All cases
Break In into Offices of Church and Burgled
June 9, 2022, GermanyDuring the night from the 8th to the 9th of June, unknown people broke into the offices above the church on Main Street. They opened several cabinets inside the office and, from one of them, stole a couple of hundred euros in cash. The police were alerted in the morning and went to the scene to gather evidence. An investigation was opened to find the people responsible for the theft.
Man Arrested for Vandalizing Church in Poland
June 8, 2022, PolandA 26-year-old man was arrested for painting inscriptions on the façade of a church in Złotoryja, as well as some other buildings. He used spray paint and his vandalistic act was recorded by surveillance cameras. He could face up to 5 years in prison.
Statue of Virgin Mary Destroyed in Kluki
June 8, 2022, PolandOn the 8th of June, an unknown vandal destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary at the Kluki commune in Poland. The residents were shocked by the hateful act and recalled other religious sights that had been damaged in the area. No official report had been submitted to the police yet.
EU Commissioner Downplays Massacre of Christians in Nigeria saying it is not Rooted in Religion
June 8, 2022, InternationalDuring a debate on 8. June in the European Parliament, triggered by the massacre of Christians in Nigeria that happened in a Church during a Pentecostal Mass, Commissioner Valdis Dombrovski severely downplayed the attacks by attributing them to "underlying causes beyond faith" such as "scarce resources", and "poor education", "unemployment", among others. These affirmations ignore that the perpetrators belong to the jihadist terrorist organization Boko Haram. Such statements push the narrative away from the issue of the terrible human rights violations of religious freedom in Nigeria, which has already claimed the lives of thousands of Christians in the last years.
Facade of Church in Zlotorya Vandalised
June 8, 2022, PolandThe Polish Laboratory for Religious Freedom (Laboratorium Wolności Religijnej) reports that on June 8, an act of vandalism was committed on the façade of one of the churches in downtown Zlotorya. A twenty-six-year-old man placed graffiti on the facade of the church and several other buildings. The perpetrator's act was recorded on city surveillance cameras.
Destruction of the Statue of the Virgin Mary in Belchatow
June 8, 2022, PolandOn June 8, Polish local media reported the destruction of a statue of the Virgin Mary at a memorial plaque commemorating the victims of the September 1939 bombing in the Kluki municipality. An unknown perpetrator destroyed the statue of the Virgin Mary, located in the forest, along the DK 74 road from Belchatow toward Kluki.
Blasphemous Mother of God‘s Image Displayed at LGBT+ Pride March
June 7, 2022, ItalyAt an LGBT+ pride march in Cremona, Italy, participants carried a half-naked mannequin dressed as the "Mother of God". The blasphemous display which took place during the LGBT+ Pride offended many Christians. Bishop of Cremona, Antonio Napolioni commented on the incident: "They do not fulfill any educational role, they do not communicate any values or rights. Their presence is a gesture that serves no one, but it hurts many people."
Church Repeatedly Vandalized and Desecrated by Teenagers
June 7, 2022, ItalyPolice were working to identify three teenagers, dressed in black, who targeted the Santo Crocifisso in Meda with vandalism and sacrilegious gestures. In this incident, around the 5th of June, they smoked and urinated in the church and then returned days later to knock over some chairs. They were confronted by the volunteers that work there but managed to disappear. The same had happened already in May.
Bible, Cross and Ten Commandments Tablet Stolen from Church in Marseille
June 7, 2022, FranceOn the 7th of June, the Church of Saint-Menet in Marseille was broken into and looted by unknown individuals. They forced open a locked drawer of the altar and stole a Bible with a golden cover, a large silver cross, and a tablet of the Ten Commandments. The priest of the church, finding it turned upside down, noticed the theft and alerted the authorities. The scientific police went to the crime scene and opened an investigation to find the culprits.
Former Church Set on Fire in Eckington
June 6, 2022, United KingdomA large church in Eckington, which has not been used for quite some time, was set on fire by unknown arsonists on the 3rd of June. Residents were told to leave their homes and two fire departments had to be called. Although this church may have been unused, its religious value was still present.
