All cases
Municipality in Spain Takes Down Cross in Parish Church
January 21, 2022, SpainThe mayor of Villagarcía de Arosa began the demolition of the cross of the parish church, in late January 2022. The removal will be undertaken under the Historical Memory Law and will cost more than 1,000 euros, according to the PSOE government team. On social media, the political party VOX wrote: "infamy is being committed. A theft of our history and our faith. The local PSOE allows it with financial help from the Diputación".
Burglary and Theft in Szczytno Church
January 20, 2022, PolandA 25-year-old man, was found inside the basement of a Church in Szczytno by the pastor, on the 20th of January. Upon investigation, it was found that the intruder had broken three widows of the church and had then attempted to steal three items worth a combined value of 5,000 zlotys.
German Evangelical Pastor Receives Death Threats
January 20, 2022, GermanyThe police in Germany has communicated that a pastor from Herne, Melanie Jansen, who regularly organises peace prayers on Saturdays (parallel to Covid-19 protests), has received death threats. The State Protection Service is now investigating, as the persons from the two incidents until now were unknown. The Evangelical Church in Rhineland has condemned these threats and have expressed solidarity towards this colleague and "sister in Christ".
Vandals Tagged Church Walls and Door with Blasphemous Words
January 20, 2022, ItalyIn Muggio, the façade of the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Castagno was found covered with blasphemous taggs on the 21st of January. The walls and the entrance door of the church were vandalised by unknown perpetrators, with the words "Dio cane" (Dog God). According to the news outlet "Today", the places of worship in the city had been attacked with arson in recent weeks and in the summer. The community was very affected by this incident and volunteers have cleaned the walls.
Arsonist Burns Church Altar in Germany
January 20, 2022, GermanyOn 20 January, the Paul Gerhardt Church in Berlin fell victim to an arson attack, destroying the altar, an image of Christ and the organ. Thirty firefighters were needed to extinguish the fire. The Evangelical congregation was shocked by the incident, with Pastor Aljona Hofmann saying: 'It strikes at the heart of the church.' According to a witness, a man left the church in a hurry shortly before the fire started; the church would normally have been closed at this time. The police are investigating.
France: Minister of Interior Releases 4 Million Euro Budget to protect Places of Worship
January 20, 2022, FranceThe minister of interior in France, Gérald Darmanin, has announced a four million euro budget to secure places of worship after a series of acts of vandalism to churches. In relation to this, the philosopher and historian, Remi Brague, said in an interview that attacking the Catholic Church has become very easy. He also sees it as a way of weakening the whole country and points out that the solution to improve the security of Churches is not only financial. The minister plans to finance video surveillance in particular.
Catholic Church Vandalised with Dog Manure for several Months
January 20, 2022, GermanyThe police have found a suspect, who might be responsible for the vandalism attacks that endured the Catholic church St. Aegidius for several months since October 2021. The man had smeared dog excrement on the walls of the church or left dog excrement at the entrance of the church almost every week. The pastor Anrul Lourdu commented: "We are speechless and meanwhile also powerless. It is simply undignified, unattractive and inhumane what is happening."
Suspected Arson to Church in Valladolid
January 19, 2022, SpainThe church of Our Lady of Fatima in Valladolid has been severely damaged by a fire that was started from outside the church. The investigation indicates that the fire could have been caused by arson. The head of the parish of San José Obrero, Enrique Barrientos, said: "In principle, it seems to have been provoked because the fire went from the outside in. There had been some acts of vandalism in the area." The incident took place on the 19. January in the early morning, and the first one to raise the alarm was the headmaster of a school that is attached to the chapel. The fire damaged a church door, an image of the Virgin and the electronic organ, which was completely burnt.
Police Arrest Man Guilty for Theft of Sacred Obejcts
January 18, 2022, ItalyThe police of Salerno has captured a man who was guilty of stealing sacred objects from the church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the 18th of January. The thieve had stolen a silver chalice and monstrance. The police were alerted by Don Biagio, the parish priest who was in the sacristy when the theft took place. The 24-year-old perpetrator was identified with the security cameras and the objects were returned to the church.
