All cases

Several Thefts at Nativity Scenes in Sint Truiden

January 7, 2022, Belgium

On January 7th, the baby Jesus was stolen from the nativity scene at the Saint Martin church in Sint Truiden. This was not the first of such thefts as earlier, said sexton Etienne Thomas. He recalls: "one of the brass angels on the main altar was unscrewed and stolen," and before that, some copper candlesticks were taken. These incidents were just part of the repeated vandalism the Saint Martin church has been facing.

Evangelical Dean Receives Several Threats For his Views

January 7, 2022, Germany

The Dean of the Evangelical Church has received several anonymous threatening letters due to the vaccination campaign in Ulm Minster. These letters criticise vaccinations and the role played by the Dean in it.No one close or familiar to the Dean is considered a suspect, as the details of the letter demonstrated a lack of knowledge regarding the church's internal procedures and even the address the letter was sent to was incorrect.

Statue of the Virgin Mary destroyed in Poland

January 7, 2022, Poland

A statue of the Virgin Mary was torn apart and a local chapel destroyed in Sikorzyna, Poland, as reported on the 7th of January. The four perpetrators have been arrested and will be judged accordingly. The Fidei Defensor Monitoring Center for Christianophobia stated that it "will intervene to bring the perpetrators to justice".

Painting of Jesus Broken in Attempted Theft from Sint-Truiden Church

January 7, 2022, Belgium

Thieves attempted to steal the triptych with pictures of Jesus, that was hanging at the front at Saint Martin's church in Sint-Truiden. The incident was recorded on January 7th but happened several weeks earlier. The triptych is 40 to 50 kilos so once it was detached, the weight became too much for the thieves and the picture fell, broken beyond repair. Although it was not stolen, the image was destroyed.

Activists Block Holy Mass at Cathedral in Cologne

January 6, 2022, Germany

On the 6. January at the evening, a group of twelve climate activists blocked a mass in the Cathedral of Cologne. The demonstrators wanted to catch Pope Francis' attention, according to Catholic News Agency request. The cathedral wardens attempted to carry out the activists, who sat in the middle of the church between the aisles. Two of them got injured for trying to carry these persons, but no actual violence was used from any side, they were treated by rescue workers.

Nativity Figures Stolen by Youth

January 6, 2022, Germany

Sixteen and twelve-year-old boys were caught after they took the baby Jesus from a nativity scene in Saarburg and altered some of the other figures during the first week of January. The stolen figure was thrown into the Saar and the youth have been charged with other acts of vandalism.

Six Church Statues Decapitated in Poitiers

January 6, 2022, France

On January 6th, six statues were found decapitated in the church of Sainte-Thérèse in Poitiers. The police have confirmed that the vandalism

Repetitive Burglary in Church

January 6, 2022, Germany

Church on Hiddensee Island was sacked for the second time within only a few weeks. Money was stolen from the donation containers, with a total plundering and property damage estimated at around 600€. Nearly a month before, unknown thieves had broken into the antechamber of the church, stealing the money saved in a wooden donation chest.

Vandals Desecrate Tombstones at Cemetery

January 6, 2022, Italy

On January 6th, unknown vandals raided cooper vases and bouquets of flowers were found torn apart on the floor. A second theft was recorded in fifteen days in the Cemetery of Ponticelli. These acts of vandalism were recorded both in the chapel of Sant'Anna and in the municipal hypogeum located in the most recent zone of construction of the Ponticelli Cemetery.

Burglary in the Church of Santa Maria Assunta

January 6, 2022, Italy

A theft occurred on the 6. January during the Catholic celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord. Unknown vandals took advantage of the absence of people and broke into the Church of Santa Maria Assunta by breaking the glass of the sacristy. A music box was stolen, commonly used by the city choirs to animate celebrations in the Church. The police were immediately alerted and began the investigations to find the authors of this theft. Both the members of the choir and the parish priest Don Francesco Scarin expressed deep regret for this theft.