Anti-Christian Graffiti on Historic Church in Potsdam
June 6, 2022, GermanyThe evangelical Sacrower Heilandskirche in Potsdam was vandalized with large amounts of graffiti on the 6th of June by unknown people. The damage to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which the police were investigating, will cost tens of thousands of euros to repair. The slogans written said "No God; No State; No Patriarchy" and portrayed an anarchist symbol.
9 Men Arrested for Stealing Trunks and Jewels from Churches
June 6, 2022, SpainOn the 6th of June it was reported that the Spanish police apprehended a group of 9 men who had been looting over 20 churches in the south of Spain. Some of the cities where they stole trunks, religious objects and jewels from the Saints were Murcia, Alicante and Almería.
Church Billboard Set on Fire in St. Margrethen.
June 5, 2022, GermanyAn unknown arsonist set fire to the billboard of the Catholic church in St. Margrethen sometime between 12:00 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. on the 5th of June. The fire went out on its own but damage of several hundred francs was caused. The St. Gallen police were looking for witnesses who could provide more information about the incident.
Religious Items Stolen from Bamberg Monastery
June 5, 2022, GermanyThieves, who have not been identified, stole a priest's robe and a monstrance from a monastery in Bamberg. The theft was noticed on the 5th of June and the value of the items is around 15,000 euros. The monstrance, which is used to present the holy Eucharist, is around 75 cm tall and close to 32 cm wide. The Police were investigating the crime.
Spain: Bishop called Homophobic and Insulted for Defending Life and Family
June 5, 2022, SpainBishop Santiago Gómez Sierra of Huelva spoke in a Mass on Pentecost Sunday and reminded Catholics of the importance of upholding the values of life and family when they vote in the upcoming election. He said that he was not trying to enforce anything but rather encourage "moral principles" that "should be above the different party strategies because they are issues required by reason, natural law, and true humanism.” For this speech, he was accused by left-leaning media and politicians of being homophobic and attacking "rights won by the left."
Two Statues Vandalised in Warsaw with Blue Paint
June 5, 2022, PolandAn unknown perpetrator committed an act of vandalism against the St. Maximilian Kolbe parish in Warsaw. The vandal scrawled blue paint on the statue of St. Maximilian Kolbe and the Papal Cross (from Pope John Paul's II 1st Pilgrimage to Poland), standing on church grounds. The incident occurred on June 5.
Altar Cross Stolen from Church in Jülich-Bourheim
June 4, 2022, GermanyDuring the weekend of the 4th of June, an altar cross was stolen from a church in Jülich-Bourheim by an anonymous person. The cross is made of gilded brass and stands 45 cm high. The police searched the sight for evidence but need more information.
Young People Broke Into and Profaned Church in L'Aquila
June 3, 2022, ItalyIt was reported on June 3rd, that young people entered the monastery of Sand Basilio in L'Aquila, disturbed the sisters sleeping there and profaned the confessional. First, two boys entered the convent and tried to force open the door of an elderly nun. Later during the night, a young man and woman were seen naked, and running from the confessional after allegedly having sex. The cloistered sisters were scared by the incidents and called the carabinieri who then investigated.
Vandalism and Theft to Church in Fragagnano
June 3, 2022, ItalyThe Maria Santissima Immacolata church in Fragagnano, was broken into on during the night of June the 3rd by a 38-year-old Moroccan. The man tried to steal money from the offering box as well as sacred objects, but was caught by the carabinieri who then retrieved the stolen goods. In trying to access these items, he caused a large amount of property damage that will cost around 1,000 euros to repair.
Sacristy of San Giuseppe Church in Grosseto Vandalized
June 2, 2022, ItalyOn June 2nd, the San Giuseppe Church in Grosseto was vandalized by a person who was caught on camera but has not been identified. A man in his 40s entered the sacristy and upset drawers that contained linen for the altar and objects for worship. He didn't steel anything but smashed a wooden door. This was one of several thefts and vandalism that have happened to churches in this area in recent weeks.