All cases
Vandalism and Theft of Sacred Historical Objects
May 1, 2020, ItalyBetween end of April and the beginning of May, unknown perpetrators entered the small Church of San Francesco d'Assisi in Martirano. They ripped off two sacred objects from the walls and escaped. The sacred objects were of green stone and carved by an unknown sculptor. They weigh around 30 to 40 kilograms each, and dated back to the period between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The carabinieri started investigating the crime. The perpetrators may have placed the stolen objects on the black market. To date, in the area of Martirano, this is the first theft against a sacred building.
Statue of the Virgin Mary Decapitated
April 30, 2020, FranceOn the 30. April in Bonnieux, a statue of the Virgin Mary was destroyed. Its head was taken off and placed on a metal bar on the fence of the sanctuary.
Priest Threatened With a Knife by an Afghan Man Staying at The Monastery
April 28, 2020, FranceIn Strasbourg, on 28. April, a 19-year-old homeless man, who had been welcomed in a monastery during the lockdown, threatened a priest with a knife. The home of the man had been closed due to the pandemic, and he was allowed to stay at the monastery of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem. When the priest asked him to be more hygienic, the alcoholized man threatened the priest with a knife. The witnesses called the police, and he was arrested and taken into custody
Vandalism and Graffiti on Church and Chapel
April 28, 2020, GermanyOn 28th April, the area around the Chapel of our Lady and the Church of the Holy Spirit were devastated by vandals in Landstuhl. The wooden fence was trampled down and the flowers were torn out. The inscription "187" was left there. The outer wall of the church was smeared. The police investigations are ongoing, but so far, there are no references to the incidents.
The Parliament of Andalucía Wants to Prohibit the communion in The Masses
April 27, 2020, SpainIn the end of April, the Parliament of Andalusia presented a proposal to the Government of Spain to resume the Holy Masses during the Pandemic. However, the proposal calls for the prevention of giving of communion and the Holy Water stoups. On the other side, the Catholic Church has already been developing strategies to resume the Holy Masses and distribute communion safely, which is the true meaning of the Mass.
Suspected Arson in Parrish Church of Wadgassen
April 27, 2020, GermanyA suspected arson has been prevented when a churchgoer immediately alerted the fire department. Pastor Peter Leick assumes that the fire was arson.
Closure of Churches During COVID Lockdown but not Museums and Shops
April 27, 2020, Italythe Government imposed a Stop for Holy Masses, but allows shops and museums to prevail. Bishops and believers all around Italy showed disagreement and expressed their hurt feelings.
Afghan Asylum Seeker Arrested after Threatening to "Slit Christians' Throats"
April 26, 2020, BelgiumA Muslim migrant from Afghanistan was arrested on April 26th after he made serious threats against the employees of the asylum center in Helchteren. The 24-year-old man also said he wanted to 'slit Christians' throats' and would blow himself up to kill as many Christians as possible. The police had responded to the center earlier in the week when the man refused to wash his hands in compliance with the coronavirus regulations, claiming that there was alcohol in the soap and therefore he would not use it during Ramadan. That incident escalated when the man began coughing and spitting at people around him.
Arson at Historical All Saints Church
April 25, 2020, United KingdomOn Saturday 25th April, unknown perpetrators set fire to the historic Leicester city center All Saints Church, which was hosting a virtual Van Gogh exhibition. The motives remain unclear whether this was an act of vandalism or an attempt to steal a painting of the artist. The fire alarm raised in the morning. A large wooden door at a side entrance was badly damaged.
Theft and Vandalism Leading to Closure of Church During the Week
April 25, 2020, GermanyDue to recent theft and vandalism, the Church of the Redeemer congregation in Mannheim's Seckenheim district will remain closed on weekdays.