All cases
Hundreds of Hosts Stolen from Saint-Pierre Church
January 10, 2022, FranceThieves broke through the stained-glass windows of the Saint-Pierre Church in Bondy to desecrate the tabernacle and steal hundreds of hosts. This act of desecration showed intense disrespect for some of the most sacred objects in the Catholic church. Father Jocelyn Petitfils explains that the tabernacle is "the most venerable place in the church, where the consecrated hosts are stored”.
Attempted Arson at Bakum Church
January 10, 2022, GermanyBetween the 8th and the 10th of January, unknown perpetrators made an arson attack at the St.-Johannes-Baptist-Church in Bakum. According to the police, the fire was started on a paper and it damaged one table. The fire smoke also damaged the walls. The damage amounts to approx. 200 Euro. The police is now investigating and requesting clues from eye-witnesses.
Heavy Flagstones Stolen from Glossop Church
January 10, 2022, United KingdomThieves targeted a church in Glossop and stole a number of ancient flagstones from the floor. The theft from the grounds of Glossop Parish Church of All Saints has left the local community saddened. The stolen flagstones were taken from the path outside the west end of the church overnight between Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 January. Tyre tracks were left nearby so it is believed a vehicle was used in the theft of the very heavy stone.
Nativity Scene Statue Stolen from Church in Forbach-Bermersbach
January 10, 2022, GermanyA nativity scene figure was stolen from a church in Forbach-Bermersbach (Rastatt district) on 10. January. According to the police, the figure, a "servant with a donation box", was stolen from the unlocked church. The damage is said to be of a non-material and artistic nature; the financial damage cannot yet be quantified.
Crucifix Stolen from Church During Funeral
January 10, 2022, FranceA repeat thief stole a wooden crucifix off the condolence table at the Saint-Nicolas de Port Basilica near Dombasle, France. The absence of the liturgical piece was noticed shortly after the funeral had ended and upon viewing the footage from the nearby surveillance cameras, the police identified the thief to be Phillipe Languedoc. He has been in prison for the past 38 years for other offences and now will spend 12 more months behind bars for this crime. The lack of respect for religious sentiments was evident in the incident.
Church Windows Smashed by Unknown Perpetrators
January 9, 2022, BelgiumOn Sunday 9. January, the church in Bouvignes was targeted by unknown vandals. The Stained glass windows were broken, probably through kicking. Father Jean-Baptiste Raty, parish priest of the church, called the action a : "gratuitous vandalism".
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".