Outer Walls of Church in Napoli Marred by Fire
January 18, 2022, ItalyOn January 18th, the outer walls of the Sant'Eligio Church in Piazza Mercato, Naples, were blackened by a fire lit by youths from the city. The police quickly arrived at the scene but not before the walls had been damaged.
Church Front Set Alight in Muggiò
January 18, 2022, ItalyThe doormat of the Santa Giuliana church in Muggiò was set alight by unknow vandals on 18. January. The main doors of the historic 13th century church were blackened by the flames. This act of arson was obviously done in contempt of the church.
Church Bell Tower in Villingen-Schwenningen Defaced
January 18, 2022, GermanyThe bell tower of a church in Villingen-Schwenningen was defaced by unknown vandals. They sprayed the tower with writing and caused property damage of around 100 Euros on January 18th. The police were looking for more information and wanted witnesses.
Arson to Nativity Scene in Church in Dortmund
January 17, 2022, GermanyThe police assume that the straw on the cot of the Provost Church of St. John the Baptist was set on fire by someone. Arson is suspected. This was reported by "Der Westen". According to the parish website, a visitor to the Catholic church noticed the fire at the cot on Monday and reported it. With the help of a fire extinguisher, the caretaker and sexton were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the Christmas trees and the wooden altar.The nativity scene has now been dismantled. The church remains open, but additional safety measures are being considered.
Entire Music Equipment Stolen from Dresden Church
January 17, 2022, GermanyAn unknown thief stole the music equipment form the Friedenskirche Church in Dresden-Löbtau. The theft happened on the 17 of January and police say the stolen goods had a value of around 2,000 euros. The equipment is vital for celebrating services.
Man Tears Host into Pieces During Mass
January 16, 2022, FranceOn the 16. January, in the parish of Saint-Esprit in Paris during Mass, a man went to receive Communion, but instead, he took the Host and tore it into pieces and threw it to the ground. The Father Simón Fornier de Violeta, one of the parish vicars, was distributing Communion when this man arrived and stretched out his hand. As the priest tried to ask him about this profanation, he replied "For Nadia", and went away. The priest said: "The act was thought out, premeditated." He commented that the man had some injuries in his hands, like "people who consume drugs or drink too much."
Man Arrested for Dismembering Figures of Jesus
January 16, 2022, GermanyA 30 year old man was arrest for multiple accounts of property damage around the Märkischer Kreis region on January 16th. The cases included the dismembering of Jesus figurines, stolen statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, and damage to wayside crosses. The police suspected it was not a religiously motivated attack but this does not excuse the fact that the objects that were destroyed in a sacrilegious manner, were sacred to Christians.
Burglary of Church in St. Ingbert
January 16, 2022, GermanyOn January 16th, three men and two women, entered the church of St. Hildegard in St. Ingbert and stole several items after ransacking the inside. Groceries were stolen and some offering sticks, which they tried to break, were shaken to get the coins out. When the police arrived on the scene, the criminals fled but the two women were arrested. A follow up investigation confirmed that the suspects were a gang who had raided several other churches and items, including a gold chalice worth thousands, were found in one of their apartments.
Police Are Investigating Arson to Dundee Church
January 15, 2022, United KingdomIn Dundee, Scotland, the St Luke’s Parish Church was the victim of an arson attack on the 15. January. The crew that extinguished the fire found that someone had set alight rubbish around 4 pm, according to the police. Also, neighbours said there have been issues with teenagers accessing the grounds of the former church.
Graffiti in Wertingen Church
January 13, 2022, GermanyA severe case of vandalism was recorded at the St. Martin's Church in Wertingen on January 13th. Graffiti and the number 187, meaning murder, were painted all over the wooden paneling and seats. There was even a failed attempt to break open the sacristy door; and the offertory was also damaged, in the adjacent Lourdes Grotto. There was an estimated property damage of around 1,000 Euros.
