All cases

Theft of Tabernacle and Liturgical Objects Cause 15,000€ in Damage in Church

November 13, 2021, Germany

Between the 8th and the 12th of November, St. Christopher's Church in Rüsselsheim was robbed. At least two unknown people started by damaging the church window and tearing it out of its mounting. In the church, the thieves stole a handmade tabernacle from the 1960s made of gold-plated brass, weighing about 60 kilograms and worth around 10,000 euros. In addition, the thieves stole host bowls and a custodian from the tabernacle and several hundred euros from the collection. The granite slab on which the tabernacle stood and a border were damaged by the perpetrators' brutal actions. According to initial estimates, the total damage was around 15,000 euros. The case was reported to the police and the investigative team at the Rüsselsheim police station took over the investigation.

Irish Government Proposed to Remove Right to Conscientious Objection for Abortion Procedures

November 13, 2021, Ireland

The Irish Labour Party has adopted a policy supporting the legalization of abortion up until birth, without any restriction. The Labour Party, which introduced this proposal, further intends to remove the current 3-day waiting period, as well as remove the right of medical professionals to conscientiously refuse to perform an abortion. The proposal was announced and voted on the 13th of November, during their annual party conference.

Catholic Church of Christ the King in Gothenburg Vandalised

November 13, 2021, Sweden

The Catholic Church of Christ the King and its chapel were vandalized on November 13. Fr. Tobias Unnerstal, the parish Priest of the Christ the King Church, reported the incident to the police. The members of the parish prayed for those responsible for the vandalistic acts.

Repeated Theft in Church in Bochum-Langendreer

November 12, 2021, Germany

On November 11th, burglars broke into the St. Mary's Church in Bochum-Langendreer, for the third time in just a few weeks, and stole valuable objects. This time, oil vessels, which are used for baptisms, and consecrated hosts, which are used for the Holy Mass, where stolen; both of which have particularly great religious value. Father David Ringel, lamented "I am very surprised that sacred places are not kept sacred and that people do not know that religious feelings are also hurt here."

Break-in and Vandalism at a Church in Lohne

November 12, 2021, Germany

On the night of November 12, unknown burglars broke into the church of St. Michael, located in the Franziskusstraße in Lohne. It was unclear whether the burglars were able to steal anything but the property damage amounted to the value of 200 euros. The case was reported to the police who started to investigate.

Holy Figures Stolen from Church in Lower Rhine Wesel

November 12, 2021, Germany

Two wooden figures of St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena as well as a bronze figure "Mary with Child" were taken from a church in Lower Rhine Wesel on November 12th. "The thieves also took metal crosses,... money from an offertory box, and five metal candlesticks," the police added. The items were of great monetary and spiritual value but it was not known who took them.

Several Vandalic Acts Damage the Chapel of Tenimont

November 12, 2021, Belgium

The newspaper "The Meuse Luxembourg" reported, on the 12th of November, that new acts of vandalism took place in the chapel of Tenimont in October, near the cemetery of Barvaux, in Walloon Luxembourg. According to reports, the chapel was tagged in two places, furniture overturned and degraded, rubbish and beer cans found on the ground. The local press said this is not the first vandalism it has suffered recently.

Man Steals 55 Euros from the Mariahilfe Church in Vienna

November 11, 2021, Austria

The Viennese police caught a 40-year-old man in a Church in Vienna-Mariahilf on the morning of the 11th after a burglary. He was temporarily handcuffed and the stolen offertory money was seized, as the Vienna Police Directorate reported in a press release on Friday. According to spokeswoman Barbara Gass, about 55 euros were found on the man. The perpetrator has been imprisoned.

Father Adam Świerżewski Dies after being Attacked in Park

November 11, 2021, Poland

Maksymilian Adam Świerżewski, from the parish of St. Maximillian Kolbe, was taken to the hospital after being severely beaten in Alexandria Park in Siedlce. Due to the terrible injury, it was not possible to save him and he died at the age of 35 on November 11th. An autopsy was carried out and it was confirmed that he died from several kicks, punches, or hits to the head but his murderer was still unknown.

Anti-Christian Tags Painted on the Walls of Christ the King Chapel

November 11, 2021, France

Messages were painted on the doorway of the Chapel of Christ the King in the Dalby district of Nantes, on the night from the 10th to the 11th of November, with obscene anti-Christian tags. On the same night, the perpetrator(s) also attempted to force the gate by pushing and shaking it.