All cases
Molotov cocktail thrown against the church of Saint-Martin-des-Champs
January 18, 2023, FranceThere have been multiple cases in France, where churches have been targeted for hate crimes, theft or vandalism. The newest incident happened on January 18 near Paris, where the church of Saint-Martin-des-Champs and its front door and facade were partially burned. An unknown perpetrator has thrown an incendiary device, which was reported to be a molotov cocktail, against the front door at around five o'clock in the morning.
Two Arson Attacks on Parisian Church Notre-Dame-de-Fatima
January 17, 2023, FranceOn the 17th and the 22nd of January, the church of Notre-Dame-de-Fatima, the 19th district of Paris, was hit twice by unknown arsonists. The Newspaper "Le Parisien" reported that the door of the church was sprayed with a flammable liquid. Then, the perpetrators used newspapers to start a fire, which fortunately did not spread inside the building.
Wall of Aya Yorgi Church graffitied with "Islam is the only way"
January 16, 2023, TurkeyAccording to Mesopotamia Agency, an unknown perpetrator wrote "Islam is the only way" on the walls of the church's garden. The search for the suspect continues. The Aya Yorgi church was built in 1836 by Nicholas the Cross and is located in the Edirnekapı district of Istanbul.
Christian Receives Jail Sentence for Refusing Military Service on Conscientious Grounds
January 16, 2023, UkraineOn the 16th of January, 46-year-old Vitaly Alekseenko was given a one-year jail term for refusing the call to the military on conscientious grounds. The Ivano-Frankivsk Appeal Court rejected his appeal against his conviction and has sentenced him to jail starting on the 19th of January. Alekseenko is the fifth known case of court conviction due to conscientious objection, but he is the first one to receive a jail sentence. Alekseenko told Forum 18 that he is "not guilty under the law of God".
Frequent church thefts in Wysowa-Zdroj
January 13, 2023, PolandIn a small village in Poland, there has been a series of thefts from churches, and the police have not yet been able to identify the perpetrators.
Priest in Newry devastated his church had six windows and four bathrooms destroyed
January 13, 2023, IrelandNear the city of Newry, vandalism occurred at a church on January 13 during the night. The perpetrator broke six windows and four bathrooms that were outside the Church of the Sacred Heart. Father Richard Naughton commented that he was "shocked to the core" and vandalism like this had never happened before. The cost for the reparation of the windows was estimated at thousand pounds. The perpetrator is still on the run. The police department has asked for witnesses to contact them as soon as possible.
Stained Glass Windows Smashed at Church in Cloughoge
January 13, 2023, United KingdomThe Church of the Sacred Heart in Cloughoge was vandalised overnight between January 12 and 13. Police received a report around 9 AM on January 13 that six windows of the church and four outside toilets had been smashed overnight. The stained glass windows require specialist repair which is expected to cost many thousand pounds.
Street Preacher in Scotland wins Case After Being Wrongfully arrested for alleged "Hate Speech"
January 13, 2023, United KingdomMr Angus Cameron, the Pastor of Cumnock Baptist Church, has now received £5,500 for his unlawful detention by the Police, as well as £9,400 for the legal costs. Mr Cameron decided to donate all of his compensation to The Christian Institute, an NGO that supported him throughout this legal case. Mr Cameron was handcuffed and arrested by the police back in 2020, for "breach of the peace with homophobic aggravation". He was contacted by the police a few days later and told that he would not be prosecuted, but a non-crime hate incident had been filed. Mr Cameron then sought assistance from the Christian Institute.
Disruption of church service in Warsaw
January 13, 2023, PolandOn January 13, 2023, three drunk men disrupted the celebration of evening mass in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles in Warsaw. According to eyewitnesses, they entered the church during the service and began cursing and screaming.
Devastation of a shrine in Noskowo
January 12, 2023, PolandOn January 12, 2023, local media reported the destruction of the shrine of Mary in Noskowo. Unknown perpetrators tore off and broke the crown on the head of the statue of Mary, and also tore off and abandoned a metal cross on the lawn around the chapel.
