All cases
Arson by Young Vandals Who Entered Church With Bicycles
August 18, 2022, ItalyTeenager 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, SwitzerlandAn 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.
Desecration of Cementery in Lwówek Slaski: Crosses and Graves Destroyed
August 17, 2022, PolandOn the night of August 17-18, 2022, unknown perpetrators committed an act of vandalism at the municipal cemetery of Lwówek Slaski. Crosses were broken, pots and flowers scattered. Among others, the grave of a small child was damaged, while a cross on a neighboring tombstone was turned over.
Armed Robbery of a Priest in Zabrze
August 17, 2022, PolandOn August 18, a 43-year-old man carried out an armed robbery on a priest of one of the parishes in Zabrze.
'Screaming, Fires, Fights, Graffiti and Litter' at St John's Churchyard in Worcester
August 17, 2022, United KingdomResidents of Worcester, England, are protesting against the gangs of young offenders who occupy the churchyard around St. John's Church and engage in various forms of depredation, graffiti, attempted arson, defacement, robbery, etc.
Parish of Saint Mary in Santander Desecrated and Robbed by Unknown Perpetrators
August 16, 2022, SpainOn the 16. August, the tabernacle of the parish of Santa María Reparadora in Santander was desecrated. The perpetrators stole the ciborium with the consecrated hosts that were reserved inside, as well as the virile of a monstrance. The Diocese of Santander and the National Police confirmed that a group of unidentified individuals desecrated the temple. It seems that at least one parishioner witnessed the incident, seeing how two persons went to the tabernacle, opened it, and took the sacred objects. Fr Antonio Arribas, media delegate of the Diocese, told ACI Prensa that the incident has been reported to the Police.
Church of Plampalacios Vandalized With Graffiti
August 16, 2022, SpainOn the 16th of August graffiti was discovered on the Romanesque church of the uninhabited village of Plampalacios. The Aínsa-Sobrarbe Town Council reported the case of vandalism. The incident was discovered by the boss of a flight firm that is in the vicinity, Rafael García. Some neighbours reported seeing a group of people coming with a vehicle in the evening of Tuesday. The church had no graffiti before that day.
The Statue of Saint Michael Stolen from the Church of Cause-de-Clérans
August 16, 2022, FranceIt has been reported that on the night of 16 to 17 August, individuals entered the church of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption in Cause-de-Clérans to steal the statue of St Michael. They came to the church on foot, taking care to park their vehicle close by so as not to wake the inhabitants of the town. On the way they lost the sword of St Michael and pieces of the plaster of the statue.
Sacrilegious Raid in Mother Church in Castellammare del Golfo
August 15, 2022, ItalyOn 15. August, the sacred St Nicholas' relic has been stolen from the Mother Church in Castellammare del Golfo, near Trapani. Also missing is the crucifix that was placed in the hands of the statue itself, the cross of the tabernacle was broken and the Synod lamp moved.
Statue of the Virgin stolen from cementery in France
August 15, 2022, FranceOn August 15, the Virgin of the cemetery of Guignicourt-sur-Vence was stolen. The statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, which was placed in a niche in 1949, was taken away. The town hall does not despair of finding another one to replace it, according to the local press.