All cases

Arson to Nativity Scene in Church in Dortmund

January 17, 2022, Germany

The police assume that the straw on the cot of the Provost Church of St. John the Baptist was set on fire by someone. Arson is suspected. This was reported by "Der Westen". According to the parish website, a visitor to the Catholic church noticed the fire at the cot on Monday and reported it. With the help of a fire extinguisher, the caretaker and sexton were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the Christmas trees and the wooden altar.The nativity scene has now been dismantled. The church remains open, but additional safety measures are being considered.

Entire Music Equipment Stolen from Dresden Church

January 17, 2022, Germany

An unknown thief stole the music equipment form the Friedenskirche Church in Dresden-Löbtau. The theft happened on the 17 of January and police say the stolen goods had a value of around 2,000 euros. The equipment is vital for celebrating services.

Man Tears Host into Pieces During Mass

January 16, 2022, France

On the 16. January, in the parish of Saint-Esprit in Paris during Mass, a man went to receive Communion, but instead, he took the Host and tore it into pieces and threw it to the ground. The Father Simón Fornier de Violeta, one of the parish vicars, was distributing Communion when this man arrived and stretched out his hand. As the priest tried to ask him about this profanation, he replied "For Nadia", and went away. The priest said: "The act was thought out, premeditated." He commented that the man had some injuries in his hands, like "people who consume drugs or drink too much."

Man Arrested for Dismembering Figures of Jesus

January 16, 2022, Germany

A 30 year old man was arrest for multiple accounts of property damage around the Märkischer Kreis region on January 16th. The cases included the dismembering of Jesus figurines, stolen statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, and damage to wayside crosses. The police suspected it was not a religiously motivated attack but this does not excuse the fact that the objects that were destroyed in a sacrilegious manner, were sacred to Christians.

Burglary of Church in St. Ingbert

January 16, 2022, Germany

On January 16th, three men and two women, entered the church of St. Hildegard in St. Ingbert and stole several items after ransacking the inside. Groceries were stolen and some offering sticks, which they tried to break, were shaken to get the coins out. When the police arrived on the scene, the criminals fled but the two women were arrested. A follow up investigation confirmed that the suspects were a gang who had raided several other churches and items, including a gold chalice worth thousands, were found in one of their apartments.

Police Are Investigating Arson to Dundee Church

January 15, 2022, United Kingdom

In Dundee, Scotland, the St Luke’s Parish Church was the victim of an arson attack on the 15. January. The crew that extinguished the fire found that someone had set alight rubbish around 4 pm, according to the police. Also, neighbours said there have been issues with teenagers accessing the grounds of the former church.

Graffiti in Wertingen Church

January 13, 2022, Germany

A severe case of vandalism was recorded at the St. Martin's Church in Wertingen on January 13th. Graffiti and the number 187, meaning murder, were painted all over the wooden paneling and seats. There was even a failed attempt to break open the sacristy door; and the offertory was also damaged, in the adjacent Lourdes Grotto. There was an estimated property damage of around 1,000 Euros.

Break-In and Property Damage to Church in Niederlinxweiler

January 13, 2022, Germany

Unknown intruders destructively gained access to the evangelical church in Niederlinxweiler on January 13th. In their attempt to find and steal valuables from the sacristy, they ransacked rooms and caused a large amount of property damage. The police were looking for witnesses to provide more information.

Polish Court Rejects Appeal for LGBTQ Acquittal

January 12, 2022, Poland

The Plock court in Poland has finally rejected the prosecutions appeal after three pro-LGBTQ women were acquitted in March of 2021. They had been distributing posters of the Virgin May with a rainbow halo on her head and were prosecuted for "offending religious beliefs." The sentence would have been up to two years but the offence was not deemed severe enough.

Drunk Man Threatens Priest And Tries to Enter Church

January 11, 2022, Italy

Around 4 a.m. today, Tuesday 11 January, a 29-year-old young man with multiple past convictions began threatening the parish priest of the Collegiate Church in Moncalieri because he could not get into the church. The parish priest, worried about the possibility of vandalism, called the Carabinieri. When they arrived a few minutes later, the soldiers tried to calm him down, but the man attacked them and continued his fury even at the barracks, where he was taken to formalise his arrest.