All cases
Monstrance Stolen from Church in Fourmies
September 16, 2021, FranceOn 16 September, the glass door of the chapel of the church of Saint-Pierre was forced open with a crowbar. The perpetrators stole a tin monstrance. "The object was not of great material value, but it had spiritual value. This monstrance was used for Adoration every Friday, reports Abbé Potier. The thieves did not take the lunula, i.e. the glass vessel containing the consecrated host. The object is incomplete and therefore cannot be sold as it is. "I am very hopeful that it will be abandoned somewhere and we will eventually get our hands on it again sooner or later". The police are investigating.
Several Thousand Euros Damage: Stained Glass Window of Church in St. Godard Smashed
September 16, 2021, FranceUnknown perpetrators smashed stones against a stained glass window dating back to the XVI century. The incident took place between the night of the 15. to the 16. September in the Church of St. Godard. The church is well-known for its artistical value and is "very much visited for the Heritage Days" explained Élizabeth Labaye, a municipal councilor in charge of tourism and heritage, she is disappointed by the fact that the church was recently "completely cleaned" and because the damage is estimated at several thousand Euros.
About Fifty Graves Vandalised in Poitiers Hospital Cemetery
September 16, 2021, FranceA family that was visiting the Hopital des Champs cemetery alerted the police on 16 September, after they found around fifty graves, which were tagged with the symbol of Sidaction. Police are investigating.
Church in Szczecin Severely Vandalised
September 15, 2021, PolandA 33-year-old man destroyed a historic 1.5 metre wooden cross, an electric censer and a font in the church vestibule, and assaulted the priest who tried to calm down the attacker. Father Dariusz Olszak was beaten and will undergo surgery for a broken jaw. The man, who already had a criminal record, is awaiting his sentence. Police are investigating.
Needs more info: Theft in the Church of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption
September 15, 2021, FranceThe sacristy, of the Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church in Sully, was broken into during the night of the 15th of September. The intruder, stole some candlesticks and a chalice but was not caught. The mayor filed a complaint.
Rogation Cross in Saussines Vandalized
September 15, 2021, FranceIn mid-September, one of the three Rogation Crosses in Saussines, a town northeast of Montpellier on the road to Ales, was vandalized. The perpetrator remains unknown. The act shocked the locals and the faithful.
Statue of the Virgin Mary Attacked with Arson
September 14, 2021, FranceA processional statue of the Virgin Mary in the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Bon Secours in Guingamp was set on fire on 14 September. The fire was extinguished with an extinguisher by the owner of a nearby crêperie. According to a source close to the case: "The initial findings totally confirm it. It is clearly an arson attack. For the moment we have no information on the perpetrator or perpetrators. The investigations will continue. The statue was not completely destroyed, but its clothes were destroyed.
Church Vandalised with Anti-Semitic Tags in Perugia
September 13, 2021, ItalyBlasmephic tags in red paint were found on the memorial plaque of the great Perugian Bishop Luigi Piastrelli, who was parish priest in St. Agatha's church for almost 70 years, from 1908 to 1975. The plaque is found on the facade of the Church. The residents have expressed shame and indignation, according to the report, and they have also called on the police to launch an investigation with help of security cameras on the area.
Ruins of St. Finian's Church in Esker Vandalized
September 13, 2021, IrelandThe historic ruins of the St. Finian's Church in Esker were smeared with black paint on September 13th. The structure is of great local significance and had recently undergone restoration work when the defacement occurred. The Councilor considered this act of vandalism a direct insult to the religious sight and those working there.
Three Teenagers Shout Blasphemies During Mass in Sorso
September 12, 2021, ItalyThree times in a row, three teenagers entered St.Pantaleon's church during mass was taking place and started shouting blasphemies. After the incident, they just left rapidly. Residents and church parishioners have been asking for more control due to the rise of acts of vandalism. The police seem to ignore the requests.
Fourth Break-In at the Madonna delle Lacrime in Siracusa
September 12, 2021, ItalyOn the 12th of September, the News Outlet "Siracusa2000" reported that the Shrine of Our Lady of Tears was vandalised twice in the last 48 hours. This is already the 4th case at the same church within a month. The perpetrators entered through an upper window, shattering its stained-glass window, but they did not steal anything. After several thefts, the parish people had taken the offering boxes away.
Theft and Vandalism in Church of Notre Dame de Lourdes
September 11, 2021, FranceThe church of Notre Dame de Lourdes in Argenteuil was desecrated and broken into. The thieves forced their way into the church through a small window. Inside the church, they stole the ciborium from the tabernacle and threw the holy hosts on the ground. From there the perpetrators went on to the sacristy where they stole a chalice and a paten. All of the stolen items were made out of silver, which gives a hint of the motive of the theft. The glass cruets and other items of worship were left untouched, although they searched the premises. According to the parish vicar, there have been no other recent burglaries of the church or of churches in the area. A reparation ceremony will take place.
Statue of the Virgin Mary at the L'Immacule Conception Church Destroyed
September 11, 2021, FranceThe statue of the Virgin Mary at the Immaculate Conception Church in Bonnencontre was broken into thousand pieces. The major and the parish priest believe it happened on 11th September. In the pictures posted by "Le Bien Pubic" one can also recognize scattered bibles on the floor. A formal complaint has been filed.
Blasphemous Graffiti on Church in Palomares
September 11, 2021, SpainGraffitied profanities against God appeared on a church in Palomares neighbourhood of Béjar on September 11th. The neighbors discovered the graffiti which will take a large amount of work to remove. The police investigated the incident but there were no suspects yet.
