked by Vandals in Pamplona
December 24, 2015, SpainOn December 24th, the morning of Christmas Eve, vandals toppled and damaged figures in the enormous nativity scene, which is installed every year in a public park.
Tabernacle Vandalized in French Church
December 18, 2015, FranceFather Louis Villoutreys reported on Twitter that a tabernacle in l’église Saint-Vincent in Naintré was vandalized by unknown perpetrators.
National Association of Assyrians in Sweden Victim of Arson
December 16, 2015, SwedenThe association's headquarters in the city of Södertälje was completely destroyed during the night between the 16th to 17th of December.
Theft from Creche in Hauts-de-Seine
December 14, 2015, FranceA statue of the Virgin of Fatima, given to the parish of Sainte-Bernadette de Chaville by the Portuguese community, was stolen on December 14th.
Creche Vandalized in la Grand-Place de Bruxelles
December 13, 2015, BelgiumThree people aged 20, 21 and 24 were arrested after they vandalized the manger of the Grand-Place during the night from Saturday to Sunday. In addition to damaging the structure, they stole the figure of the baby Jesus and threw it on the ground.
Church Vandalized in Verviers, in the province of Liege
December 13, 2015, BelgiumThe church Sainte-Julienne, which had previously been tagged with spray paint, was again vandalized as a window was broken by rocks being thrown.
Church Bells Destroyed in French Chapel
December 13, 2015, FranceVandals broke into the locked chapel of Saint-Hervé-Ménez Bré in Pédernec and rang the church bells so hard that one of them is irreparably broken while the other, off-axis from its support, is stuck.
Fire Investigated at Collegiate Church of Saint-Junien
December 7, 2015, FranceUpon his arrival at the church, the priest discovered three small fires in separate parts of the church.
Website of the Diocese of Bayonne, Lescar and Oloron Hacked
December 1, 2015, FranceAccording to reports, this was a targeted hacking.
Seventh Cemetery in 18 Months Desecrated by Vandals
December 1, 2015, FranceThis time, thirteen crucifixes were torn from their graves and were thrown to the ground, broken, or planted upside down.
Second Ukrainian Orthodox Church Desecrated in Same Town
November 29, 2015, OtherA new church dedicated to Our Lady of Iveron, in the town of Rokitno in the Rovno region (Western Ukraine), was desecrated by vandals.
Cemetery Crucifixes Uprooted and Planted Upside Down
November 29, 2015, FranceActs of vandalism were discovered on December 1st in the cemetery of Villiers-le-Sec, between Creully and Courseulles-sur-Mer, France.
Spanish "Artist" Claims to Have 32 New Consecrated Hosts, Some Stolen by "Fans" during Reparation Mass
November 28, 2015, SpainAbel Azcona announced he has 32 new consecrated Hosts stolen by fans who went to different Masses to get them.
Church Vandalized; Damage Estimate: € 800
November 25, 2015, FranceTwo copper gutter-pipes were stolen from the church of Gironde-sur-Dropt on the night of November 25. The damage is estimated at € 800. A complaint was filed at the police station of La Role and an investigation has been opened.
Spanish Artist Stole and Desecrated over 200 Consecrated Hosts
November 23, 2015, SpainAs part of an exhibit, Abel Azcona placed the hosts on the ground in a public art gallery to form the word “Pederasty".
Ukrainian Orthodox Church Plundered and Desecrated
November 22, 2015, OtherThe perpetrators stole money from the cash register of the church, and lit fires in five different locations in the building.
Thieves Destroyed a Parish Church in Pajarillos, Spain
November 21, 2015, SpainThey stole a tabernacle, ciborium, chalices, patens, a candelabrum, and some of the sound equipment from the Church of San Ignatius of Loyola
Theft in Small 16th Century Chapel
November 19, 2015, FranceA late 15th century wooden statue of St. Nicolas was stolen from the church of Saint-Léger-sous-Margerie.
Church Vandalized in Poitiers, France
November 13, 2015, FranceThe devastation at the Church of Saint-Cyprian was discovered by a parishioner. A large concrete statue of the Virgin Mary located at the church entrance was thrown to the ground and irreparably broken.
Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner to Investigate Catholic Church's Marriage Pamphlet
November 12, 2015, OtherTransgender politician, Martine Delaney, lodged an anti-discrimination complaint in September and on November 12, the commissioner announced it will begin investigation.