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.
Arson Attack on Lessay Abbey
January 2, 2023, FranceLessay Abbey was hit by an arson attack on 2 January, according to the mayor, Stéphanie Maubé, in a statement seen by BFM Normandie. Two fires broke out in the manger, which was made of wood, straw and a sheet of tarpaulin. The fire was quickly brought under control thanks to the intervention of a parishioner who entered the abbey ‘as the sheets were melting, causing thick smoke, and the straw was catching fire very quickly.
Three nativity scene figures stolen from Freigné chapel
January 2, 2023, FranceOn 2 January, three figures from the nativity scene in the Rosaire chapel in Freigné, France, have been stolen. The volunteers from the Bienheureux Noël Pinot parish are shocked.
Lutheran cemetery in Kozakowice Dolne vandalised
January 1, 2023, PolandOn January 1, the Lutheran cemetery in Kozakowice Dolne and a small church next to the cemetery, belonging to the Evangelical Augsburg Parish in Goleszów, were vandalised. The tombstones were knocked over, flowers and candles scattered. At the church the façade was damaged and windows were broken.
Statue of St. Florian in Lubawka beheaded
January 1, 2023, PolandOn the night of 31 December 2022 to 1 January 2023, three young people, a 17-year-old and two 15-year-olds, vandalised the statue of St Florian standing in the clearing at the beginning of the Way of the Cross in Lubawka. The head of the statue was cut off.
Facade of Church defaced with paper bombs by young vandals
December 31, 2022, ItalyIn the town of Marigliano, the facade of thee church The Lady Most Holy of Mount Carmel was vandalized with paper bombs by young vandals. The perpetrators ruined the facade and caused shock among the residents, who expressed their emotions and anger. The incident was filmed with smartphones and the images were shared on social networks.
Three Young Women Set Fire to Church in Ireland
December 30, 2022, IrelandThe police in North Kerry are investigating an act of vandalism against a church in Ballyduff. Three young women entered the St. Peter and St. Paul church and set fire to the altar cloth. The incident happened on the 30th of December, during the opening hours of the church. Detectives are investigating the motive behind the incident. The altar cloth did not go up in flames, so the damage was not extensive.
Vandals Break Windows and Break Into Church in Germany
December 29, 2022, GermanyOn the 29th of December around midday, unknown persons broke into a church and removed the fence. They entered by breaking the kitchen window, but they did not cause other damage to the interior. The police has estimated the damages to be of 2,000 euros.
Nativity Scene Figures Repeatedly Vandalized - One Statue Decapitated and Jesus Stolen
December 29, 2022, GermanyOn the 29th of December, unknown vandals stole the Baby Jesus of the nativity scene in Waren and beheaded one of the three wisemen figures. The display belongs to a Baptist Church and it has been vandalized many times in the last few years. This last incident included two consecutive nights of vandalism. The municipality is trying to help with the investigation. Apart from the main figures, a sheep and another figure were scattered on the meadow and other figures were knocked over.
Vandals Burn Nativity Scene Figures
December 29, 2022, SpainIn the city of Zamora, the locals and neighbours showed shock and sadness towards an attack on a nativity scene, which was reported on the 29th of December. Unknown vandals, suspected to be a young group of people, burned the figures of the Christmas display. Some people commented that the fire looked like a bonfire as vandals were burning religious figures.
Three Church Oratories Vandalized Around Christmas
December 29, 2022, ItalyAround the Christmas time, there were several cases of vandalism to oratories in Melegnano. Vandals broke into oratories and destroyed rooms, religious objects, as well as the façade of the Church building. There is an ongoing investigation to find the perpetrators.
Break-in to Church and Vandalism by group of Teenagers
December 29, 2022, United KingdomAt around 3.45 p.m. on the 29th of December, the St Peter’s Church door was busted open by teenagers. Once inside, they damaged a cross, a statue and candles. The suspects are four boys and four girls who were seen by residents running away from the church with dark clothes on and heading toward Claydon High School. The faces are yet to be identified but the police are asking for any cam footage from cars that were there parked near the scene.
