All cases
Vandals Ransacked Church interior in Meda
May 30, 2022, ItalyUnknown vandals entered the Santo Crocifisso Church in Meda and ransacked the inside on May 30th. They overturned chairs, sprayed disinfectant everywhere, and threw that brass altar cross onto the floor which bent it, causing damage. The local police started an investigation into the crime using video from surveillance cameras.
Window smashed in Sankt Bonifatius Church in Goddelau
May 30, 2022, GermanyDuring a prayer on the 30th of May, a window of the Sankt Bonifatius church in Coddelau was smashed. This was not the first attack the church experience as a year earlier, the tabernacle was stolen. The vandal was not identified.
Extensive Vandalism and Desecration to a Schömberg Church
May 29, 2022, GermanyThe Catholic Church of St. Joseph in Schömberg experienced an extensive vandalistic attack on May 29th. Paper towels were strewn all over the floor and one was used to snuff out the eternal light. The altar cloth was left soiled and crumpled, and evidence suggested that the altar was walked on. The unknown intruder had also urinated in the baptismal font. Those who take care of the church were shocked by the incident.
Attempted Arson at Church Choir in Paris
May 28, 2022, FranceOn the 28 of May, an individual tried to set fire to the choir of the church of Sainte Odile in the 17th district of Paris. The mayor of the district, Geoffroy Boulard, posted on Twitter: "I condemn the desecration of the church of St. Odilia with a fire in the choir. The worst avoided thanks to the reaction of the parish staff and the police who quickly arrested the individual. I renew my support to Father Biaggi whom I spoke to on the phone."
Extreme Vandalism and Property Damage to Church in Barrhead
May 27, 2022, United KingdomIn a series of break-ins at the former South and Levern Church, more than £50,000 of damage was caused by unknown vandals. In the latest act of vandalism on the 27th of May, the organ was destroyed and radiators were torn off the walls. Although the church has been closed, it is still a sight that carries religious sentiment for many people.
Norway: Politician Wants to Abolish All Christian Holidays
May 26, 2022, NorwayAne Breivik, a Young Left leader in Norway, wants to dispose of all Christian holidays and mid-week red days, as they are a "relic from another time." She said that most people don't celebrate them anyway and would prefer to take the time off when they want to. She said this near Ascension holiday, which she used as an example of a holiday that could be removed since this year it landed on a Thursday which is inconvenient for many.
Statue of Madonna Taken from Chapel in Maccarese
May 26, 2022, ItalyOn May 26th, a statue of Madonna was stolen from the Blessed Virgin Mary chapel in Maccarese. The statue is not of great material value, but its spiritual value to the religious community is immense. The Diocese condemned the gesture "In reparation for the offense to the Mother of God and in prayer for the conversion of the hearts of the perpetrators of the crime."
Electric Scooter Entered Basilica During Mass
May 26, 2022, SpainDavid Moreno, a spokesman for VOX Talavera, requested that the driver of the electric scooter, which entered the Basilica of Our Lady of the Prado in Talavera, be identified and charged. He explained that the "offensive acts like this cannot be allowed," and that the driver should be charged with crimes against religious freedom and disrespect of religious sentiment. He said: "no prank justifies disrespect for a Catholic temple, attacking religious sentiments."
Arson Attack on Church in Nonnenweier
May 26, 2022, GermanyOn May 26th, on Ascension Day, a pool of disinfectant was set on fire in the Nonnenweier church, and hymn books were thrown around with their pages torn out. The property damage was around 1000 euros but there were no good clues as to who the perpetrators could be. Pastor Christine Egenlauf, expressed her shock and lamented the incident, also mentioning that someone could have been hurt. The police had started investigating.
Small Chapel Destroyed in Marghera, Venice
May 26, 2022, ItalyThe mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, posted a picture on his Twitter on the 26. May that showed an oratory that had been vandalized in Marghera. The oratory was in Piazzale Giovannacci on the corner with Via Ulloa in Marghera. He also indicated that the perpetrator had been identified by the local Police.