Spanish Church Vandalized with Arabic Graffiti; Holy Objects Destroyed
November 2, 2015, SpainThe unknown perpetrators broke into the Church of our Lady of Carmen in the Spanish town of Rincon de la Victoria, Andalusia, smashed wooden statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus on the cross, and spray painted "Allah" on the wall.
Serious Arson Attack against "Demo für Alle"
November 1, 2015, GermanyThe Magdeburg business office of "Demo für Alle", a group which advocates against gender ideology and the sexualization of children, was torched by unknown perpetrators.
Graves Vandalized in Mazères
November 1, 2015, FranceOn All Saints Day, a solemnity celebrated by Catholics and some Protestants, visitors to the Mazères cemetery discovered five graves, including a central cross, sprayed with orange paint with references to "Satanists", among others.
Fourth Act of Vandalism Against Notre-Dame-du-Rocher in Saint-Hippolyte (Haut-Rhin)
October 28, 2015, FranceEarlier vandalism led to the replacement of the statue of the Virgin Mary last spring. In mid-September the arms of the statue were broken and glued back together. On October 28, the statute was broken off its base.
Desecration at Baden-Baden "Autobahn" Church
October 23, 2015, GermanyThe altar, tabernacle, and pews of the nationally-known church were desecrated by swastikas and other Nazi symbols carved into the wood, and acid poured onto the stone.
Christian Converts Harassed at Swedish Asylum Center
October 20, 2015, SwedenA Pakistani couple had to leave the shelter in Western Sweden where they were staying after harassment by some of the Muslims in the housing ended with the husband's name sprayed on a wall near their room calling for his death.
Vandalism at Catholic School in Vienna
October 15, 2015, AustriaGraffiti of two "Antifa" signs and one anarchy symbol seen on a pillar of Catholic student parish event centre and dormitory.
Statue of Virgin Mary Decapitated in Aisne
October 15, 2015, FranceThe mayor was informed of this vandalism on October 15. The statue, beloved by the citizens of the small town, was erected on Aug. 14, 1960 as act of gratitude for a priest who was in a serious motorcycle accident at that location, but was unhurt.
Statue of Virgin Mary Decapitated in Aisne
October 15, 2015, FranceThe mayor was informed of this vandalism on October 15. The statue, beloved by the citizens of the small town, was erected on Aug. 14, 1960 as act of gratitude for a priest who was in a serious motorcycle accident at that location, but was unhurt.
Madrid Church Vandalized
October 14, 2015, SpainThe outside of the church of the Virgen del Alba de Alcorcón was vandalized by individuals who soiled the facades and access steps as well as the bulletin boards.
Serious Desecration and Theft at the Chapelle d’Effiat à Montrichard (Loir-et-Cher)
October 14, 2015, FranceOn the morning of October 14, the Tabernacle was forced open and the Ciborium containing ten consecrated Hosts was stolen.
Assyrian Christians in Gothenburg Threatened: "Convert or Die"
October 13, 2015, SwedenAssyrian Christians living in Sweden have been targeted with a string of threatening messages, including demands that they “convert or die.”
Fire in French Church Investigated
October 13, 2015, FranceA fire in the church of La Baume-de-Transit in Southern Drôme damaged furniture.
Barcelona Parish Tagged with Abortion Message
October 9, 2015, SpainThe vandalism from the 9th of October at the Parroquia del Espírito Santo was reported to El Observatorio para la Libertad Religiosa y de Conciencia.
Chapel in Charleroi the Victim of Thieves
October 8, 2015, BelgiumThieves dismantled and carried away the metal roof of the Chapel of Saint-Joseph de Charleroi.
French Chapel Sacked by Vandals
October 8, 2015, FranceLa Chapelle du Champ Fleuri in Masny, was the victim of desecration: The altar was overturned, the organ in pieces, Communion wafers littered the ground, a statue of the Virgin Mary, venerated by Catholics as the mother of Jesus, was decapitated, and liturgical vestments were burned
French Church Desecrated and Vandalised
October 4, 2015, FranceIntruders into the church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul in Blanzy damaged the Tabernacle by attempting to force open the door, damaged the organ, and set fire to the statue of the Virgin Mary.
Arson in Normandy Church
October 2, 2015, FranceL'église Sainte-Croix de Saint-Lô was the victim of arson on Friday, October 2, 2015. The entry display was torched and it took 10 firefighters and 4 fire engines to combat the blaze.