All cases

Second Case of Vandalism to the Church of the Holy Cross

December 18, 2021, United Kingdom

The small church of the Holy Cross in Mwnt, Cardigan, had been vandalised twice in December, as the Rev John Bennett revealed. The church was damaged first at the beginning of December and the last case happened between the 18th and the 21st of December. The windows od the church were smashed with rocks and the pillar outside the church was damaged. A fundraising appeal was launched to help the small church with reparations, which has had a very positive response.

Special Stones Torn out and Cross Stolen from Altar in Oldenburg Church

December 18, 2021, Germany

Parishioners were heart broken when an unknown intruder wrenched some semi-precious stones out of the alter in the Oldenburg Forum Church of St. Peter. The stones, which were taken out on the 18th of December, belonged to a wooden crucifix that had been in place since 1877. In addition, an alter cross decorated with silver was also stolen on the same weekend.

Giant Straw Goat Burned by an Arsonist

December 17, 2021, Sweden

A giant straw goat, which has become an annual highlight in the Swedish city of Gavle, has been burned by an arsonist. A man, in his 40s, was arrested at the scene after the structure was set on fire, in the early hours of the 17th of December. Every Christmas since 1966, the Gavlebocken (Gavle goat) has been put up in the city's central Castle Square, but it has become a usual target for arsonists and vandals. The Gavlebocken annually draws visitors to Gavle, which is built up the first Sunday of Christian Advent. A big concert accompanied the goat's inauguration at the end of November.

Village in Wales Restored its Nativity after Being Fire-Bombed last year

December 17, 2021, United Kingdom

A year after the Nativity scene in a village in Wales was fire-bombed by vandals on Christmas Eve, the community Raglan in Gwent has decided to create a new life-sized Nativity.

Pure Vandalism in a Church in Volkmarsen

December 17, 2021, Germany

Between the evening of December 16 and noon of the 18th, an unidentified individual broke into a church on Vikariestrasse in Volkmarsen. The perpetrator forced open and broke the door of the church, causing material damage of about 500€. However, nothing was stolen from the church. The case was reported to the police who began investigating the case.

Consecrated Hosts Stolen from a Church in Palermo

December 16, 2021, Italy

Pyx with hosts stolen in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, on December 16. Police was alerted but lack of evidence suggests a low probability of finding the perpetrators. Both the parish priest and the community that frequents the church were unsettled by the event, considering the hosts "the treasure" of the church.

Unknown Perpetrator Vandalizes Nativity Scene in Liege

December 16, 2021, Belgium

On the 16th of December at noon, an individual attacked the nativity scene and the furniture of the church of Saint-Denis in Liege. He also left a message saying: "God is witness". The head of one figure was torn off and another one was destroyed.

France 2021: Christians are the Most Targeted Group for Anti-Religious Crimes

December 14, 2021, France

On the 14. December, the French Government presented its yearly listing of attacks against Christians. There were 1,380 anti-religious attacks between January and October 2021, from which 686 were targeted against Christians. As Father Hugues de Woillemont, spokesman for French Bishops' Conference, said during a press conference on December 14: "The acts listed are very varied, from tags on the wall of a church to the desecration of tabernacles." These numbers only include formal complaints filed by the police, so the dark numbers could be higher.

Biblical Quotes Painted on a Wall in Portstewart Under Suspicion

December 14, 2021, United Kingdom

A local council in Northern Ireland has dismissed claims, by an ‘equality expert’, that repainting Bible texts on a local sea wall may be in breach of its equality scheme. The council-owned wall bears the words: “‘The sea is His and He made it’ Psalm 95 v 5”, “Eternity?”, “Jesus said: ‘Ye must be born again’ John c3 v7”, and “‘Christ died for us’ Romans c5 v8”.

Mosque Shut down for Inciting Violence against Christians, Jews and Homosexuals

December 14, 2021, France

A mosque in Beauvais in northern France has been ordered to shut down for six months for hosting preachings that incited hatred "against Christians, homosexuals and jews". According to the prefecture of the Oise department, the mosque was "inciting hatred", "violence" and "apology of jihad". Gérald Darmanin, France's interior minister, announced on December 14th that he had started the procedure for the closure of this mosque.