All cases
Man Steals 55 Euros from the Mariahilfe Church in Vienna
November 11, 2021, AustriaThe Viennese police caught a 40-year-old man in a Church in Vienna-Mariahilf on the morning of the 11th after a burglary. He was temporarily handcuffed and the stolen offertory money was seized, as the Vienna Police Directorate reported in a press release on Friday. According to spokeswoman Barbara Gass, about 55 euros were found on the man. The perpetrator has been imprisoned.
Father Adam Świerżewski Dies after being Attacked in Park
November 11, 2021, PolandMaksymilian Adam Świerżewski, from the parish of St. Maximillian Kolbe, was taken to the hospital after being severely beaten in Alexandria Park in Siedlce. Due to the terrible injury, it was not possible to save him and he died at the age of 35 on November 11th. An autopsy was carried out and it was confirmed that he died from several kicks, punches, or hits to the head but his murderer was still unknown.
Anti-Christian Tags Painted on the Walls of Christ the King Chapel
November 11, 2021, FranceMessages were painted on the doorway of the Chapel of Christ the King in the Dalby district of Nantes, on the night from the 10th to the 11th of November, with obscene anti-Christian tags. On the same night, the perpetrator(s) also attempted to force the gate by pushing and shaking it.
Update: Cardinal Nichols and Metropolitan Police Studying Possibility to Allow Last Sacraments at Crime Scenes
November 10, 2021, United KingdomCardinal Vincent Nichols and the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick have started studying the possibility to allow Catholic priests at crime scenes. This proposal was submitted after Sir David Amess, a Catholic MP, was killed during a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea (Essex), on October 15. A Catholic Priest, who was also a personal friend of Sir David's, wanted to give him the Last Sacraments, but the police denied him access. After this event, he realized how important it is, especially for the Catholic community, to ensure that the Last Sacraments is granted.
Reliquary Stolen in 2017 Found in an Auction House in France
November 10, 2021, GermanyThe reliquary stolen in 2017 from the Lower Rhine pilgrimage site of Kevelaer has reappeared in an auction house in France. Thanks to an art collector, who recalled the theft from the Kevelaer Sacrament Chapel, the reliquary was identified. He contacted the head of the "Art and Culture" department in the diocese, Thomas Flammer, and with the help of the police and Interpol, the valuable reliquary was secured in time before being sold in the auction. It is still unclear when it will be returned.
Several Church Objects Stolen, Thief caught by 65-years-old Woman
November 10, 2021, GermanyOn November 11, various items were stolen from the church on Dorfstraße in Bad Gottleuba-Berggießhübel. Apparently, the thieves broke the entrance door open. A 65-year-old woman noticed the burglary and found a man outside the church in the possession of "several tablecloths and two wooden railings". Police officers were alerted and started investigating the man for the burglary, finding several electrical fuses from the church in the suspect's apartment. There is no final damage information so far.
Icon Stolen From St Dunstan's Church in Stepney
November 10, 2021, United KingdomOn the afternoon of November 10, an icon belonging to St. Dunstan's church in Stepney was stolen by a man. The church described it as a "beautiful and much-treasured icon" of St. Dunstan.
Man Tries to Burn Down an Entire Chapel due to his Beliefs
November 8, 2021, PolandA 38-year-old man was arrested while setting fire to the small chapel of St. Anna in Jasienica in the city of Myślenice on the 8. November. The police were alerted and managed to arrive on the scene in time to arrest the man and initiate operations to reduce the fire. The arriving patrol officers noticed that the window glass of the building was broken and the assailant was still inside. "He lit a fire there, expecting the fire to consume this small building." They pulled the man out of the window and handcuffed him. According to the police spokesman, Sebastian Gleń, the perpetrator explained he committed this act due to his beliefs and that his aim was to destroy the chapel completely. He is now awaiting sentencing, which could be up to ten years in prison.
Public School Votes to Remove the Life-Size Wooden Nativity Scene
November 8, 2021, SpainIn October, the teaching staff of the Latiorro Primary School in Laudio, voted in favour of removing the life-size wooden Nativity Scene figures, which have been placed outside the center for more than 25 years. The Religion Students built the figures themselves and the decision has caused much controversy among the community.
