All cases
Orthodox Chapel Vandalized
May 30, 2017, FranceFather Archimandrite Amphilokios of the Orthodox Monastery of Saint Michael in Marseille reported an act of vandalism to the French Observatory. An image of the cross which was mounted on the monastery’s wall was torn. The community reacted by posting a sign condemning the act.
Cemetery Vandalized in Saint-Brès
May 27, 2017, FranceTwo teenagers entered the cemetery of Saint-Brès France and destroyed two graves, crosses, statues, and grave plates. The police were called and the two teenagers were identified through surveillance cameras.
Cross at General De Gaulle's Grave Vandalized
May 27, 2017, FranceTwo unknown perpetrators were seen entering the cemetery of Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, where General de Gaulle's grave is located. One of the two men was suspected of having climbed on the grave and reversed the cross of the grave. Police are investigating.
ISIS Graffiti on Catholic Church in Sweden
May 24, 2017, SwedenThe Catholic church in Västerås was vandalized in several places with graffiti with the Arabic letter “N,” which stands for Nazarene or Nasrani, the Arabic word for "Christian". In ISIS-controlled areas, this tag has been used in combination with attacks on Christian’s homes and properties. Its use has been used as a signal: convert, pay a tax or be killed. Members of the parish are both frightened and upset about this attack. Cardinal Anders Arborelius has stated that he believes this is the first time a Catholic church has been tagged with ISIS graffiti in Sweden.
Christian Bookshop in Marseille Vandalized
May 19, 2017, FranceThe children’s display case window of the bookshop “La Bible pour tous” (The Bible for All) was found vandalized some time during the night between the 18th and 19th of May with a black paint bomb and graffiti tags reading “neither God nor master” (“Ni Dieu ni maître”), along with the anarchist's "A". The bookstore is adjacent to the church église évangélique Action Biblique Marseille.
Church Vandalized by Graffiti
May 18, 2017, FranceThe church of Saint-Joseph was tagged with the slogan “Down with love, long live solidarity” (“à bas la charité, vive la solidarité”). The graffiti was painted with green spray paint.
Crown of the Virgin Stolen from the Musée de Fourvière
May 12, 2017, FranceThe crown of the Virgin, was stolen from the Museum of Religious Art in Fourviere, shortly before 3:30 am on the night of May 12th. Asking for prayers, the Fourvière Foundation denounced the theft and noted that it was the symbolic value of the crown that made the theft most painful as it was given by families in Lyon to prove their devotion to Notre-Dame de Fourvière.
Barcelona Church Vandalized
May 9, 2017, SpainA Barcelona church has been vandalized by unknown vandals. The doors were painted with graffiti of the anarchist's A and statements such as “Get your rosaries out of our ovaries” (“Fora els vostres rosaris dels nostres ovaries”). It is estimated that more than 40 churches have been vandalized in Barcelona in recent months.
Man Filmed Attacking Cross in Austria
May 8, 2017, AustriaA group of youths filmed a man as he attacked a life-sized Jesus figure on a cross in the church square of St. Marein. The man, identified by police as a "37-year-old from the Weiz district," first shook the cross to make it fall but when unsuccessful he then proceeded to rip out a wind organ from the ground and hit the cross with it. The man’s rampage continued within the church grounds as he broke the two glass doors of the parish and several flower pots before being arrested. Damage is estimated to be well over €15,000.
Monastery in Alicante Vandalized
May 7, 2017, SpainOn the morning of May 7th the chaplain of the Monastery de la Santa Faz discovered seven intentionally-inverted crosses on the columns of the sanctuary, Satanic symbols on the armored glass case that protects the Santa Faz relics. Additionally, a liturgical prayer book and the diary where the acts of worship are recorded were stolen. Police opened a forensic investigation.
Molotov Cocktail Thrown at Virgin of the Helpless Image
May 2, 2017, SpainA Molotov Cocktail was thrown at the carving of the Virgin of the Desamparados (Virgin of the Forsaken) in the church of Real Convento de Santiago in Vélez-Málaga. The 17th century carving did not burn, but the base, skirt, and mantle were stained by the homemade device containing gasoline. A young man was seen running from the scene and police began an investigation.
