All cases
Insults Tagged on Augsburg Cathedral and other anti-Christian Hate Crimes
January 10, 2023, GermanyOn the 10th of January, the online news source MK-Online reported a rise in anti-Christian hate speech and vandalism in Bavaria. The most recent incident was red graffiti on the Cathedral of Augsburg that said "F*ck Jesus! He would have wanted it this way". The historical church dates back to Roman times. The reasons behind the perpetrator's actions are still under investigation and the cost of the damaged property lies around a couple of hundred euros. Other cases have been reported in Munich, where the Jesus figure was stolen. In an Augsburg Catholic Church perpetrators threw eggs and left insulting graffiti on the wall against the Word of God.
Saint-Louis Roi Church severely vandalised
January 10, 2023, FranceOn January 10, the church of Saint-Louis Roi in Champagne-au-Mont-d'Or, near Lyon, has been severely vandalised. Candles, books and vases have been thrown on the ground. Two large crucifixes were destroyed. The stained glass windows of the choir, a nativity scene and the Way of the cross were also damaged by the vandals.
Arson attacks on St Margaret’s Church in Ilkley
January 10, 2023, United KingdomOn 10 January, an arson attack was reported at St Margaret's Church in Ilkley. It is believed that an umbrella stand in the entrance to the building was set on fire.
Chapel of St. Julien Desecrated and Vandalized in Morbihan
January 8, 2023, FranceThe chapel of St. Julien in Morbihan has been desecrated and vandalised by unknown perpetrators on the 8th of January. The newspaper Le Télégramme revealed that all crosses were turned upside down, a statue of the Virgin Mary was wrapped with red electric lights, an ex-voto was damaged and a fire extinguisher was poured out on the church. According to the mayor of Morbihan, Patrick Le Roux, such acts had not been seen in the past in this city, "It is for me the expression of absolute evil and stupidity," he added. The destruction was found by a parishioner on Sunday afternoon.
Jesus Figure Stolen from Wayside Shrine Crucifix
January 8, 2023, GermanyBetween the 19th of December and the 8th of January, the wayside shrine in Icking was vandalised. An unknown perpetrator unscrewed the Jesus figure from its cross and took it away. Now, the police have been notified and they are investigating the case.
5000 Euro Damage: Perpetrators Throw Explosives Towards Church
January 7, 2023, GermanyIn the city of Halberstadt, a form of pyrotechnics were used to destroy church property at the Lüttgenfeldstraße, amounting to 5,000 euros in damage. Around 3:45 a.m. on January 7, unknown persons threw crafted explosives over the fence of the church and caused damage to a nativity play which was handcrafted with plastic and wood. The explosion also caused damage to the façade of the church and a window. The police are seeking witnesses to find the perpetrators.
1,000 euros Worth of Damage to church in Ottersheim
January 7, 2023, GermanyBetween the 7th and 9th of January, unknown perpetrators damaged the cupboards of the St. Martinus Church in Ottersheim. The police is running an investigation and looking for the perpetrators. The damaged cupboards amount to about 1000 euros worth.
Church bells stolen
January 7, 2023, GermanyUnknown people removed the bell that weighs 800 kilograms from Evangelical Christ Church, Dietzenbach.
Statue of Baby Jesus destroyed and Desecrated At church of St. James
January 6, 2023, PolandDuring the night on January 6, the statue of Baby Jesus from the Nativity Scene in the St. James Church was vandalized in Brzesko. According to the report, the right hands were cut off, and the statue was destroyed and left at the Jordan park. The pastor of the church commented: "This kind of profanation is not only an expression of stupidity, vandalism or thuggery on the part of some people, but it is first and foremost an attack on our religious feelings."
Arson Attack on Santa Francesca Cabrini Church in Lodi
January 5, 2023, ItalyOn January 5 in the afternoon, an arsonist set fire to the church of the parish of Santa Francesca Cabrini, in Lodi. The flames destroyed a large part of the entrance door and damaged the side walls. Fire was set to a curtain close to the entrance, and a gospel placed on a lectern. The perpetrator has been caught by the police.
