All cases
Church in Bad Rodach Severly Vandalized (Again)
May 19, 2022, GermanyThe 100-year-old windows of the St. Johannis Church were damaged on May 21st in Bad Rodach. The church has been vandalized in the past but this time was especially severe. Also, the gold-plated light cover and light, of the ambo or "reading chair," was smashed. In addition, the stained glass windows with devotional pictures were broken.
Church Arson in Sainte-Croix Church
May 19, 2022, FranceA 54-year-old man was taken into custody on the morning of Monday 23 May 2022 as part of the investigation into the fire at the church in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (Vendée). The fire brigade had intervened on the night of Wednesday 18 to Thursday 19 May to extinguish a fire in the church, which destroyed 2 m² of floor in the oratory. Investigators quickly identified other fires and favoured the idea of arson.
Vandals set fire to St. Vladimir's Church in Lviv
May 19, 2022, UkraineOn 19 June in the Sykhiv district of Lviv, the church of St. Prince Vladimir caught fire. According to the sources, a bucket of liquid, a cloth stick, a lighter, a jacket and a cap were found at the scene of the fire. The evidence was seized by the police.
Anarchist and Communist Symbols Tagged on Chapel in Landsberger
May 18, 2022, GermanyOn May 18th, political symbols were found graffitied on the façade of the Altötting chapel in Landsberg, which is a baroque structure from the mid-19th century. A local resident was out on a morning walk when he saw the defacement which was a large anarchist symbol as well as a hammer and sickle (communist symbol) painted in red. The vandalism was reported to the police.
Repeated Hateful Vandalism in Schöppingen Church
May 18, 2022, GermanyActs of vandalism and disrespect repeatedly took place in the St. Brictius Church in Schöppingen. It was reported on May 18th that vandals had lit prayer notes and placed them under benches, put lighted candles under holy water fonts, and used sacrificial candles to "play football" in the church square. These were only some of the things that were happening and Sexton Andreas Kortüm pleaded with the parishioners to help stop it.
Anti-Clerical Activists Disrupt Mass in Wadowice
May 18, 2022, PolandOn May 18th, mass was held in the basilica of Wadowice to commemorate the 102nd birthday of Pope John Paul II. During the mass, the anti-clerical initiative "Enough of Silence", organized a protest in which they turned on loudspeaker to disrupt the celebrations. Some in the square tried to stop the protestors and were shocked by their presence saying: "How can you be there? On such a day?"
Tabernacle Stolen and Hosts Scattered in French Church
May 18, 2022, FranceThe tabernacle was stolen from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Amiens on May 18th. The perpetrators entered the church when it was empty and did not only steal the tabernacle but also scattered the consecrated hosts on the floor. The priest only saw the desecration after he was alerted.
Statue of Madonna Stolen form Palidoro Church
May 18, 2022, ItalyOn May 18th, the statue of Madonna that is usually in front of the Santi Filippo e Giacomo church in Palidoro was stolen. The parish priest Don Roberto Leoni reported the incident but it remained unknown who committed the theft. The priest said: "Such a silly, bad gesture, offensive towards the Mother of the Lord and towards all her children, who are not few."
Sacred Objects Stolen from Sacristy of Church in Clamecy
May 18, 2022, FrancePerpetrators forced their way through the front door of the Collégiale Saint-Martin Church in Clamecy on May 18th and then entered the sacristy. When they left, they took with them chalices, a monstrance, and a censor. It was not known who the burglars were.
Vandalism and Several Sacred Objects Stolen from Church in Luneburg
May 17, 2022, GermanyDuring 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.
Civil Agents Mock Catholic Procession on the Streets
May 17, 2022, SpainA video went viral, where a group of agents from the Guardia Civil is seen carrying another officer who pretends to be the Christ of Good Death in Malaga, while they sing El Novio de la Muerte, the traditional anthem of the Spanish Legion. The agents carried the other officer like they were legionnaires on Holy Thursday, in the streets around the Sanctuary of Lourdes, while laughing, joking, and drinking, which has caused some outrage due to the disrespect to religious feelings.
Update: Spanish Bill Proposal to Allow 16-17-Year Old Girls to Get an Abortion Without Parental Consent
May 17, 2022, SpainThe government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, formed by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and Unidas Podemos, presented a draft bill to allow 16 and 17-year-old girls to get an abortion without parental consent, also removing the mandatory 3-day period of reflection. The Council of Ministers approved it on the 17th of May. The Equality Minister, Irene Montero, stated that "the state guarantees them that the decision about their bodies, their life projects, and their maternity will be theirs". She further added that with this reform "rights will now be guaranteed and extended, and existing obstacles to exercising the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy will be removed". This Bill would be in conflict with parental rights.
Thieves Break into Grosseto Church
May 16, 2022, ItalyOn May 16th, thieves broke into the S. Maria Goretti church in Grosseto, and stole the offerings. To get in, they broke down the door and then they broke the glass to enter the sacristy. The investigations were ongoing as the damage was significant.
Churches in Venice Graffitied
May 16, 2022, ItalyThe church of Sant'Antonin a Castello and the basilica of the Santissimo Redentore alla Giudecca, were smeared with graffiti on May 16th. The façade of the Redentore church had red and black paint on it that looked like a mathematical formula. The Patriarchate of Venice said in a press release: "It was learned, with regret, that the facade of the Basilica del Redentore in Giudecca and the church of Sant'Antonin a Castello were targeted by acts of vandalism that damaged buildings that have significant religious, as well as historical and cultural significance, both for Venetians and for visitors."
Statue of Madonna Vandalized in Dortmund Church
May 16, 2022, GermanyThe 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.
Report Shows Discrimination Against Protestant Christians in Turkey
May 16, 2022, TurkeyA report from 2021 that examined the situation of Protestants in Turkey, revealed the severe levels of discrimination they face. It showed how decades of expulsions, social pressure, and government intolerance have led to a decline in Christian Protestants. It also exposes the challenges they are currently facing.
Karlskirche in Vienna Tagged with Graffiti (3rd time in 2022)
May 16, 2022, AustriaOn the 16th of May, the Karlskirche in Vienna was targeted with graffiti.
Statue of Virgin Mary destroyed and anti-Christian Threats in Madrid
May 16, 2022, SpainDuring the night of 15 to 16 May, unknown perpetrators destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary, located in the garden of the house of the Heralds of the Gospel in Sevilla la Nueva, also causing other considerable damages to the property. They insulted and threatened the Heralds, cut off the electricity, and damaged other infrastructures on the property.
Half-Naked Protesters Wear Religious Symbols in Front of Churches
May 16, 2022, SpainThe 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.
Church Madonna di Campagna Vandalized
May 15, 2022, ItalyThe churchyard of Madonna di Campagna in Verbania was vandalized by unknown perpetrators around the 15. of May. The glass of the board where parish news and notices are posted was broken and all the shattered pieces fell on the base.