Defenders of Public Cross of Callosa Threatened
May 1, 2017, SpainResidents of Callosa de Segura opposed the City Council's decision to remove a cross next to the parish church entrance and took turns guarding it to prevent its removal. In response, they became the targets of threatening graffiti. On May 1st, graffiti appeared with a message aimed at the spokesman of the PP parliamentary group Javier Perez: “Javier Perez is dead” (“Javier Perez estas muerto”) and the second read: “A bomb to the cross” (“Una bomba a la cruz”). On May 17, 2017, a high court dismissed Perez's appeal to stop the removal of the cross but the case could still go to the supreme court.
Three Churches Discovered Vandalized in Three Days
May 1, 2017, SpainUnknown perpetrators broke windows and doors, damaged the altar and scattered objects in church of Santa Maria de Vallvidrera. Nothing was stolen. The parish of Sant Ildefons and the Hermitage of Santa Margarida were vandalized with graffiti, the former stating “the only church that illuminates is one that burns” and the latter “neither God nor country, nor King” (“la única iglesia que ilumina es la que arde” and “ni Dios, ni patria, ni Rey”). In the Hermitage of Santa Margarida the assailants also vandalized the interior by destroying vases, candle holders and other decorative items.
Burning Cross Painted on Convent of Cloistered Nuns
April 30, 2017, SpainThe façade of the church of Santa Magdalena at the convent was vandalized with graffiti of an inverted and burning cross. The Palma Police's Hate Crimes Unit took charge of the investigation and said it appeared the purpose of the graffiti was to try to intimidate the Christian community, particularly the religious women who live in the cloistered convent. Evidence appears to indicate that the graffiti was the work an extreme Leftist group.
The Head of a Jesus Statue Used as a Toilet in Illegal Migrant Camp
April 26, 2017, ItalyDuring an inspection by Regional Councilor for Agriculture of the Northern League, Stefano Mai, of an illegal migrant camp in Ventimiglia, the head of a marble statue of Jesus was found covered with excrement and urine. The head had possibly been taken from a local cemetery and then used as a makeshift toilet. The discovery caused anger and upset in the local community and Councilor Mai publicly denounced the situation.
Statue of St. Paul Decapitated in Luxembourg; Left on Priest's Doorstep
April 25, 2017, LuxembourgA statue of St. Paul near the church in Dalheim was discovered decapitated. The head was later found left on the doorstep of the local priest’s home. The discovery worried the priest, but the mayor decided simply to have the head re-attached onto the statue, rather than initiate an investigation. When asked if he thought the act was a symbolic gesture, the mayor said it could have been just a "random act." The priest said he was "reassured" but if it happened again, he would have to make his own security arrangements.
Virgin and Child Mosaic Vandalized in Málaga
April 24, 2017, SpainThe ceramic image of the Virgen del Carmen de Huelin located on the seafront of a popular neighborhood of Málaga was damaged by vandals who broke the tiles composing the faces of the Virgin Mary and Jesus.
Syrian Women Vandalized Church in Rennes-le-Château
April 23, 2017, FranceOn the morning of April 23rd, a young Syrian women vandalized the church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. The woman, dressed in a white cloak and face hidden behind a Venetian mask, attacked the holy water font with an ax, decapitated the famous "red devil" (a statue of the demon Asmodeus from the Old Testament), and placed a Quran next to his chopped-off arm. She then lacerated the bas-relief of Mary Magdalene's altar in front of shocked witnesses.
Church was Robbed and Vandalized in Onnaing
April 22, 2017, FranceThe sacristy of the church of Sainte-Maria-Goretti was broken into and vandalized. Wall tiles of the sacristy were broken, as well as candles and seats. Mass wine was stolen.
Cemetery Desecrated in Fouchécourt
April 22, 2017, FranceIt is estimated that a dozen graves were desecrated, including Christian graves, and one coffin was opened at a cemetery near Fouchécourt between the 21st and 22nd April 2017. The local community is upset and angry.