Threatening Graffiti Appears on Church That Helps Ucranian Refugees
May 25, 2022, SpainOn the 25. of April a newspaper reported that a church in Murcia, in the district of Espinardo, was tagged with threatening graffiti. The Holy Spirit parish has been taking seven Ukrainian refugees since March, two mothers with their daughters and one more woman. The inscriptions seem to be against the Ucranians. Other neighbours reported seeing foreigners throwing stones at the women.
Church Information Board Set Alight and Holy Water Fonts Contaminated
May 25, 2022, GermanyOn May 25th, the information board of the Church of St. Antonius in Hörstel was set on fire by unknown perpetrators. The sheets of paper hanging there were burned, which damaged the board, and disinfectant was poured into the holy water fonts. The police began an investigation and was asking for witnesses.
Perpetrators Steal Organ Key, Try to Open Sacrificial Box and Soil Statue in Church
May 25, 2022, GermanyBetween the 21st and 25th of May, unknown intruders broke into the sacristy of the St. Jakobus Church in Sögel. They stole the organ key and hygrometer, but were unsuccessful in an attempt to break open the sacrificial box. The property damage was around 100 euros, and they also soiled a statue. An investigation was started by the police who needed more information.
Saint Statues Decapitated and Damaged in Marseille Church
May 25, 2022, FranceA judicial inquiry was opened into an incident on the 25th of May in which four Statues in the Saint-Henri church in Marseille were damaged, two of the statues were decapitated. Father Gabriel Priou, said, “There was no Eucharistic profanation, but the statues have been defaced." He continued, “A fact like this impacts the Christian community because the church is its home.”
Church in Perugia Vandalized With Political Graffiti
May 24, 2022, ItalyVandals graffitied the wall of the Church of the Madonna dei Cenciarelli, in Perugia, on May 24th. The inscription read: "Enough with NATO: free and sovereign Italy." The vandals damaged an 18th-century old church to write a political message showing a lack of respect for the religious sight. Apart from that, the stairs of the church were stained with beer and rests of food.
Children from Football Club Threatened with Sanctions if They go to First Communion Ceremony
May 24, 2022, SpainThe Castilla-La Mancha Football Federation refused to change the date of a match, forcing the young players from Membrilla's football team to choose between celebrating their first communion or playing the league final. The Federation further threatened them with sanctions, since the parents choose the church instead of submitting to the sports institution.
Paint Bombs Thrown at Church in Tacoronte, Tenerife
May 23, 2022, SpainA few days before the 23rd of May, the façade of the Santa Catalina church in Tacoronte was splashed with red paint by an unknown person. The primary target of the graffiti was a plaque that has been in place since 1938 and bears the name of the founder José Antonio Primo de Rivera on it. Although he was a political figure which could be the motive for the attack, a church has also suffered the consequences and it will take around 3,000 euros to restore.
Vandals Try to Break-In in Church Leaving 3000 Euro Damage
May 23, 2022, GermanyUnknown people attempted to break into the church in Melsung on May 23rd and caused significant damage. The tried to open the doors and windows to gain access to the inside of the church but were unsuccessful. The property damage was around 3,000 euros.
Windows Broken by Teenagers at Ringmer Church
May 23, 2022, United KingdomThe stained glass windows of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Ringmer were broken by youth with catapults and ball bearings on May 23rd. The police identified the culprits and confiscated their catapults. A police spokesperson said: “The youths will subsequently be coming into Lewes Police Station to account for their actions.”
Church in Abruzzo Attacked with Stones
May 23, 2022, ItalyThe façade of the Church of S.Onofrio, connected to the Convent of the Zoccolanti of Raiano, was kicked and stoned by unknown people on May 23rd. The church dates back to the 17th century and is in Abruzzo. A complaint was filed and the carabinieri started an investigation but people were left dismayed and angry.