Thieves Steal Baby Jesus from Nativity Scene and Ask for "Ransom" Money
December 28, 2022, SpainIn the town of Barbera del Valles, thieves "kidnapped" the figure of the baby Jesus from the open-air nativity scene on the 28. December at night. They then posted a video on social media with covered faces and distorted voices demanding a ransom of 10,000 euros for the precious figure. According to Spanish media, the city council of the town expressed the hope that it could be a sort of prank. But this is not the first theft of the small figure from the Nativity scene in the church square.
Catholic Owned Centre Vandalised Twice in Two Weeks
December 28, 2022, ItalyIn the city of Corticelle, vandals targeted the building adjacent to the Pieve church on the 28th of January. The building is a Catholic-owned centre that belongs to the Amici della Pieve association. The news reported that unknown perpetrators caused major damage by breaking the windows and doors and committing burglary. The police are said to investigate under surveillance cameras since vandals have caused two events within two weeks.
Vandals Steal Baby Jesus from Church in Florence
December 28, 2022, ItalyOn December 28, the surveillance camera showed how unknown suspects stole the statue of the Baby Jesus from the nativity scene. The reports have also mentioned that several young people were hiding the statue of Baby Jesus under their clothes and walking around the city with it. The figure was later found at a restaurant terrace and other acts of vandalism have been investigated previously by the police.
Unknown Persons Riot in Leipzig Church Causing Several Damages
December 27, 2022, GermanyUnidentified person(s) have caused several damages inside the Catholic Provost Church of St Trinitatis in Leipzig. On the 27. December in the afternoon, he rioted in the church, threw various books around and damaged the nativity figures. The damage was estimated at a three-digit amount by the police.
Baby Jesus Figure Stolen in Munich Church
December 26, 2022, GermanyIn the Jesuit Church of St. Michael in Munich, the nativity scene has been ruined and an unknown suspect has stolen the statue of the infant baby Jesus. It was reported that the statue about 25 centimetres tall, was stolen on the second day of Christmas. Father Martin Stark has therefore left a note on the empty crib saying "Here lay our baby Jesus, who is part of our historical nativity scene. Unfortunately it got lost on the 2nd day of Christmas. I ask the one, who probably took it, imploringly to return the figure to us!".
Church Set on Fire While Faithful were Celebrating Mass Inside
December 25, 2022, FinlandOn the 25. December, while 30 people were celebrating Christmas service in a small wooden church in Rautjärvi, a fire broke out and the faithful had to be quickly evacuated. The historic Evangelical church was completely destroyed by the fire that started at 8.30 am. The criminal commissioner, Mika Salminen said in a press conference that the side doors of the church had been attached with ropes. There is no doubt for the police, that this was a willful attack.
Priest House Broken into and money stolen While He Held Christmas Mass
December 25, 2022, FranceWhile celebrating mass and Christmas Eve in the village of Alsace, burglars entered the Priests' home and stole money. It was said the burglars might have known the time the masses were since it was posted online. Therefore, the theft was already planned beforehand. The amount of the stolen money is unclear, but it was from donations and collections from the church. The 59-year-old has said it was "traumatic" for him and that the investigation is still ongoing.
Break-In and Burglary at Church in Germany
December 25, 2022, GermanyOn the 25th of December, the police reported that unknown perpetrators broke into the Christuskirche and burgled the interior. Laptops and bread rolls packages were stolen. The vandals entered the church through a window and by breaking the connected doors.
Vandals Destroy glass pane in the Belmonte Sanctuary
December 22, 2022, ItalyIn Valperga, vandals broke a glass pane of the Belmonte sanctuary, as reported on the 22nd of December. Mayor Sandretto commented that a volunteer who takes care of the place has repaired the damage, as he was the one that noticed it. The attack must have been on the days before.