All cases

Church Walls Tagged With Slogans About Sex And Drugs

August 20, 2022, United Kingdom

On 21. August, "Grimsby Live" reported that the Willows Community Church in Grimsby had been tagged with slogans about sex and drugs that affected the community. Organizers of the Church repainted the walls within hours after the desecration took place. And the news outlet chose not to publish the pictures of the vandalistic act, due to the nature of the slogans. The police was notified and they will run an investigation.

The Organ of a Church in France Vandalised in a Night Attack

August 19, 2022, France

During the night of August 19 to 20, one or more people broke into the church of Saint-Etienne in Bayonne. "Furniture was damaged and objects belonging to the place of worship were stolen. Various elements are missing: a trunk containing cash donations, or a silver container," recalls Sud Ouest. Above all, the 19th century organ has been damaged, and the repairs could cost several thousand euros.

Church of the Addolorata Repeatedly Vandalised

August 19, 2022, Italy

On 19 August, the little church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Paderno d'Adda fell once again victim to an act of vandalism. Vandals unhinged the wooden gate and broke the padlock. It is the third time within a few months that a similar crime has occurred.

Painting From the 18th Century worth 50.000 Euros Stolen From Church

August 19, 2022, Italy

An unknown perpetrator stole an oil painting from the small church of San Filippo Neri in Terzago di Calvagese della Riviera on 19. August. The painting, which depicts the Virgin Mary, is estimated to be worth 50,000 euros. The police are investigating.

Church Stairs in Aub Damaged

August 19, 2022, Germany

According to the police, in the night of 19 to 20 in Aub, an unknown perpetrator tore the railing of the church from the anchorage and loosened several stone slabs from the stairs.

Sacred Objects Stolen From Two Churches Recovered and Perpetrators Identified

August 18, 2022, Italy

Sacred objects had been stolen during the first week of August from the church of San Rocco in Maggianico and the church of San Martino Vescovo in Calolzio. The police of Lecco were able to identify the perpetrators, who were two men, and recovered what had been stolen: a wooden offering box, three metal offertories, a base of a crucifix, a wooden crucifix, and brass plating of the crucifix itself. Although the objects were found, there is damage to the crucifix.

Stolen Virgin Mary Statue Found Damaged at Demolition System

August 18, 2022, Germany

A statue of Mary had been stolen from the Lady Chapel in Beckum and was found on the 18th of August. Employees of the Wocklum quarry found the figure, which was badly damaged, in the conveyor system that is used to feed the stones to the sand production. It was a great coincidence that the statue could be rescued, according to the police press officer Wibke Honselmann. "It was supposed to be destroyed in the Wocklum quarry, but the corpus blocked the plant," Honselmann said. Before the unknown perpetrators threw the statue into the pit, the head, hands and feet had been cut off. Police are investigating

Renovated Wall Of St. James Church Was Soiled By Vandals

August 18, 2022, Germany

In the city of Creußen, the recently renovated wall of the St. Jakobus Church was soiled and graffitied. The incident took place on the 12. August and was reported on the 16. August and the police are now looking for witnesses. According to the police, the inner wall of the crypt passage was defiled. The unknown perpetrators were possibly youths who threw moistened earth at the white inner wall. The damage to the property is estimated at around 200 euros due to the time-consuming removal of the graffiti and the re-painting.

Arson by Young Vandals Who Entered Church With Bicycles

August 18, 2022, Italy

Teenager vandals entered the Church in Pionca di Vigonza with their bikes and set fire to a Crucifix on the 18. August. One parishioner noticed the smoke coming out of the Church. The Carabinieri has identified two young boys, who committed the arson by placing candles under a Crucifix inside the church. Fortunately, the flames were extinguished within minutes. The police is still investigating to identify other perpetrators.

50,000 Francs Damage with Biased Graffiti to Five Churches in Basel

August 17, 2022, Switzerland

An unknown perpetrator has vandalised several churches in Basel, as it was reported on the 17. August. Two of the churches that were vandalised were the St. Joseph Church and the Holy Spirit Church. In the St. Joseph Church, there was a message saying "Jesus Christ, Allahu Akbar" in white paint. The Holy Spirit church was severely damaged, as there were numbers and letters scratched into the sandstone and other inscriptions were made with black and red pen. In total there were 5 churches vandalized.