All cases
Arson Attack to Catholic Chapel in Newry
May 22, 2022, United KingdomSt Catherine’s Dominican Chapel, a Catholic chapel in Newry, was targeted by arsonists who set religious books and pamphlets on fire. Nobody was hurt, in the incident which happened on the 22nd of May, but the head priest had to put the fire out. A witness said they saw youths running from the scene and it was guessed that they were the arsonists.
Teenage Arsonist Causes 5000 Euro Damage to Church in Spalt
May 21, 2022, GermanyDuring the afternoon on the 21st of May, a fire was noticed in a church in Spalt, that caused 5,000 euros worth of damage. An altar cloth, that was lying on the side altar, caught fire along with a wooden frame that spread the fire to the entrance door. After a police investigation, the fire was thought to be arson and eventually a suspect was arrested. Proceedings were started against the potential teenage arsonist for property damage and disruption of religious practice. The police later confirmed that the fire had been caused by arson.
Statue of Madonna Stolen from Church in Lodi
May 21, 2022, ItalyOn the afternoon of May the 21st, a small marble statue of Madonna was stolen from the parish church in Lodi. No sign of a break in was found, so it was concluded that the thief must have waited till soon after mass, and then broken the statue off from near the side of the altar. The carabinieri were notified and carried out an inspection.
Vienna: Historic Karlskirche Smeared with Graffiti (Again)
May 21, 2022, AustriaOn the 21st of May, the Karlskirche in Vienna was graffitied for the fourth time in 2022. It is not known who did it. According to the Witness who reported these incidents, this is the worst year so far with vandalism and there are damages to the church almost every day.
Thieves Break in and Steal Consecrated Hosts in Guia
May 21, 2022, ItalyHosts were stolen from the Ancient Church of San Gregorio in Valdobbiadene on May 21st. The side door of the church was forced open and then the intruder opened the tabernacle and took the consecrated hosts. Fr Romeo Penon, parish priest of Valdobbiadene, said: "It is a sacrilege, we fear that they are destined for black masses or séances"
Pope's Monument in Legionowo Vandalized Repeated Times
May 21, 2022, PolandOn May 21st, the statue of the Pope in a park in Legionowo was vandalized. Flags of the church, papal, and Ukraine, were stolen from the statue's hands, and the Polish flag, was torn and pressed into the crucifix. This was not the first time the statue has been attacked and the police began an investigation to find out who committed the act.
Theft and Vandalism in Ralingen Church
May 21, 2022, GermanyMobile phones that had been collected in the Ralingen church donation box, were stolen on May 21st. Beer was also spilt near the altar which did not cause damage to the altar but tainted the sacred space. Earlier, the pastor noticed several young people who were drinking in the area of the church. The police started an investigation and requested that places of worship be respected.
Orthodox Church seized and raided by armed group
May 21, 2022, UkraineA Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ivankov (Kyiv region) was raided by unidentified armed persons. The perpetrators cut down the lock of the church and raided the interior, expelling the parishioners and the priest. When the clergy of the church tried to file a crime report, the police refused to take it seriously. It was the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Graffiti on Santa Maria Church in Palermo
May 20, 2022, ItalyInscriptions painted in black were discovered on the façade of the Santa Maria di Valverde church in Palermo. The incident was reported on May 20th and residents thought it happened during the night but were not sure who did it. The writing was made with spray paint and detracts from the beauty of the church.
Church in Ayrshire Repeatedly Targeted by Vandals
May 20, 2022, United KingdomThe Kilmarnock South Parish Church in Ayrshire, was repeatedly targeted by vandals during May. Over several weeks, doors were smashed and glass was broken by a group of youth who were seen on CCTV. A spokesperson for The Well, an outreach group that organizes events at the church, said: "We are slowly trying to get the place up and running to serve the community but this is just soul destroying."