Break-In and Property Damage to Church in Niederlinxweiler
January 13, 2022, GermanyUnknown intruders destructively gained access to the evangelical church in Niederlinxweiler on January 13th. In their attempt to find and steal valuables from the sacristy, they ransacked rooms and caused a large amount of property damage. The police were looking for witnesses to provide more information.
Polish Court Rejects Appeal for LGBTQ Acquittal
January 12, 2022, PolandThe Plock court in Poland has finally rejected the prosecutions appeal after three pro-LGBTQ women were acquitted in March of 2021. They had been distributing posters of the Virgin May with a rainbow halo on her head and were prosecuted for "offending religious beliefs." The sentence would have been up to two years but the offence was not deemed severe enough.
Drunk Man Threatens Priest And Tries to Enter Church
January 11, 2022, ItalyAround 4 a.m. today, Tuesday 11 January, a 29-year-old young man with multiple past convictions began threatening the parish priest of the Collegiate Church in Moncalieri because he could not get into the church. The parish priest, worried about the possibility of vandalism, called the Carabinieri. When they arrived a few minutes later, the soldiers tried to calm him down, but the man attacked them and continued his fury even at the barracks, where he was taken to formalise his arrest.
Tabernacle Broken in Romainville
January 11, 2022, FranceVandals wrecked the church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois in Romainville on January 11th. The Diocese wrote in a press release, "a trunk was torn off, the tabernacle was fractured, the sound equipment, stolen and the cupboards of the sacristy, stripped of several sacred vases". This act of desecration expressed a total lack of respect for these religious symbols.
Italian Parish Priest Demands Help After Continuous Attacks and Vandalism
January 11, 2022, ItalyThe parish priest of the church of San Benedetto in Livorno, Don Tomasz Zurek, has said he can't stand anymore the intimidation and vandalism that happens outside his church every night. In the last incident, someone started a fire to a paper that was on the Church door. As he protested the violent acts he has to endure, he was pushed by the vandals. The priest says: "We ask for a permanent presence of the police and, if necessary, also of the army." He has organized a letter, together with people from a shopping centre nearby, also intimidated by the vandals that gather outside the Church at night. This was reported on the 11th of January.
Hundreds of Hosts Stolen from Saint-Pierre Church
January 10, 2022, FranceThieves broke through the stained-glass windows of the Saint-Pierre Church in Bondy to desecrate the tabernacle and steal hundreds of hosts. This act of desecration showed intense disrespect for some of the most sacred objects in the Catholic church. Father Jocelyn Petitfils explains that the tabernacle is "the most venerable place in the church, where the consecrated hosts are stored”.
Attempted Arson at Bakum Church
January 10, 2022, GermanyBetween the 8th and the 10th of January, unknown perpetrators made an arson attack at the St.-Johannes-Baptist-Church in Bakum. According to the police, the fire was started on a paper and it damaged one table. The fire smoke also damaged the walls. The damage amounts to approx. 200 Euro. The police is now investigating and requesting clues from eye-witnesses.
Heavy Flagstones Stolen from Glossop Church
January 10, 2022, United KingdomThieves targeted a church in Glossop and stole a number of ancient flagstones from the floor. The theft from the grounds of Glossop Parish Church of All Saints has left the local community saddened. The stolen flagstones were taken from the path outside the west end of the church overnight between Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 January. Tyre tracks were left nearby so it is believed a vehicle was used in the theft of the very heavy stone.
Nativity Scene Statue Stolen from Church in Forbach-Bermersbach
January 10, 2022, GermanyA nativity scene figure was stolen from a church in Forbach-Bermersbach (Rastatt district) on 10. January. According to the police, the figure, a "servant with a donation box", was stolen from the unlocked church. The damage is said to be of a non-material and artistic nature; the financial damage cannot yet be quantified.
