All cases

Windows of Bouvignes Church Broken

January 9, 2022, Belgium

On 9. January, the stained glass windows of the Bouvignes church were smashed in. Father Jean-Baptiste Raty labelled the act: "gratuitous vandalism".

Vandal Smashes Church Windows During Mass

January 9, 2022, Slovakia

During Mass, an 18-year-old used a hammer to smash the windows of the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Senica. The man then fled the scene with a city police patrol in pursuit. He used the hammer to fend off one officer but was caught in the end. This incident happened on January 9th.

Karlskirche in Vienna Tagged Again by Unknown Vandals

January 8, 2022, Austria

On the night of the 7. to 8. January, the historical Karlskirche in Vienna was tagged with red paint by unknown vandals. Among the symbols, there were blasphemous drawings, anarchist and communist symbols. Johannes Pasquali, a Viennese politician, demanded that security cameras be installed to protect the church. These attacks and vandalism have been repetitive for some months.

Statue of the Virgin of Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux Church destroyed

January 8, 2022, France

In the Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux Church in Strasbourg, the statue of the Virgin was vandalised on the 8th of January. The statue of the Virgin was found destroyed on the ground with its face damaged. A complaint was filed with the police. The parish priest of the church received the news and commented: "It was a parishioner who alerted me. He found the statue of the Virgin demolished, next to its base. He immediately called. I think it was intentional: the way it was positioned, I don't see how the statue could have fallen down by itself. Father Uberall has already announced his intention to file a complaint."

Theft of Money and Consecrated Hosts in Vitry-sur-Seine

January 7, 2022, France

In the night of January 6th, unknown persons broke into the Saint-Germain church of Vitry-sur-Seine. There, they broke open the three tabernacles and took the ciborium with the consecrated hosts as well as stealing some money donated by the parishioners. The desecration of the hosts showed their malignant intent.

Couple Vandalised Nativity Scene and Cut Off Mary's Hands

January 7, 2022, Poland

A couple of 20-year-olds vandalised a Christmas nativity scene in Jasień on the 7. January. The perpetrators damaged the figures in the nativity scene, including cutting off the hands of Mary. They also stole the crosier. They have been charged with "destruction of property", theft and offending religious feelings. They could face up to 5 years in jail, according to polish authorities.

Figure of Baby Jesus Destroyed in Diest

January 7, 2022, Belgium

On the 7. January, the nativity scene on display at the historic Church of St. Suplice in Diest was the victim of vandalism. Unknown perpetrators destroyed the figure of baby Jesus by tearing off his head, one arm and one leg.

Several Thefts at Nativity Scenes in Sint Truiden

January 7, 2022, Belgium

On January 7th, the baby Jesus was stolen from the nativity scene at the Saint Martin church in Sint Truiden. This was not the first of such thefts as earlier, said sexton Etienne Thomas. He recalls: "one of the brass angels on the main altar was unscrewed and stolen," and before that, some copper candlesticks were taken. These incidents were just part of the repeated vandalism the Saint Martin church has been facing.

Evangelical Dean Receives Several Threats For his Views

January 7, 2022, Germany

The Dean of the Evangelical Church has received several anonymous threatening letters due to the vaccination campaign in Ulm Minster. These letters criticise vaccinations and the role played by the Dean in it.No one close or familiar to the Dean is considered a suspect, as the details of the letter demonstrated a lack of knowledge regarding the church's internal procedures and even the address the letter was sent to was incorrect.

Statue of the Virgin Mary destroyed in Poland

January 7, 2022, Poland

A statue of the Virgin Mary was torn apart and a local chapel destroyed in Sikorzyna, Poland, as reported on the 7th of January. The four perpetrators have been arrested and will be judged accordingly. The Fidei Defensor Monitoring Center for Christianophobia stated that it "will intervene to bring the perpetrators to justice".