Three Churches Offertory Boxes Stolen in Burladingen
November 8, 2021, GermanyWithin the first week of November, the offertory boxes from three churches in the towns of Margrethausen and Burladingen were broken into. One church had the lock forcibly pried open and another had a writing stand broken with 100 euros of damage done, but the amount stolen is unknown. Nothing from the church on Beim Kloster in Margrethausen was stolen but 200 euros of property damage was caused when an attempt was make to pry the lock open. There was an investigation to see if the incidents were related but the perpetrator was unknown.
Cemetery of St. Piran in Perranarworthal Church Vandalised
November 8, 2021, United KingdomThe damaged gravestones dating back to the 1800s were found by a working party that maintains the graveyard of the Church. The vandalism is suspected to have taken place sometime between the 2nd and 8th of November. The police started investigating and encouraged anyone who may have information relating to the vandalism to contact them.
Anti-Catholic Tags on Saint-Lewis church in Paimboeuf
November 8, 2021, Franceon 8. November, the façade of the Saint-Lewis church in Paimboeuf, west of Nantes was tagged with offensive remarks such as "a good Catholic is on the cross" and "burn the churches". The City owner of the building filed a complaint but no further action has been taken by the town to install security cameras.
Vandalized Church in Marienrachdorf
November 5, 2021, GermanyProperty damage was done to the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Marienrachdorf on November 5th. The unknown perpetrator painted a pillar in the church, the furnishings, and damaged several holy water bottles and two disinfectant dispensers. The police were looking for witnesses.
Church Sprayed with Sexist Symbols During Halloween Weekend
November 2, 2021, GermanyOver the weekend, the police recorded an increase in the number of reports of vandalism: graffiti, destruction of public furniture, theft, etc. The walls of a church in Blumberg in Friedhofstraße were sprayed with a sexist symbol and writing.
Historic St. John Church Targeted Twice in Two Weeks
November 2, 2021, United KingdomOn November 2nd, the storage shed holding Christmas decorations for the Bromsgrove church of St. John was vandalized. This is the second hateful incident at the church in only two weeks. The incidents caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage which the church cannot afford. The church warden, Neil Cramb said “Basically, this senseless act is going to cost us dearly."
Spanish Politician Compares Catholics with the Taliban
November 2, 2021, SpainPolitician Beatriz Bandera posted on Twitter on the 2. November a short video of the Sevillian Holy Week devotees during their yearly procession with the caption "Our Taliban". With this post, she compares faithful Catholics during a peaceful procession with the terrorist group of radical Islamist fundamentalists. Despite the criticism and offence that her commentary has generated, Mrs Bandera has not apologised, "I criticise what I finance with my taxes. Can I? Or not?", she reiterated.
Continued Abuse to Grounds of St Peter and St. Paul Church
November 2, 2021, GermanyThe grounds of the St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Medenbach were the sight of loud music and vandalizm on November 11th. This time, rubbish was strewn around which expressed a general lack of respect. The news report mentions there has been repeated vandalism to this place.
UPDATE: Ban on "Conversion Therapy" in UK "Could Lead to the Prosecution" of Pastors and Church Leaders
November 1, 2021, United KingdomThe Welsh government has admitted that the ban on conversion therapy "could lead to the prosecution of religious leaders". The ban on conversion therapy was announced by the Queen in May this year and was welcomed by the Bench of Bishops in the Church in Wales. The document presented by the government leaves aside questions such as the possibility to attack religious freedom and claims that conversion therapies cause harm, although it gives "no evidence to justify the claim". Since then, Christian groups have raised concern that the ban could apply for private prayer and conversations, undermining religious freedom. The consultation by the Government will be open until 10. December 2021.
Anti-Christian Graffiti on Statue of Pope John Paul II in Lwówek Śląski
November 1, 2021, PolandThe monument to John Paul II, the Polish Pope, was painted with multiple degrading symbols on November 11th. The statue, which is located in Lwówek Śląski, had it eye lids painted, a tear below its eye drawn, and an inverted cross. For some reason, this crime was never reported so the police did not carry out any investigations for suspects.
Youth Smoke Shisha in Laichingen Church
November 1, 2021, GermanySeveral young people turned the Albanskirche in Laichingen into a shisha bar on November 1st and then celebrated with pizza. This was not the first act of its kind in the church and the pastor, who has had enough, has had to close the church for everyone to prevent more property damage.