All cases

Arson: Molotov Cocktail Thrown at Church

January 5, 2022, Netherlands

On New Year's Eve, a Molotov cocktail was hurled at Arnhem's Saint Nicholas Church starting a fire. Jan van Schuylenburg, who is a church volunteer, was soon at the scene and put the fire out. There is footage of the cocktail being thrown, which will help with the prosecution, and Jan "think(s) it was an attack".

Repeated Vandalism and Damage at Church in Sint-Truiden

January 5, 2022, Belgium

The Saint Martin's Church in Sint-Truiden has been continuously targeted by vandalism and theft. Bundles of wipes were torn from the cross and set on fire and a few days earlier, the mass book was thrown and knocked around until it was broken. A few months back, the ribbons of the antique mass book were set on fire but luckily the book was not burnt. Sexton Etienne said: “A church is a public building and it should stay that way... People should be able to come here in complete safety to pray and relax.”

Three Statues Defaced and Basilica Vandalised by a Man in Saint-Denis

January 5, 2022, France

A man came to the basilica of Saint-Denis and used an iron bar to damage three statues on the 5th of January. The rector of the cathedral-basilica said he had filed a complaint on the same day and the vandal was quickly arrested. The 30-year-old man caused several material damages. At first, the man came to the Basilica and was refused access to a space behind the altar, prohibited to the public. He returned a little later, armed with an iron bar, with which he attacked the display cases in which religious objects (crucifixes, statuettes and other trinkets) were exhibited. Then, the man threw three plaster statues to the ground.

Arson to Chapel of the Madonna by Unknown Perpetrators

January 4, 2022, Italy

Unknown vandals broke into the chapel of the Madonna in Cima Sappada by breaking the lock, which was reported on the 4th of January. The perpetrators took the tablecloth off the altar and lit a fire inside the chapel by using wooden stacks and the tablecloth. Some passing hikers noticed that the door had been opened and reported the damage to managers of a nearby refuge. Fortunately, the damage was not extensive.

Vandals Tagged Two Churches in Arona

January 4, 2022, Italy

On the days prior to the 4th of January, there was a surge of vandalism in Arona. Unknown vandals damaged the main door of the San Rocco Church and the Sacro Cuore Church with graffiti. They painted crosses on the doors. Apart from that, vandals also defaced a sign of a high school.

Church installs Window Protection due to Recurrent Vandalism

January 4, 2022, Germany

Due to ongoing vandalism, there are now protective grids at the Luther Church in Fellbach. The damage is thought to have been caused by young people throwing stones.

Unknown Perpetrators Vandalise Church and Steal 2000 Euros

January 3, 2022, Italy

On the 3. January, the parish priest, Don Gianluigi Ganabano, found out that thieves had broken into the Church of Santa Maria Immacolata the night before. Around two thousand euros were stolen from the church. The parish priest found the premises ransacked and called the police. The thieves forced open a side door and took possession of some boxes containing offerings.

Unknown Man Punches Priest During Mass

January 3, 2022, Slovakia

A video was posted on the 3rd of January, which shows how a man approached a Greek Catholic priest during Mass and punched him in the arm. The man was wearing a jacket with clearly read "F**k your God" and was rapidly taken away by other men, who reacted to the attack. The incident took place in the church of Pavel Petr Gojdic and Blessed Vasyl Hopko in Bardejov. After the attack, the 26-year-old priest asked the congregation to pray for his aggressor and declared forgiveness for him. The man was detained by the police and could face up to 3 years of prison.

43,000 Signatures Against the Removal of a Catholic Statue in Les Sables d'Olonne

January 3, 2022, France

Since the decision by the Administrative Court of Nantes to remove the statue of Saint Michel in the town of Les Sables d'Olonne, two online petitions collected over 43,000 signatures against it removal. The statue is on the front of the Saint Michel church and the court wanted it removed withing six months as the said in violated a 1905 law on secularism. The statue has been there for years and the town was determined to not let it go.

Presbyterian Church in Creutzwald Vandalised

January 3, 2022, France

The Presbyterian church in Creutzwald was severely vandalised by unknown criminals. The lights, various pots, mailbox, and shutter were all damaged by fire crackers and the questioning angel, placed at the top of the crib, was removed of its head and the donations gone. For fear of more acts like this, the church has reduced its visiting hours.

