All cases
Many Religious Objects Stolen from Saint-Georges Church of Chavanges
August 8, 2020, FranceOn the 8th August, the parish priest of the Church Saint-Georges of Chavanges found that two chalices, five ciboria, and a paten were stolen from the Church. On Monday, they filed a complaint to the gendarmerie in Brienne-le-Château. The objects did not have financial value. Therefore, the bias must have been to vandalize the place of worship. Also, the key to the tabernacle was stolen, so other items may also be missing. The Church usually remains closed at night. Hence, the perpetrators must have broken in.
Two Churches Vandalized On The Same Night
August 8, 2020, FranceDuring the night of Saturday 8th to Sunday 9th August, two churches were vandalized in Etsaut and Urdos. It was an act of pure vandalism. The priest of the church of Etsaut thinks it was a group of perpetrators. The mayor filed a complaint to the police since the door was broken open, and the door of the sacristy was damaged too. The cupboards of the sacristy were open, and a small amount of money was stolen. There were no witnesses. The church of Urdos witnessed a similar scenery. The sacristy was forced open, but this time nothing was stolen.
The Interior Of the Onze Lieve Vrouw van Banneux Chapel Demolished
August 8, 2020, BelgiumOn 8th August in the morning, the chapel Onze Lieve Vrouw van Banneux in Bree was vandalized. The interior was almost entirely demolished. Numerous statues were smashed, candle wax was dripped all over, and all the candles were destroyed, the walls and the ceiling were smeared. In 2016, 2014 and 2003 the Chapel was also vandalized. The local residents had heard the sound of destruction and broken glass, and reported the suspect to the police. It was a man from abroad without papers.
Act of Vandalism To The Statue Of St. Joseph
August 8, 2020, ItalyOn Saturday 8th August, a vandal struck the Statue of St. Joseph in the Madonna della Pace Church in Pantelleria-Tracino. The hand of the saint was damaged. The statue will need a restoration.
A Church Vandalized with Graffiti in Marseille
August 7, 2020, FranceOn the 7th August, graffiti were found on the facade of the former church of the Mission de France in rue du Tapis-Vert in Marseille. The Graffiti were probably made at different times.
Three Statues of The Church of Saint-André Destroyed
August 7, 2020, FranceDuring the last weeks before the 7th August, there were three acts of vandalism in St. Andrew Church in the historic center of Niort. It is suspected that the vandals came during the nights from Thursday to Friday and destroyed several statues of the church. The Statue of the infant Jesus, carried in the arms of St. Anthony was left in a thousand pieces. Some pieces were thrown in a trash can near the monument. The Church remained closed for safety, and the parish filed a complaint to the police.
‘Weapon’ Used to Target Staveley Church
August 7, 2020, United KingdomBetween the night of 7th to 8th August, the windows of the Methodist Church in Staveley were attacked. Small holes were found in the windows. The size indicates that a sort of weapon was used, and witnesses reported sounds of gunfire. Similar holes were also found in the stained-glass windows at St. John the Baptist Church.The Police are investigating.
The Aravaca Hermitage Spray-Painted With Satanic Graffiti on Its Exterior and Church Vandalized
August 6, 2020, SpainOn the 6th August, the hermitage of Our Lady of the Good Way in Aravaca spray-painted with satanic graffiti and insults to the Church on its exterior walls. There were poorly painted pentagrams and graffiti with the number 666, associated with the devil in the Bible, and other insults.
Church Windows Damaged by Fire
August 6, 2020, GermanyOn the 6th August, particularly in the period from Tuesday 8pm to Wednesday 11am, unknown perpetrators damaged the windows of St. Laurentius in Neuenkirchen. In addition, they had set fire to an object.
Excrements found inside Saint-Maclou Cathedral
August 6, 2020, FranceThe Saint-Maclou Cathedral in Pontoise was soiled by human excrements three times within a week, French newspaper Le Parisien reported on August 6. The town council and the team responsible for the maintenance of the church began to look for solutions.