Red Tags Smeared on Church in Andria
May 23, 2022, ItalyThe façade of the Church of the Madonna del Carmine in Andria was tagged with red paint on May 23rd. This was not the first of such incidents and the State police immediately began an investigation to find out who painted the graffiti.
Chapel of Our Lady in Legionowo Vandalized
May 23, 2022, PolandShortly after the statue of the Pope was vandalized in Legionowo, the Chapel of Our Lady at the roundabout near Krasińskiego Street was devastated. The unknown perpetrator broke the glass in front of a figure and bent the cross. The police were investigating the incident to find the criminal who would be charged with offending religious feelings and damage to property.
18 Graves Vandalised at Cemetery and Knocked Down Crosses
May 23, 2022, FranceBetween the 22 to 23 May, 18 graves were vandalized or damaged in the cemetery of Rocquemont, a commune located between Rouen and Saint-Saëns. The perpetrators damaged ornamental plaques, decorations and flower pots. A person who lives near the cemetery heard the noise that night and reported it.
Newtown Church Windows Vandalized For a Second Time
May 22, 2022, United KingdomAfter the windows of the St. David's Church in Newtown were broken the month before, someone returned to break them again on the 22nd of May. The church has not been used for many years but is a historic building and a religious symbol. Paul Williams, a local, said: "This is really sickening yet again. Whoever you are, stop it."
Statistics in Brussels show: 53 Churches Vandalized and 1 Mosque
May 22, 2022, BelgiumBetween 2019 and 2022, 53 cases of church vandalism were recorded in Brussels, while only 1 mosque was vandalized in the same region and time frame. Dominiek Lootens, leader of the Vlaams Belang group in the Brussels Parliament, wrote to Prime Minister Rudi Vervoort and asked him to communicate the extent of the damage, reported "Our Central Europe". The report also pointed out that the media and politics failed to mention these numbers as they refuse to recognize this type of biased discrimination against Christians.
Arson Attack to Catholic Chapel in Newry
May 22, 2022, United KingdomSt Catherine’s Dominican Chapel, a Catholic chapel in Newry, was targeted by arsonists who set religious books and pamphlets on fire. Nobody was hurt, in the incident which happened on the 22nd of May, but the head priest had to put the fire out. A witness said they saw youths running from the scene and it was guessed that they were the arsonists.
Teenage Arsonist Causes 5000 Euro Damage to Church in Spalt
May 21, 2022, GermanyDuring the afternoon on the 21st of May, a fire was noticed in a church in Spalt, that caused 5,000 euros worth of damage. An altar cloth, that was lying on the side altar, caught fire along with a wooden frame that spread the fire to the entrance door. After a police investigation, the fire was thought to be arson and eventually a suspect was arrested. Proceedings were started against the potential teenage arsonist for property damage and disruption of religious practice. The police later confirmed that the fire had been caused by arson.
Statue of Madonna Stolen from Church in Lodi
May 21, 2022, ItalyOn the afternoon of May the 21st, a small marble statue of Madonna was stolen from the parish church in Lodi. No sign of a break in was found, so it was concluded that the thief must have waited till soon after mass, and then broken the statue off from near the side of the altar. The carabinieri were notified and carried out an inspection.
Vienna: Historic Karlskirche Smeared with Graffiti (Again)
May 21, 2022, AustriaOn the 21st of May, the Karlskirche in Vienna was graffitied for the fourth time in 2022. It is not known who did it. According to the Witness who reported these incidents, this is the worst year so far with vandalism and there are damages to the church almost every day.
Thieves Break in and Steal Consecrated Hosts in Guia
May 21, 2022, ItalyHosts were stolen from the Ancient Church of San Gregorio in Valdobbiadene on May 21st. The side door of the church was forced open and then the intruder opened the tabernacle and took the consecrated hosts. Fr Romeo Penon, parish priest of Valdobbiadene, said: "It is a sacrilege, we fear that they are destined for black masses or séances"
Pope's Monument in Legionowo Vandalized Repeated Times
May 21, 2022, PolandOn May 21st, the statue of the Pope in a park in Legionowo was vandalized. Flags of the church, papal, and Ukraine, were stolen from the statue's hands, and the Polish flag, was torn and pressed into the crucifix. This was not the first time the statue has been attacked and the police began an investigation to find out who committed the act.