Crucifix Stolen from Church During Funeral
January 10, 2022, FranceA repeat thief stole a wooden crucifix off the condolence table at the Saint-Nicolas de Port Basilica near Dombasle, France. The absence of the liturgical piece was noticed shortly after the funeral had ended and upon viewing the footage from the nearby surveillance cameras, the police identified the thief to be Phillipe Languedoc. He has been in prison for the past 38 years for other offences and now will spend 12 more months behind bars for this crime. The lack of respect for religious sentiments was evident in the incident.
Church Windows Smashed by Unknown Perpetrators
January 9, 2022, BelgiumOn Sunday 9. January, the church in Bouvignes was targeted by unknown vandals. The Stained glass windows were broken, probably through kicking. Father Jean-Baptiste Raty, parish priest of the church, called the action a : "gratuitous vandalism".
Church Walls Tagged by Vandals
January 9, 2022, PolandUnknown criminals spray painted the Garrison Church of St. Casimir the Prince in Katowice. They may face a sentence of up to eight years and will have to restore the stone work to its original state. Multiple walls and some statues of the historic church were defaced.
Theft of Relic from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
January 9, 2022, FranceThe relic f John Paul II was stolen from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Paray-leMonial in Burgundy. The relic is a piece of cloth stained with the Pope's blood during an attempted murder in 1981. The theft could have occurred between the 8 and 9 of January, according to the mayor Jean-Marc Nesme. The incident was reported by a churchman who was closing the church, the police are investigating.
Obscene Phrases Written on Fabriano Church
January 9, 2022, ItalyThe front facade of the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Via Conce, was defaced with epithets written in spray paint on 1. January. Police examined footage of the surrounding area in search of the vandals but no one has been arrested.
Windows of Bouvignes Church Broken
January 9, 2022, BelgiumOn 9. January, the stained glass windows of the Bouvignes church were smashed in. Father Jean-Baptiste Raty labelled the act: "gratuitous vandalism".
Vandal Smashes Church Windows During Mass
January 9, 2022, SlovakiaDuring Mass, an 18-year-old used a hammer to smash the windows of the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Senica. The man then fled the scene with a city police patrol in pursuit. He used the hammer to fend off one officer but was caught in the end. This incident happened on January 9th.
Karlskirche in Vienna Tagged Again by Unknown Vandals
January 8, 2022, AustriaOn the night of the 7. to 8. January, the historical Karlskirche in Vienna was tagged with red paint by unknown vandals. Among the symbols, there were blasphemous drawings, anarchist and communist symbols. Johannes Pasquali, a Viennese politician, demanded that security cameras be installed to protect the church. These attacks and vandalism have been repetitive for some months.
Statue of the Virgin of Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux Church destroyed
January 8, 2022, FranceIn the Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux Church in Strasbourg, the statue of the Virgin was vandalised on the 8th of January. The statue of the Virgin was found destroyed on the ground with its face damaged. A complaint was filed with the police. The parish priest of the church received the news and commented: "It was a parishioner who alerted me. He found the statue of the Virgin demolished, next to its base. He immediately called. I think it was intentional: the way it was positioned, I don't see how the statue could have fallen down by itself. Father Uberall has already announced his intention to file a complaint."
Theft of Money and Consecrated Hosts in Vitry-sur-Seine
January 7, 2022, FranceIn the night of January 6th, unknown persons broke into the Saint-Germain church of Vitry-sur-Seine. There, they broke open the three tabernacles and took the ciborium with the consecrated hosts as well as stealing some money donated by the parishioners. The desecration of the hosts showed their malignant intent.
Couple Vandalised Nativity Scene and Cut Off Mary's Hands
January 7, 2022, PolandA couple of 20-year-olds vandalised a Christmas nativity scene in Jasień on the 7. January. The perpetrators damaged the figures in the nativity scene, including cutting off the hands of Mary. They also stole the crosier. They have been charged with "destruction of property", theft and offending religious feelings. They could face up to 5 years in jail, according to polish authorities.
Figure of Baby Jesus Destroyed in Diest
January 7, 2022, BelgiumOn the 7. January, the nativity scene on display at the historic Church of St. Suplice in Diest was the victim of vandalism. Unknown perpetrators destroyed the figure of baby Jesus by tearing off his head, one arm and one leg.