Sacrilegious Theft in Capergnanica Church
May 20, 2022, ItalyA bas-relief of the Madonna with Child was stolen from the altar of the parish church in Capergnanica. The priest, don Andrea Rusconi, thought the sacrilegious theft happened on the 20th of May despite it being reported the next day. The church is typically left open even when there is no mass for the faithful to come and pray.
Church in Schneverdingen Broken Into and Looted
May 20, 2022, GermanyDuring the night on the 20th of May, the Peter and Paul Church in Schneverdingen was broken into by anonymous intruders. They smashed the window to enter the church and then forced open the door from the inside. They didn't steal anything of great value but did take two electronic devices from the parish.
Sacred Objects Stolen from Church in Kropp
May 20, 2022, GermanyBetween the 15th and 20th of May, a church in Kropp was broken into by unknown intruders who stole various sacred objects as well as an electronic piano. The items taken were a baptismal font, a silver-coloured baptismal font, and two antique candlesticks. The police began a criminal investigation and asked for information from witnesses.
European Parliament Votes Down Motion to Debate Christian Persecution
May 20, 2022, BelgiumOn May 20th, there was a motion in the European Parliament to debate the topic of Christian Persecution, and in particular, the case of Deborah Samuel Yabuku, who was murdered in Nigeria after her peers falsely accused her of blasphemy. She had thanked Jesus in a class WhatsApp group for helping her in an exam and was accused of insulting the prophet Mohammad. The motion to discuss this was rejected with 231 votes for, and 244 against, to which some MEPs shouted “shame on you” across the plenary floor.
Member of Scottish Parliament Launched Bill for Censorship Zones Around Abortion Clinics
May 20, 2022, United KingdomGillian Mackay, an MSP for the Green Party, "initiated a public consultation on the Bill" that would allow a 2-year sentence to be assigned to someone who "attempts to influence or persuade someone seeking an abortion inside censorship zones," reported "RighttoLife" News. Some claim, there has been a rise in incidents outside abortion clinics involving pro-life activists, but Robert Colquhoun, the campaign director for "40 Days for Life", disagreed saying that it was actually just increased media attention that made it seem so. The introduction of such zones would negatively impact Christians who often attend such vigils due to their biblically based pro-life belief.
Theft of Memorial statue from All Saints Church graveyard
May 20, 2022, United KingdomBetween the 16th and 20th May the memorial statue from the All Saints Graveyard was stolen in Glazebury. The police reported that the family that owned the memorial statue was deeply affected and were looking for witnesses.
Theft of Sacred Objects from Church in Innsbruck
May 19, 2022, AustriaA thief, who was later caught, stole a chalice and a chest of hosts from a church in the Saggen district of Innsbruck. The incident happened on May 18th and the thief was arrested by the police. The stolen goods would be given back to the church after the hearing.
Historical 1925 Altar Cross Stolen from Sankt Bonifatius Church in Frankfurt
May 19, 2022, GermanyA €3,000 reward was offered on May 19th for whoever could provide information that would lead to the retrieval of a gilded altar cross, dating from 1925, that was stolen in January 2022. The cross is around 60 centimetres high and was stolen from the Catholic church of Sankt Bonifatius in Frankfurt. It was there when the church was consecrated so it is of high emotional value to the church.
St. Mary's Church in Plau Graffitied With Black Painted Symbols
May 19, 2022, GermanySt. Mary's Church in Plau was graffitied with black paint on May 19th by unknown people. Chairman of the association, Harald Kleinert, was shocked to find a black symbol painted on the south entrance door. A complaint was lodged but the parish fears more attacks.
Suspected Youth Arrested for Arson at Newtown Church
May 19, 2022, United KingdomAfter a fire broke out in one room of the Evangelical Church in Newton, the police arrested one a young suspect. The fire happened on Thursday 19th of May, it was confined to one room and burned a sofa and a chair. The Dyfed-Powys Police commented: “Police are working closely with the church and that there will be a police presence at the site in the short term, with patrols increased in the area beyond that.” The police have arrested a young vandal on suspicion of arson.