Statue of Saints Destroyed in Marl Church

January 3, 2022, Germany

On January 3rd, an intruder entered the Barbara Church in Marl-Hamm and destroyed statues of saints. "When exactly they came in, we unfortunately do not know," said Sister Aloysiana. The doors to the church were not locked and the police were investigating the crime.

Nativity Scene Vandalised in French Village

January 2, 2022, France

On the 2nd of January, it was reported that the Christmas Nativity installation which adorned the religious building was vandalised. "I find it unacceptable. Especially as it required a certain amount of effort to reach it, given the height at which it was situated," said Jean-Pierre Quet, the mayor of Artigues-de-Lussac. The work was created some years ago by municipal workers and volunteers: "It was 5 to 6 metres long, with figures and a scrap metal frame. Everything was plugged in. Whoever did this tore it down, they can't do anything with it. It's a purely gratuitous act of vandalism", he said. A complaint was filed to the police.

Teenagers destroy Church of Marguerita Sign

January 2, 2022, Italy

After some vandals destroyed the panel of the Church of Santa Margherita which was outside the structure, the Associazione 21, which manages the building, posted a message on their website. They posted it on the 3rd of January, saying that some 11-12-year-old boys kicked and smashed the panel in front of the Church.

Bomb Detonates at Greek Church on New Year's Eve

January 1, 2022, Greece

An explosion caused by unknown perpetrators occurred outside the Church of St. Paul in Athens at about 12:30 AM on New Year's, as reported by Protothema.gr. The explosion was caused by ten gas canisters placed outside the church, which caused minor material damage, such as blackened spots on the church's facade. A similar event took place in 2018, where two people were wounded. The police are investigating the attack.

Unknown Vandals destroy Statue of Christ

January 1, 2022, France

On the 1st of January, the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Saint-Porchaire Church, was thrown to the ground and destroyed, according to a witness. An investigation has been opened by the police and two men might have been the perpetrators. There are no suspects for the time being and a complaint has been filed.

Statue of Baby Jesus Vandalised in the Netherlands

January 1, 2022, Netherlands

The statue of baby Jesus in the village of Heesh has been victimized by vandalism between Christmas and New Year. According to the report, these attacks on the nativity scene are very common. This time, the head of the statue of Jesus was broken into four pieces, and the cot had a big hole in it. Peter van Moorselaar of De Drie Leliën, who is in charge of taking care of the nativity scene has also shared the crime. He mentioned how the head of the baby Jesus looked as "if vandals had played soccer with it." Even though there were concerns over the price of the damages, Joke Franken and his daughter have restored the statue of baby Jesus.

Lecce: Theft of the Baby Jesus Figure

December 31, 2021, Italy

In Lecce, the baby boy from the large nativity scene set up in Piazza del Duomo was stolen, as reported on the 31st of December. Unknown perpetrators stole the statue of baby Jesus during the night. It was placed in the center of the Nativity scene in front of the cathedral church. This apparently happens every year, which affects the people of Lecce and the curia. The police are working to see if there is any footage from security cameras to identify the thieves.

Fire at St. Nicholaus Church on New Year's Eve treated as Arson

December 31, 2021, Switzerland

A big fire broke out in the St. Nicholaus Church in Hofstetten on the evening of the 31. December and it is being investigated for arson. The police were alerted and they, together with firefighters, rushed to the Catholic church to extinguish the fire, which took several brigades. It has left massive damage to the church, including the organ and the interior of the church. The damage is likely to amount to several 100,000 francs. There have been no injuries, but the police is running an investigation and asking for witnesses. According to the interim parish president, Georg Sigfrist, unknown vandals had destroyed the nativity scene inside the church shortly before the fire broke out.

Jewels and Offerings Stolen From Mary Image

December 31, 2021, Italy

In Taranto, the jewels and offerings that the parish people left to the icon of "Our Lady of Health" in her shrine have been stolen, as reported on the 31st of December. Monsignor Emanuele Ferro, spokesman for archbishop Filippo Santoro reported this to the media.

Christ Child Theft in Modling Nativity

December 31, 2021, Austria

The Christ Child figurine was stolen from a nativity scene in the Herz-Jesu parish in Modling. It was over fifty years old and had little monetary value so the Vicariate Councillor & Pastoral Assistant Alexandra Kommer expects it was done as a prank adding: "Who does something like that?" The police started an investigation to find the thieves.