All cases
Norway: Politician Wants to Abolish All Christian Holidays
May 26, 2022, NorwayAne Breivik, a Young Left leader in Norway, wants to dispose of all Christian holidays and mid-week red days, as they are a "relic from another time." She said that most people don't celebrate them anyway and would prefer to take the time off when they want to. She said this near Ascension holiday, which she used as an example of a holiday that could be removed since this year it landed on a Thursday which is inconvenient for many.
Statue of Madonna Taken from Chapel in Maccarese
May 26, 2022, ItalyOn May 26th, a statue of Madonna was stolen from the Blessed Virgin Mary chapel in Maccarese. The statue is not of great material value, but its spiritual value to the religious community is immense. The Diocese condemned the gesture "In reparation for the offense to the Mother of God and in prayer for the conversion of the hearts of the perpetrators of the crime."
Electric Scooter Entered Basilica During Mass
May 26, 2022, SpainDavid Moreno, a spokesman for VOX Talavera, requested that the driver of the electric scooter, which entered the Basilica of Our Lady of the Prado in Talavera, be identified and charged. He explained that the "offensive acts like this cannot be allowed," and that the driver should be charged with crimes against religious freedom and disrespect of religious sentiment. He said: "no prank justifies disrespect for a Catholic temple, attacking religious sentiments."
Arson Attack on Church in Nonnenweier
May 26, 2022, GermanyOn May 26th, on Ascension Day, a pool of disinfectant was set on fire in the Nonnenweier church, and hymn books were thrown around with their pages torn out. The property damage was around 1000 euros but there were no good clues as to who the perpetrators could be. Pastor Christine Egenlauf, expressed her shock and lamented the incident, also mentioning that someone could have been hurt. The police had started investigating.
Small Chapel Destroyed in Marghera, Venice
May 26, 2022, ItalyThe mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, posted a picture on his Twitter on the 26. May that showed an oratory that had been vandalized in Marghera. The oratory was in Piazzale Giovannacci on the corner with Via Ulloa in Marghera. He also indicated that the perpetrator had been identified by the local Police.
Threatening Graffiti Appears on Church That Helps Ucranian Refugees
May 25, 2022, SpainOn the 25. of April a newspaper reported that a church in Murcia, in the district of Espinardo, was tagged with threatening graffiti. The Holy Spirit parish has been taking seven Ukrainian refugees since March, two mothers with their daughters and one more woman. The inscriptions seem to be against the Ucranians. Other neighbours reported seeing foreigners throwing stones at the women.
Church Information Board Set Alight and Holy Water Fonts Contaminated
May 25, 2022, GermanyOn May 25th, the information board of the Church of St. Antonius in Hörstel was set on fire by unknown perpetrators. The sheets of paper hanging there were burned, which damaged the board, and disinfectant was poured into the holy water fonts. The police began an investigation and was asking for witnesses.
Perpetrators Steal Organ Key, Try to Open Sacrificial Box and Soil Statue in Church
May 25, 2022, GermanyBetween the 21st and 25th of May, unknown intruders broke into the sacristy of the St. Jakobus Church in Sögel. They stole the organ key and hygrometer, but were unsuccessful in an attempt to break open the sacrificial box. The property damage was around 100 euros, and they also soiled a statue. An investigation was started by the police who needed more information.
Saint Statues Decapitated and Damaged in Marseille Church
May 25, 2022, FranceA judicial inquiry was opened into an incident on the 25th of May in which four Statues in the Saint-Henri church in Marseille were damaged, two of the statues were decapitated. Father Gabriel Priou, said, “There was no Eucharistic profanation, but the statues have been defaced." He continued, “A fact like this impacts the Christian community because the church is its home.”
Church in Perugia Vandalized With Political Graffiti
May 24, 2022, ItalyVandals graffitied the wall of the Church of the Madonna dei Cenciarelli, in Perugia, on May 24th. The inscription read: "Enough with NATO: free and sovereign Italy." The vandals damaged an 18th-century old church to write a political message showing a lack of respect for the religious sight. Apart from that, the stairs of the church were stained with beer and rests of food.
