All cases
'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.
Statue of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Stolen from the Church in Cernay-lès-Reims
August 15, 2022, FranceOn 15 August, an 80 cm high, heavy plaster statue of Saint Theresa dating from the 1930s was stolen from the church in Cernay-les-Reims, east of Reims. The theft was reported in the evening.
Three Armed Individuals Robbed Church Presbytery and Threaten Priest During A Ceremony
August 14, 2022, FranceThree armed and masked individuals robbed the presbytery of a church in Gironde during a baptism ceremony on the 14. August. The perpetrators stole a chest that contained the money of a week's collections. As one of the priests found the robbers, one of them pointed his handgun at him while the others fled. The police were immediately alarmed, but they did not manage to arrest the criminals. The amount of damage is around 2000 Euros and the police has opened an investigation.
Church of Buissenal Vandalized with Hateful Message
August 14, 2022, BelgiumThe Church of Buissenal was vandalized on the night of 13. to 14. August by unknown perpetrators. The vandals broke into the building by destroying stained glass windows and left a message on the main altar with the word "EVIL". They also defaced two grave markers in the cemetery.
Church Desecrated With Insulting Tags in Rouen
August 14, 2022, FranceThe doors and several sections of the façade of the Saint-Patrice church in Rouen were tagged with insulting slogans and militant symbols on the night of Saturday 13. August. The Diocese released a statement expressing the sadness due to the desecration and announced that the parish has filed a complaint with the police for damage to property. The tags were removed from the historic Church on the 16. August.