All cases
Church Walls Tagged by Vandals
January 9, 2022, PolandUnknown criminals spray painted the Garrison Church of St. Casimir the Prince in Katowice. They may face a sentence of up to eight years and will have to restore the stone work to its original state. Multiple walls and some statues of the historic church were defaced.
Theft of Relic from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
January 9, 2022, FranceThe relic f John Paul II was stolen from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Paray-leMonial in Burgundy. The relic is a piece of cloth stained with the Pope's blood during an attempted murder in 1981. The theft could have occurred between the 8 and 9 of January, according to the mayor Jean-Marc Nesme. The incident was reported by a churchman who was closing the church, the police are investigating.
Obscene Phrases Written on Fabriano Church
January 9, 2022, ItalyThe front facade of the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Via Conce, was defaced with epithets written in spray paint on 1. January. Police examined footage of the surrounding area in search of the vandals but no one has been arrested.
Windows of Bouvignes Church Broken
January 9, 2022, BelgiumOn 9. January, the stained glass windows of the Bouvignes church were smashed in. Father Jean-Baptiste Raty labelled the act: "gratuitous vandalism".
Vandal Smashes Church Windows During Mass
January 9, 2022, SlovakiaDuring Mass, an 18-year-old used a hammer to smash the windows of the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Senica. The man then fled the scene with a city police patrol in pursuit. He used the hammer to fend off one officer but was caught in the end. This incident happened on January 9th.
Karlskirche in Vienna Tagged Again by Unknown Vandals
January 8, 2022, AustriaOn the night of the 7. to 8. January, the historical Karlskirche in Vienna was tagged with red paint by unknown vandals. Among the symbols, there were blasphemous drawings, anarchist and communist symbols. Johannes Pasquali, a Viennese politician, demanded that security cameras be installed to protect the church. These attacks and vandalism have been repetitive for some months.
Statue of the Virgin of Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux Church destroyed
January 8, 2022, FranceIn the Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux Church in Strasbourg, the statue of the Virgin was vandalised on the 8th of January. The statue of the Virgin was found destroyed on the ground with its face damaged. A complaint was filed with the police. The parish priest of the church received the news and commented: "It was a parishioner who alerted me. He found the statue of the Virgin demolished, next to its base. He immediately called. I think it was intentional: the way it was positioned, I don't see how the statue could have fallen down by itself. Father Uberall has already announced his intention to file a complaint."
Theft of Money and Consecrated Hosts in Vitry-sur-Seine
January 7, 2022, FranceIn the night of January 6th, unknown persons broke into the Saint-Germain church of Vitry-sur-Seine. There, they broke open the three tabernacles and took the ciborium with the consecrated hosts as well as stealing some money donated by the parishioners. The desecration of the hosts showed their malignant intent.
Couple Vandalised Nativity Scene and Cut Off Mary's Hands
January 7, 2022, PolandA couple of 20-year-olds vandalised a Christmas nativity scene in Jasień on the 7. January. The perpetrators damaged the figures in the nativity scene, including cutting off the hands of Mary. They also stole the crosier. They have been charged with "destruction of property", theft and offending religious feelings. They could face up to 5 years in jail, according to polish authorities.
Figure of Baby Jesus Destroyed in Diest
January 7, 2022, BelgiumOn the 7. January, the nativity scene on display at the historic Church of St. Suplice in Diest was the victim of vandalism. Unknown perpetrators destroyed the figure of baby Jesus by tearing off his head, one arm and one leg.