All cases

Fourth Break-In at the Madonna delle Lacrime in Siracusa

September 12, 2021, Italy

On the 12th of September, the News Outlet "Siracusa2000" reported that the Shrine of Our Lady of Tears was vandalised twice in the last 48 hours. This is already the 4th case at the same church within a month. The perpetrators entered through an upper window, shattering its stained-glass window, but they did not steal anything. After several thefts, the parish people had taken the offering boxes away.

Theft and Vandalism in Church of Notre Dame de Lourdes

September 11, 2021, France

The church of Notre Dame de Lourdes in Argenteuil was desecrated and broken into. The thieves forced their way into the church through a small window. Inside the church, they stole the ciborium from the tabernacle and threw the holy hosts on the ground. From there the perpetrators went on to the sacristy where they stole a chalice and a paten. All of the stolen items were made out of silver, which gives a hint of the motive of the theft. The glass cruets and other items of worship were left untouched, although they searched the premises. According to the parish vicar, there have been no other recent burglaries of the church or of churches in the area. A reparation ceremony will take place.

Statue of the Virgin Mary at the L'Immacule Conception Church Destroyed

September 11, 2021, France

The statue of the Virgin Mary at the Immaculate Conception Church in Bonnencontre was broken into thousand pieces. The major and the parish priest believe it happened on 11th September. In the pictures posted by "Le Bien Pubic" one can also recognize scattered bibles on the floor. A formal complaint has been filed.

Blasphemous Graffiti on Church in Palomares

September 11, 2021, Spain

Graffitied profanities against God appeared on a church in Palomares neighbourhood of Béjar on September 11th. The neighbors discovered the graffiti which will take a large amount of work to remove. The police investigated the incident but there were no suspects yet.

Offering Box Repeatedly Being Robbed

September 9, 2021, Italy

The rector of St Anthony's exposed a warning sign on the church's news table: 'He steals our money, but I want to avoid him trouble'. Repeatedly, the priest had found the box containing the offerings of the faithful robbed several times during the last months. He writes that if the thieve comes again he will reach to the police.

Afghan Faith Minorities, Specially Christians Face Crisis while the "EU Religious Special Envoy" Position Is Vacant

September 8, 2021, Belgium

Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU seems to be a difficult position. After being two years vacant, Christos Stylianides took up the vacant post and left it after less than five months for another one. Human Rights experts express their concern about how poorly this position is supported and resourced.

Christian Lawyers Appeal Against the Government's Decision to Ban Religious Processions

September 8, 2021, Spain

The Organisation of Christian Lawyers has appealed to the courts that the ban the Junta de Castilla y León placed on religious processions to contain the spread of the Covid 19, was not just. The ban was imposed in Castilla y León to prevent the festival of the patron saint, which takes place on September 8th, from happening. Christian Lawyers claims that this ban interferes with the fundamental right of religious liberty.

St David's Church in Hubberston Repeatedly Vandalized

September 7, 2021, United Kingdom

The church of St. David and its surroundings continue to be vandalized almost on a daily basis: litter, condoms, sanitary towels, signs of drug use, and human excrement have had to be cleared away by the parishioners, the vast majority of whom are elderly. The latest event affected the church directly where the windows were smashed and graves desecrated. Church members, neighbors, and the police have worked to limit the amount of vandalism. One of the regular church attendants expressed her concern regarding the ongoing vandalism, "The costs and efforts to maintain and continue to preserve these local assets are immense. As a community, we seek to protect our village green and buildings for future generations (...) For almost 900 years it has been cherished and used by thousands of people near and far, as a place of spiritual peace and as a link between generations past and present".

Church Premises Vandalised with Insulting Graffitis Against the Church

September 6, 2021, Spain

The famous romanic chapel known as Monsacro has been vandalised with graffitis and messages against the Church. The chapel building was not vansalised but the Way of Sorrows and the boundary markers were tagged with hostile messages.

Burglary in La Bien Aparecida Church

September 6, 2021, Spain

The chalice, sacred books, and several candles were stolen from the parish of La Bien Aparecida in Santander on September 6th. The door of the tabernacle was also torn off and the Bishopric pointed out that the perpetrator "did not pursue an economic motive, since the pieces do not have great value for sale, but to commit sacrilege." It happened shortly after the Sunday mass but no thief was found.