Vandals smash church windows
January 5, 2023, PolandOn the night of 4-5 January 2023, unknown perpetrators threw stones at the new Church of Mary of the Christians in Ropa. Protective glass and stained glass in three windows of the presbytery were damaged, and the police are investigating the case.
Priest violently threatened
January 5, 2023, FranceAccused of threats and aggression against a priest in Tarascon-sur-Ariège, a 58-year-old man appeared on Thursday, January 5, 2023 before the Criminal Court of Foix (Ariège). On two occasions in September and November 2022, in connection with a neighbourhood dispute over a leak in the gutter of the presbytery, the defendant had threatened Father Jean Ngendakuriyo, among other things with the words 'If my son were here, he would have slit your throat and thrown you in the dustbin'.
Vandalism to the San Giacomo Church in Paola
January 4, 2023, ItalyIn Paola, unknown vandals targeted, among other buildings, the main entrance of San Giacomo church. A few weeks before, the native house of Francis of Paola had been vandalized too. The Provincial Superior of the Order of Minims strongly condemned these acts and called for more security in the town.
Two People Vandalise the St. John's Church in Miltenberg
January 4, 2023, GermanyIt was reported that two young people vandalised St. John's Church on the 4th of January. They left traces of foam from the fire extinguisher all over the church and special items. The sacristan came to the church right after the incident happened and reported the crime. A cleaning crew tried to remove the foam, textiles and other valuable Paramentes also had to be cleaned. It seems that the Altar Bible has suffered permanent damage. The police are investigating.
Vandalism at Catholic Seminary and Diocesan Library
January 4, 2023, ItalyDon Sabino Mennuni, the director of the catholic seminary in Andria reported about repeated acts vandalism and harassment at the facilities. According to his report, he was harassed and insulted while cleaning the entrance door of the seminary. The youth who insulted him also deposed garbage at the entrance and urinated on the door.
Deadly Knife Attack Against Ukrainian Priest inside the Church
January 2, 2023, UkraineOn the morning of January 2, in the Holy Virgin Church in Vinnytsia, an unknown man attacked the priest Anthony Kovtonyuk and cut him on the throat. The unidentified man had entered the church and started turning everything over, so the priest reprimanded him. Then, the perpetrator attacked the priest with his knife, as it was reported by the diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The police came to the scene and apprehended the attacker, who has been arrested. Father Anthony was taken to the emergency services later transferred to the intensive care unit in a Vinnitsia hospital.
Historical Church of St Peter and St Paul in Turin Defaced with Graffiti
January 2, 2023, ItalyThe Romanesque Church of Saints Peter and Paul located in Chianocco, Turin, has been spray painted by unknown vandals. The perpetrators painted inappropriate or obscene drawings and words on the stone wall of the old church. This was reported on the 2nd of January. In the next days, volunteers will come and help clean up the mess that was left behind. The police are investigating.
Cross stolen and vandalised in Deblin
January 2, 2023, PolandOn January 2, the police in Dęblin received a report of the theft of a wooden cross that was attached to the wall of one of the churches in Deblin. The police found that two young men, aged 21 and 23, residents of Dęblin, Lubelskie Voivodeship, had taken the cross attached to one of the churches and carried it around the city. They then damaged it, broke off the figure of Jesus, and abandoned it by one of the streets.
Physical attack on an altar boy
January 2, 2023, PolandOn 2 January 2023, in Witkowo, a man verbally and physically attacked one of the altar boys accompanying the priest during a pastoral visit.
Cemetery in Nîmes: 96 graves vandalised
January 2, 2023, France96 graves have been vandalised at the Saint-Césaire cemetery in Nîmes. On Monday 2 January, municipal employees observed the theft of bronze and other damage. The police are currently conducting an investigation.