All cases

Church Fire in Réaumont Investigated

June 29, 2020, France

Shortly before 7 p.m. on June 29th, the fire brigade was dispatched to a fire in the Réaumont church. The firefighters were able to contain the damage of the fire to the sacristy. The fire produced high volumes of smoke, which caused most of the damage in the sacristy. Fortunately the rest of the church remained intact and no sacred objects were damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the gendarmerie.

Crystal Glass Pyramide Protecting the Statue of Antonfrancesco Farsetti Vandalized

June 28, 2020, Italy

On June 28th the crystal glass pyramid, which is supposed to protect the statue Antonfrancesco Farsetti, founder of Ilsa della Donazella, was smashed by unknown vandals.

Repeated Acts of Vandalism and Theft in Bergamo Church

June 27, 2020, Italy

In the week before June 27th, the church of Sant’Andrea in Bergamo was the victim of two crimes. The first incident was the vandalism of the liturgical chair which was discovered upside down in the middle of the church and wet with what the priest suspected was urine. The second incident was the theft of the offerings, accomplished by severely damaging the valuable offering boxes. This series of events led to the closure of the church except for Sunday Mass, until funds have been raised to install comprehensive security measures.

Robbers Cause €100 in Damage to Steal €5 from Sulzbach Church

June 26, 2020, Germany

Police report that between June 26th and June 28th unknown perpetrators stole money from the offering box of the evangelical Church of Sulzbach. While the damage to the church property was estimated to be one hundred euros, the thieves fled with five euros.

Fire Devastated Catholic Parish Hall; Apartment

June 26, 2020, Germany

AAround 10:30 p.m. on June 26th, the Hemmingen fire brigade was called due to a report of smoke in an apartment. Upon arrival, they discovered that that the adjacent caretaker's apartment in the attic of the Catholic Church of St. George parish hall was on fire. The fire brigade had to put out the fire and prevent it from spreading to the church, which is just a few meters away. According to the Ludwigsburg police, the caretaker's apartment was completely burnt out and is now uninhabitable. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Disturbance in the Church of Oppau in Ludwigshafen Suspect Fled

June 23, 2020, Germany

On June 23rd, the priest of the Catholic church in the Oppau district of Lugwigshafen heard a loud noise inside the church around 12:30 p.m. While investing the noise, he discovered a young man fleeing and found several objects in the church toppled over. The damage caused is estimated to be around 500 euros. The police are investigating.

Statue of Saint Junípero Serra Vandalized with "Racist"

June 22, 2020, Spain

The statue of the Mallorcan friar and saint Junípero Serra in Palma which stands in front of the central convent of Sant Francesc, was vandalized on June 22nd. The word 'racist' was smeared on the base of the monument, and the saint's image was also stained with red paint. The statue was attacked after the Podemos councilor in the Palma City Council, Sonia Vivas, mayor of Social Justice, Feminism and LGTBI, noted the statue of the eighteenth-century Franciscan friar had been attacked in California, USA. She suggested the statue of the saint should be thrown away "peacefully, "calling the saint a symbol of the "oligarchy".

‘Black Madonna’ in Breda defaced

June 22, 2020, Netherlands

On June 22nd, vandals defaced the image of Our Lady of Częstochowa and painted the letters "BLM" at the base in a park chapel in Breda. The image of Our Lady, which is revered by Poles and also known as the 'Black Madonna', was erected in the park in 1954 in thanksgiving for the city’s liberation from the Nazis.

Unknown Perpetrators Destroyed Forest Chapel In Achel

June 22, 2020, Belgium

On 22 June, vandals destroyed the small forest chapel at the Prinsenloop on the Witteberg in Achel. The facade was thrown out of the window and the statue of the Virgin Mary was completely destroyed and the debris was found near the chapel. Some tiles of the roof and a flowerpot were also smashed. The police are investigating.

Theft from Bühl Church

June 19, 2020, Germany

A thief caused nearly €200 in damage when he violently tore the offertory box affixed to a table in the Catholic church in Bühl on June 19th. Reports indicate the box only contained a few euros. The Bühl police began an investigation.