All cases

Sold Christian Cemetery Planned to Become Holiday Retreat Area

August 28, 2020, Poland

In the North of Poland, in the city of Bialogóra, the cemetery where about 400 Christian believers are buried, is threatened with plans of turning it into a holiday retreat area. Many of the descendants of the buried now live in Lithuania. The community was not warned about the construction plans. The government representatives says they didn't know the history of the property and sold it to a private enterprise, which is continuing their plans in spite of the protest from the community.

Statue of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus Decapitated

August 27, 2020, Italy

On the 27th August, it was reported in the district of Alcara Li Fusi that the terracotta statue of the Madonna was vandalized for a second time. The head of the Madonna and of the Baby Jesus in her arms were both missing, the perpetrators have not been identified.

Man Destroyed Angel Statue in Church

August 25, 2020, Poland

On the 25. August, a 32-year-old man destroyed the figure of an angel with a stoup in the historic church of the Salesian priests dedicated to St. Joseph in Przemysl. This happened just before Mass, during the adoration service of the Blessed Sacrament. He turned out to be intoxicated by alcohol. Apparently he also was offending the priest verbally.

Thieves Stole Around 500 Euros From Offertory Boxes From Churches

August 25, 2020, Germany

On the 25th August, it was reported that in the past month in Grafenwöhr, three churches were ravaged by thieves, who stole the offerings. The empty boxes were found by the respective sacristan. The total amount of money stolen was around 500 Euro. The churches were the Friedenskirche, where the perpetrators used a tool with magnets to fish the coins. The cemetery Church and the old parish Church were also robbed. The sticks were damaged and plucked up. In top of the stolen cash, the churches suffered damage in amount of 450 euros. The police is investigating and asking the parishes to be attentive.

Dubious Acts of Vandalism in Church in Mur-de-Sologne

August 24, 2020, France

Unknown perpetrators tore two paintings, broke a few vases as well as two statues made from plaster, moved a statue of the Virgin Mary and destroyed its pedestal. They re-arranged chairs in a semi-circle in front of the altar and lit candles, creating the impression of a production of some sort. Investigators suspected vandalism rather than Satanic or anti-religious motives. The village filed a complaint.

Opening Hours of Parisian Church Limited Due to Repeated Incidents of Thefts

August 24, 2020, France

L’Immaculée-Conception parish in the 12th district of Paris announced on August 24th that for the rest of August, they would limit the opening times of their church to a few short periods of time per day. The reason were repeated thefts, concerning some Way of the Cross stations, collection boxes and the sacristy. Therefore, the church felt compelled to open only when they could provide sufficient supervision. Regular opening times will be resumed in September.

Church Guest Book Scrawled with Anti-Christian Messages and then Torn Apart in Buzet-sur-Baïse

August 23, 2020, France

An unknown perpetrator wrote aggressive anti-Christian messages into a guestbook called "Book of Life", which the church Sainte-Croix in Buzet-sur-Baïse provided for tourists passing through to share their experiences and well-wishes. Two weeks after the incident, on August 23, the perpetrator returned to rip out all the pages of the book and leave some more insults, referring to the church inter alia as a "synagogue of Satan".

Fire and Explosions in Reformed Church in Villmergen

August 22, 2020, Germany

The Reformed Church in Villmergen was set on fire and caused extensive property damage. The explosions collapsed a ceiling and the entire house was completely sooty. The cantonal police are at the beginning of the investigation and would consider the incident as arson.

Islamist Attacker Targeted President of The Synagogue, LGBT Association, and Church in Graz

August 22, 2020, Austria

On August 22nd, a 31-year-old man from Syria with Islamist motivations violently attacked the president of the Jewish community in Graz, Elie Rosen, with the leg of a chair. Following his capture, he also admitted vandalism attacks on the synagogue, the facilities of LGBT association RosaLila PantherInnen, and a brothel. He is responsible for smearing several walls in Graz with pro-Palestinian paroles and symbols and spraying symbols on a church. The Austrian media reported that the motives were anti-Semitism, homophobia, and rejection of Austrian society, but did not mention that his anti-Christian motives.

Sant' Agata al Collegio Church in Caltanissetta Devastated

August 22, 2020, Italy

Unknown perpetrators broke into Sant'Agata al Colegio Church, one of the oldest churches in Caltanissetta/Silicy, and destroyed candelabra and other furnishings on the night of 22nd of August. It was suspected that they gained access through the adjoining music high school and Scarabelli library. The police started investigations.