Painting of Jesus Broken in Attempted Theft from Sint-Truiden Church

January 7, 2022, Belgium

Thieves attempted to steal the triptych with pictures of Jesus, that was hanging at the front at Saint Martin's church in Sint-Truiden. The incident was recorded on January 7th but happened several weeks earlier. The triptych is 40 to 50 kilos so once it was detached, the weight became too much for the thieves and the picture fell, broken beyond repair. Although it was not stolen, the image was destroyed.

Activists Block Holy Mass at Cathedral in Cologne

January 6, 2022, Germany

On the 6. January at the evening, a group of twelve climate activists blocked a mass in the Cathedral of Cologne. The demonstrators wanted to catch Pope Francis' attention, according to Catholic News Agency request. The cathedral wardens attempted to carry out the activists, who sat in the middle of the church between the aisles. Two of them got injured for trying to carry these persons, but no actual violence was used from any side, they were treated by rescue workers.

Nativity Figures Stolen by Youth

January 6, 2022, Germany

Sixteen and twelve-year-old boys were caught after they took the baby Jesus from a nativity scene in Saarburg and altered some of the other figures during the first week of January. The stolen figure was thrown into the Saar and the youth have been charged with other acts of vandalism.

Six Church Statues Decapitated in Poitiers

January 6, 2022, France

On January 6th, six statues were found decapitated in the church of Sainte-Thérèse in Poitiers. The police have confirmed that the vandalism

Repetitive Burglary in Church

January 6, 2022, Germany

Church on Hiddensee Island was sacked for the second time within only a few weeks. Money was stolen from the donation containers, with a total plundering and property damage estimated at around 600€. Nearly a month before, unknown thieves had broken into the antechamber of the church, stealing the money saved in a wooden donation chest.

Vandals Desecrate Tombstones at Cemetery

January 6, 2022, Italy

On January 6th, unknown vandals raided cooper vases and bouquets of flowers were found torn apart on the floor. A second theft was recorded in fifteen days in the Cemetery of Ponticelli. These acts of vandalism were recorded both in the chapel of Sant'Anna and in the municipal hypogeum located in the most recent zone of construction of the Ponticelli Cemetery.

Burglary in the Church of Santa Maria Assunta

January 6, 2022, Italy

A theft occurred on the 6. January during the Catholic celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord. Unknown vandals took advantage of the absence of people and broke into the Church of Santa Maria Assunta by breaking the glass of the sacristy. A music box was stolen, commonly used by the city choirs to animate celebrations in the Church. The police were immediately alerted and began the investigations to find the authors of this theft. Both the members of the choir and the parish priest Don Francesco Scarin expressed deep regret for this theft.

UPDATE: Catholic Nurse Wins Discrimination and Harassment Case

January 5, 2022, United Kingdom

Mary Onuoha was constructively dismissed in 2020 from the Croydon NHS Trust Hospital in London for wearing a golden cross necklace. She now has won the case against her unfair dismissal for discrimination and harassment, with the help of the Christian Legal Center, as it was communicated on 5. January. The Hospital had said her necklace was "too visible" and posed a ‘risk of injury or infection’, but the ruling found out that other medical staff wore jewellery, religious attire and badges, and that this was "widely tolerated". The ruling declared the dismissal of Mrs Onuoha discriminatory and arbitrary, and recognized her right to religious freedom, such as wearing a cross necklace.

Saarburg Church Heavily Desecrated and Vandalised

January 5, 2022, Germany

Unknown vandals broke through the door of the Protestant church on the Schlossberg in Saarburg, Germany, on January 5th. The perpetrators urinated in the church and left vomit and cigarette ashes. This disrespectful act was the second crime in the church after candlesticks had been stolen the previous year.

Theft and Damage of Liturgical Objects in France

January 5, 2022, France

Sacred objects in the Saint-Symphorien church in Genouilly, were damaged and taken by unknown thieves. They stole the liturgical piece that displays the host, and after breaking through the tabernacle door, took two ciboriums that hold the host. Michel Legendre, the mayor of the commune, plans to file a complaint about this disrespectful act.