All cases

Vandal damages outdoor furniture of church Santa Corce in Villaseta

August 1, 2018, Italy

A vandal went on a rampage outside the church of Santa Corce in Villaseta, a district of Agrigento. He broke pots of plants placed around the statue of Padre Pio and other outdoor furniture. He tried to enter the church where dozens of faithful had taken refuge. The vandal himslef hurt himself during his escalation and even left traces of blood scattered on the floor. The parishioners themselves called the police. An investigation was started and footage from surveillance cameras retrieved. The police believe it was a fifty-year-old from the area.

Catholic Politician's Home Targeted with Vandalism

August 1, 2018, United Kingdom

Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg's Somerset home was vandalized with graffiti, condoms were hung on a small cross in the garden, and a sex toy covered with a condom was stuck on a car. While the politician has been controversial for his support for Brexit, media reports indicate that police suspect the sexual items were meant to target Rees-Mogg's Catholic faith and opposition to birth control.

Theft from Freto Church

July 30, 2018, Italy

Just a few days after a theft from the cathedral in Modena, two people, taking advantage of a deactivated alarm in the small church in Freto (Modena), stole a marble baptismal font. Although the theft was captured on surveillance cameras, the identity of the thieves was unclear. This was not the first theft from the isolated church and the nearby cemetery. The residents of the area were upset by the theft from the church.

Repeated Vandalism at Chiesa del Calvario

July 30, 2018, Italy

For the third summer in a row, unknown vandals broke into the ancient Chiesa del Calvario and destroyed objects. This year, they broke the hands of a 16th century statue of the Madonna and destroyed a second statue. The parish priest said the Catholic community was "horrified by vandalism towards statues of the Madonna, as well as the disfigurement of the heritage of the religious site." He called upon officials to investigate and take action to protect the site.

Man Vandalized Churches, then Fired Gun at Witness

July 30, 2018, Poland

A man was observed vandalizing two churches in Krakow with paint by a passerby. When the passerby tried to intervene, the man fled the scene. The man then returned with a gas pistol which he shot at the witness, but the witness was able to overpower the attacker and called the police. The man was charged with possession of an illegal weapon, as well as damage to the churches.

Elda Hospital Chapel Desecrated

July 28, 2018, Spain

At about 10pm on Saturday the 28th of July 2018, vandals broke open the tabernacle of the chapel of the Virgen de la Salud Hospital in Elda (Alicante) and stole the ciborium with the consecrated hosts. The ciborium was later found in the parking lot and the consecrated hosts were scattered around the entrance area of the hospital. Some were found lying on the sidewalk and trampled. The parishes in the area held acts of reparation for the desecration and to pray for the conversion of perpetrators. The police began an investigation.

"Offensive" Christian Symbols being Hidden at Funerals in Scotland

July 27, 2018, United Kingdom

The Scottish Inspector of Crematoria, Robert Swanson, said in his annual report that demands for the removal of Bibles and crosses by humanists and other minorities are on the rise. The Humanist Society of Scotland has said failure to remove Christian symbols leaves their members “open to discrimination” under the Equality Act.

Fire in Church; "Allahu Akbar" Sprayed on Walls

July 25, 2018, France

A fire was set in the church Saint-Pierre du Matroi in Orléans on the 25th of July. Sheet music was burned, furniture was damaged, and smears of graffiti were found on several walls, including one reading "Allahu Akbar." The fire brigade was able to intervene early enough to prevent further spread of the fire, thus preserving the support structure of the church. The police believe the fire was intentionally set.

Stones Stolen from Statue in Cathedral

July 25, 2018, Italy

Unknown thieves, likely taking advantage of renovation works, removed a protective case and stole stones from the pastoral cross on the ancient wooden statue of San Geminiano in the Duomo of Modena. While the stones have very little monetary value, they have tremendous historical value and the statue is sacred to the community because San Geminiano is the patron saint of Modena. The theft has been called 'sacriligious' and offensive to the religious feelings of the church and the entire city. Police began a forensic investigation.

Vandals Ransacked Church; Apologized to Priest

July 23, 2018, Spain

In the early hours of July 23rd, two young men broke into the town church of Adrados and destroyed everything they could, causing extensive damage -- up to €30,000. Shelves, books, and even the altar were tipped over, and paintings and figures were badly damaged. The Diocese of León filed a complaint with the Civil Guard, which immediately opened an investigation that focused on several young people who were in the mountain town that night. The perpetrators were identified and they "asked for forgiveness although they are aware of the consequences that resulted from their prank," according to the parish priest.