Theft and Vandalism in Ralingen Church
May 21, 2022, GermanyMobile phones that had been collected in the Ralingen church donation box, were stolen on May 21st. Beer was also spilt near the altar which did not cause damage to the altar but tainted the sacred space. Earlier, the pastor noticed several young people who were drinking in the area of the church. The police started an investigation and requested that places of worship be respected.
Orthodox Church seized and raided by armed group
May 21, 2022, UkraineA Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ivankov (Kyiv region) was raided by unidentified armed persons. The perpetrators cut down the lock of the church and raided the interior, expelling the parishioners and the priest. When the clergy of the church tried to file a crime report, the police refused to take it seriously. It was the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Graffiti on Santa Maria Church in Palermo
May 20, 2022, ItalyInscriptions painted in black were discovered on the façade of the Santa Maria di Valverde church in Palermo. The incident was reported on May 20th and residents thought it happened during the night but were not sure who did it. The writing was made with spray paint and detracts from the beauty of the church.
Church in Ayrshire Repeatedly Targeted by Vandals
May 20, 2022, United KingdomThe Kilmarnock South Parish Church in Ayrshire, was repeatedly targeted by vandals during May. Over several weeks, doors were smashed and glass was broken by a group of youth who were seen on CCTV. A spokesperson for The Well, an outreach group that organizes events at the church, said: "We are slowly trying to get the place up and running to serve the community but this is just soul destroying."
Sacrilegious Theft in Capergnanica Church
May 20, 2022, ItalyA bas-relief of the Madonna with Child was stolen from the altar of the parish church in Capergnanica. The priest, don Andrea Rusconi, thought the sacrilegious theft happened on the 20th of May despite it being reported the next day. The church is typically left open even when there is no mass for the faithful to come and pray.
Church in Schneverdingen Broken Into and Looted
May 20, 2022, GermanyDuring the night on the 20th of May, the Peter and Paul Church in Schneverdingen was broken into by anonymous intruders. They smashed the window to enter the church and then forced open the door from the inside. They didn't steal anything of great value but did take two electronic devices from the parish.
Sacred Objects Stolen from Church in Kropp
May 20, 2022, GermanyBetween the 15th and 20th of May, a church in Kropp was broken into by unknown intruders who stole various sacred objects as well as an electronic piano. The items taken were a baptismal font, a silver-coloured baptismal font, and two antique candlesticks. The police began a criminal investigation and asked for information from witnesses.
European Parliament Votes Down Motion to Debate Christian Persecution
May 20, 2022, BelgiumOn May 20th, there was a motion in the European Parliament to debate the topic of Christian Persecution, and in particular, the case of Deborah Samuel Yabuku, who was murdered in Nigeria after her peers falsely accused her of blasphemy. She had thanked Jesus in a class WhatsApp group for helping her in an exam and was accused of insulting the prophet Mohammad. The motion to discuss this was rejected with 231 votes for, and 244 against, to which some MEPs shouted “shame on you” across the plenary floor.
Member of Scottish Parliament Launched Bill for Censorship Zones Around Abortion Clinics
May 20, 2022, United KingdomGillian Mackay, an MSP for the Green Party, "initiated a public consultation on the Bill" that would allow a 2-year sentence to be assigned to someone who "attempts to influence or persuade someone seeking an abortion inside censorship zones," reported "RighttoLife" News. Some claim, there has been a rise in incidents outside abortion clinics involving pro-life activists, but Robert Colquhoun, the campaign director for "40 Days for Life", disagreed saying that it was actually just increased media attention that made it seem so. The introduction of such zones would negatively impact Christians who often attend such vigils due to their biblically based pro-life belief.