Children from Football Club Threatened with Sanctions if They go to First Communion Ceremony
May 24, 2022, SpainThe Castilla-La Mancha Football Federation refused to change the date of a match, forcing the young players from Membrilla's football team to choose between celebrating their first communion or playing the league final. The Federation further threatened them with sanctions, since the parents choose the church instead of submitting to the sports institution.
Paint Bombs Thrown at Church in Tacoronte, Tenerife
May 23, 2022, SpainA few days before the 23rd of May, the façade of the Santa Catalina church in Tacoronte was splashed with red paint by an unknown person. The primary target of the graffiti was a plaque that has been in place since 1938 and bears the name of the founder José Antonio Primo de Rivera on it. Although he was a political figure which could be the motive for the attack, a church has also suffered the consequences and it will take around 3,000 euros to restore.
Vandals Try to Break-In in Church Leaving 3000 Euro Damage
May 23, 2022, GermanyUnknown people attempted to break into the church in Melsung on May 23rd and caused significant damage. The tried to open the doors and windows to gain access to the inside of the church but were unsuccessful. The property damage was around 3,000 euros.
Windows Broken by Teenagers at Ringmer Church
May 23, 2022, United KingdomThe stained glass windows of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Ringmer were broken by youth with catapults and ball bearings on May 23rd. The police identified the culprits and confiscated their catapults. A police spokesperson said: “The youths will subsequently be coming into Lewes Police Station to account for their actions.”
Church in Abruzzo Attacked with Stones
May 23, 2022, ItalyThe façade of the Church of S.Onofrio, connected to the Convent of the Zoccolanti of Raiano, was kicked and stoned by unknown people on May 23rd. The church dates back to the 17th century and is in Abruzzo. A complaint was filed and the carabinieri started an investigation but people were left dismayed and angry.
Red Tags Smeared on Church in Andria
May 23, 2022, ItalyThe façade of the Church of the Madonna del Carmine in Andria was tagged with red paint on May 23rd. This was not the first of such incidents and the State police immediately began an investigation to find out who painted the graffiti.
Chapel of Our Lady in Legionowo Vandalized
May 23, 2022, PolandShortly after the statue of the Pope was vandalized in Legionowo, the Chapel of Our Lady at the roundabout near Krasińskiego Street was devastated. The unknown perpetrator broke the glass in front of a figure and bent the cross. The police were investigating the incident to find the criminal who would be charged with offending religious feelings and damage to property.
18 Graves Vandalised at Cemetery and Knocked Down Crosses
May 23, 2022, FranceBetween the 22 to 23 May, 18 graves were vandalized or damaged in the cemetery of Rocquemont, a commune located between Rouen and Saint-Saëns. The perpetrators damaged ornamental plaques, decorations and flower pots. A person who lives near the cemetery heard the noise that night and reported it.
Newtown Church Windows Vandalized For a Second Time
May 22, 2022, United KingdomAfter the windows of the St. David's Church in Newtown were broken the month before, someone returned to break them again on the 22nd of May. The church has not been used for many years but is a historic building and a religious symbol. Paul Williams, a local, said: "This is really sickening yet again. Whoever you are, stop it."
Statistics in Brussels show: 53 Churches Vandalized and 1 Mosque
May 22, 2022, BelgiumBetween 2019 and 2022, 53 cases of church vandalism were recorded in Brussels, while only 1 mosque was vandalized in the same region and time frame. Dominiek Lootens, leader of the Vlaams Belang group in the Brussels Parliament, wrote to Prime Minister Rudi Vervoort and asked him to communicate the extent of the damage, reported "Our Central Europe". The report also pointed out that the media and politics failed to mention these numbers as they refuse to recognize this type of biased discrimination against Christians.