Several Thefts at Nativity Scenes in Sint Truiden
January 7, 2022, BelgiumOn January 7th, the baby Jesus was stolen from the nativity scene at the Saint Martin church in Sint Truiden. This was not the first of such thefts as earlier, said sexton Etienne Thomas. He recalls: "one of the brass angels on the main altar was unscrewed and stolen," and before that, some copper candlesticks were taken. These incidents were just part of the repeated vandalism the Saint Martin church has been facing.
Evangelical Dean Receives Several Threats For his Views
January 7, 2022, GermanyThe Dean of the Evangelical Church has received several anonymous threatening letters due to the vaccination campaign in Ulm Minster. These letters criticise vaccinations and the role played by the Dean in it.No one close or familiar to the Dean is considered a suspect, as the details of the letter demonstrated a lack of knowledge regarding the church's internal procedures and even the address the letter was sent to was incorrect.
Statue of the Virgin Mary destroyed in Poland
January 7, 2022, PolandA statue of the Virgin Mary was torn apart and a local chapel destroyed in Sikorzyna, Poland, as reported on the 7th of January. The four perpetrators have been arrested and will be judged accordingly. The Fidei Defensor Monitoring Center for Christianophobia stated that it "will intervene to bring the perpetrators to justice".
Painting of Jesus Broken in Attempted Theft from Sint-Truiden Church
January 7, 2022, BelgiumThieves attempted to steal the triptych with pictures of Jesus, that was hanging at the front at Saint Martin's church in Sint-Truiden. The incident was recorded on January 7th but happened several weeks earlier. The triptych is 40 to 50 kilos so once it was detached, the weight became too much for the thieves and the picture fell, broken beyond repair. Although it was not stolen, the image was destroyed.
Activists Block Holy Mass at Cathedral in Cologne
January 6, 2022, GermanyOn the 6. January at the evening, a group of twelve climate activists blocked a mass in the Cathedral of Cologne. The demonstrators wanted to catch Pope Francis' attention, according to Catholic News Agency request. The cathedral wardens attempted to carry out the activists, who sat in the middle of the church between the aisles. Two of them got injured for trying to carry these persons, but no actual violence was used from any side, they were treated by rescue workers.
Nativity Figures Stolen by Youth
January 6, 2022, GermanySixteen and twelve-year-old boys were caught after they took the baby Jesus from a nativity scene in Saarburg and altered some of the other figures during the first week of January. The stolen figure was thrown into the Saar and the youth have been charged with other acts of vandalism.
Six Church Statues Decapitated in Poitiers
January 6, 2022, FranceOn January 6th, six statues were found decapitated in the church of Sainte-Thérèse in Poitiers. The police have confirmed that the vandalism
Repetitive Burglary in Church
January 6, 2022, GermanyChurch on Hiddensee Island was sacked for the second time within only a few weeks. Money was stolen from the donation containers, with a total plundering and property damage estimated at around 600€. Nearly a month before, unknown thieves had broken into the antechamber of the church, stealing the money saved in a wooden donation chest.
Vandals Desecrate Tombstones at Cemetery
January 6, 2022, ItalyOn January 6th, unknown vandals raided cooper vases and bouquets of flowers were found torn apart on the floor. A second theft was recorded in fifteen days in the Cemetery of Ponticelli. These acts of vandalism were recorded both in the chapel of Sant'Anna and in the municipal hypogeum located in the most recent zone of construction of the Ponticelli Cemetery.
Burglary in the Church of Santa Maria Assunta
January 6, 2022, ItalyA theft occurred on the 6. January during the Catholic celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord. Unknown vandals took advantage of the absence of people and broke into the Church of Santa Maria Assunta by breaking the glass of the sacristy. A music box was stolen, commonly used by the city choirs to animate celebrations in the Church. The police were immediately alerted and began the investigations to find the authors of this theft. Both the members of the choir and the parish priest Don Francesco Scarin expressed deep regret for this theft.