All cases

Police Found Man Responsible for Theft of Church Statue and Other Art Pieces

November 15, 2021, France

The man responsible for a theft in an art gallery in Clermont-Ferrand was arrested on September 14. He had broken the window to get inside the art gallery, leaving behind traces of DNA, which made it easier for the police to track him down. During investigations, police found a figure of St. Anthony, stolen from a church in Montferrand two days earlier. The statue was returned to the church and he was ordered to reimburse the value of the stolen statuette to the owner of the gallery. On November 15, a court sentenced him to one year in prison for having more than thirty cases of theft on his record.

Two Journalists Insult Christian Singer on Twitter, calling Christians "Disabled"

November 14, 2021, Slovakia

Hateful comments against the Christian singer Sima Magushinova and Christians in general on Twitter, arouse a wave of indignation among the Slovak political class. Many of them publicly defended Sime Martausová and criticized the attitude of the two journalists responsible for the offenses: Petr Tkačenek, commentator of the daily SME and Rada Ondřejíček, author of the Cynical Monster.

Lamps at Church in Łęczna Destroyed

November 14, 2021, Poland

Lamps illuminating the façade of the St. Mary Magdalene church in Łęczna were destroyed on the 14th of November. Three lamps were intentionally smashed, which showed hate towards the church. It was not known who did it. Police are investigating.

Arbroath church targeted by vandals on Remembrance Sunday

November 14, 2021, United Kingdom

On Sunday 14. November, the St John’s Methodist Church in Arbroath was targeted by vandals. Three windows of the church were deliberately smashed. “The act of vandalism was bizarre and upsetting for the congregation gathering on Remembrance Sunday,” said Reverend Baker. Mr. Baker thinks something was used to hit the window repeatedly, rather than an object being thrown at it. The police are investigating.

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.