Theft of Memorial statue from All Saints Church graveyard
May 20, 2022, United KingdomBetween the 16th and 20th May the memorial statue from the All Saints Graveyard was stolen in Glazebury. The police reported that the family that owned the memorial statue was deeply affected and were looking for witnesses.
Theft of Sacred Objects from Church in Innsbruck
May 19, 2022, AustriaA thief, who was later caught, stole a chalice and a chest of hosts from a church in the Saggen district of Innsbruck. The incident happened on May 18th and the thief was arrested by the police. The stolen goods would be given back to the church after the hearing.
Historical 1925 Altar Cross Stolen from Sankt Bonifatius Church in Frankfurt
May 19, 2022, GermanyA €3,000 reward was offered on May 19th for whoever could provide information that would lead to the retrieval of a gilded altar cross, dating from 1925, that was stolen in January 2022. The cross is around 60 centimetres high and was stolen from the Catholic church of Sankt Bonifatius in Frankfurt. It was there when the church was consecrated so it is of high emotional value to the church.
St. Mary's Church in Plau Graffitied With Black Painted Symbols
May 19, 2022, GermanySt. Mary's Church in Plau was graffitied with black paint on May 19th by unknown people. Chairman of the association, Harald Kleinert, was shocked to find a black symbol painted on the south entrance door. A complaint was lodged but the parish fears more attacks.
Suspected Youth Arrested for Arson at Newtown Church
May 19, 2022, United KingdomAfter a fire broke out in one room of the Evangelical Church in Newton, the police arrested one a young suspect. The fire happened on Thursday 19th of May, it was confined to one room and burned a sofa and a chair. The Dyfed-Powys Police commented: “Police are working closely with the church and that there will be a police presence at the site in the short term, with patrols increased in the area beyond that.” The police have arrested a young vandal on suspicion of arson.
Church in Bad Rodach Severly Vandalized (Again)
May 19, 2022, GermanyThe 100-year-old windows of the St. Johannis Church were damaged on May 21st in Bad Rodach. The church has been vandalized in the past but this time was especially severe. Also, the gold-plated light cover and light, of the ambo or "reading chair," was smashed. In addition, the stained glass windows with devotional pictures were broken.
Church Arson in Sainte-Croix Church
May 19, 2022, FranceA 54-year-old man was taken into custody on the morning of Monday 23 May 2022 as part of the investigation into the fire at the church in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (Vendée). The fire brigade had intervened on the night of Wednesday 18 to Thursday 19 May to extinguish a fire in the church, which destroyed 2 m² of floor in the oratory. Investigators quickly identified other fires and favoured the idea of arson.
Vandals set fire to St. Vladimir's Church in Lviv
May 19, 2022, UkraineOn 19 June in the Sykhiv district of Lviv, the church of St. Prince Vladimir caught fire. According to the sources, a bucket of liquid, a cloth stick, a lighter, a jacket and a cap were found at the scene of the fire. The evidence was seized by the police.
Anarchist and Communist Symbols Tagged on Chapel in Landsberger
May 18, 2022, GermanyOn May 18th, political symbols were found graffitied on the façade of the Altötting chapel in Landsberg, which is a baroque structure from the mid-19th century. A local resident was out on a morning walk when he saw the defacement which was a large anarchist symbol as well as a hammer and sickle (communist symbol) painted in red. The vandalism was reported to the police.
Repeated Hateful Vandalism in Schöppingen Church
May 18, 2022, GermanyActs of vandalism and disrespect repeatedly took place in the St. Brictius Church in Schöppingen. It was reported on May 18th that vandals had lit prayer notes and placed them under benches, put lighted candles under holy water fonts, and used sacrificial candles to "play football" in the church square. These were only some of the things that were happening and Sexton Andreas Kortüm pleaded with the parishioners to help stop it.