Offering Box Repeatedly Being Robbed
September 9, 2021, ItalyThe rector of St Anthony's exposed a warning sign on the church's news table: 'He steals our money, but I want to avoid him trouble'. Repeatedly, the priest had found the box containing the offerings of the faithful robbed several times during the last months. He writes that if the thieve comes again he will reach to the police.
Afghan Faith Minorities, Specially Christians Face Crisis while the "EU Religious Special Envoy" Position Is Vacant
September 8, 2021, BelgiumSpecial Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU seems to be a difficult position. After being two years vacant, Christos Stylianides took up the vacant post and left it after less than five months for another one. Human Rights experts express their concern about how poorly this position is supported and resourced.
Christian Lawyers Appeal Against the Government's Decision to Ban Religious Processions
September 8, 2021, SpainThe Organisation of Christian Lawyers has appealed to the courts that the ban the Junta de Castilla y León placed on religious processions to contain the spread of the Covid 19, was not just. The ban was imposed in Castilla y León to prevent the festival of the patron saint, which takes place on September 8th, from happening. Christian Lawyers claims that this ban interferes with the fundamental right of religious liberty.
St David's Church in Hubberston Repeatedly Vandalized
September 7, 2021, United KingdomThe church of St. David and its surroundings continue to be vandalized almost on a daily basis: litter, condoms, sanitary towels, signs of drug use, and human excrement have had to be cleared away by the parishioners, the vast majority of whom are elderly. The latest event affected the church directly where the windows were smashed and graves desecrated. Church members, neighbors, and the police have worked to limit the amount of vandalism. One of the regular church attendants expressed her concern regarding the ongoing vandalism, "The costs and efforts to maintain and continue to preserve these local assets are immense. As a community, we seek to protect our village green and buildings for future generations (...) For almost 900 years it has been cherished and used by thousands of people near and far, as a place of spiritual peace and as a link between generations past and present".
Church Premises Vandalised with Insulting Graffitis Against the Church
September 6, 2021, SpainThe famous romanic chapel known as Monsacro has been vandalised with graffitis and messages against the Church. The chapel building was not vansalised but the Way of Sorrows and the boundary markers were tagged with hostile messages.
Burglary in La Bien Aparecida Church
September 6, 2021, SpainThe chalice, sacred books, and several candles were stolen from the parish of La Bien Aparecida in Santander on September 6th. The door of the tabernacle was also torn off and the Bishopric pointed out that the perpetrator "did not pursue an economic motive, since the pieces do not have great value for sale, but to commit sacrilege." It happened shortly after the Sunday mass but no thief was found.
Theft of Crucifix in Terlizzi
September 6, 2021, ItalyA crucifix was stolen on September 6th from the statue of Sant Rita in the Blessed Virgin Mary Immaculate church of Terlizzi. The statue has great religious significance and the vandalistic theft upset the church goers. They have invited all to pray that the crucifix gets returned.
Two Churches in Siracusa Vandalised
September 5, 2021, ItalyThe Church of the Mazzarrona and now also the basilica sanctuary of the Madonna delle Lacrime have been the target of thieves and vandals. Police are investigating.
Enormous Damage Caused to Vandalised Church in Burgerland
September 5, 2021, AustriaThe Evangelical Church of Markt Allhau has been vandalised by unknown perpetrators during the night of the 5th to 6th of September. The whole façade of the church was smeared with ketchup, eggs, and bananas while a window was broken with a stone. The incident has been reported to the police and they are investigating. The damage amounts to several thousand euros.
Third Theft in Madonna delle Lacrime Sanctuary in one Month
September 4, 2021, ItalyFor the third time in a row, the Madonna Delle Lacrime Sanctuary located in Siracusa has been robbed of its offerings and vandalized. The last incident happened between the 3rd and 4th of September. The thieves seemed to have entered through the side door, shattering its glass, as seen in the photo. Police and forensic personnel are carrying out investigations.
Arson Caused Damage of Several Thousand Francs to St.Andrea's Church in Gossau
September 3, 2021, SwitzerlandUnknown persons set fire to several objects between 4.45 pm and 6 pm on the 3rd of September. Fortunately, the fire went out by itself. The arson was discovered by the sexton, who smelled smoke when entering the church. He found a singed wooden table with charred objects. According to the St. Gallen cantonal police, property damage amounting to several thousand francs was caused. The Priest of the Church, Andy Givel, expressed surprise and concern regarding the incident.
Chiesa Matrice di Alessandria della Rocca Robbed and Vandalised
September 3, 2021, ItalyAccording to initial investigations, the robbery took place on the 27th of August, but the parish priest of the church reported the incident to the police only on 3 September. Unknown perpetrators broke into Chiesa Matrice di Alessandria della Rocca and vandalised the tabernacle by stealing the gold and cooper door of the tabernacle. The perpetrators also looted the collection box. The police are investigating.
Church Door Glued Shut in Verín
September 3, 2021, SpainThe door of the Os Remedios church in Verín was glued and wired shut by vandals to prevent the mass for the Virgin being celebrated. The parishioners were disgusted by that act and had to pray outside. A complaint was filed and a locksmith eventually managed to open the door.
New Study in Ireland Reveals: Catholic Students Are most Affected by Bullying
September 2, 2021, IrelandA recent study by the "National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre" of the University of Dublin proves that Christian students are particularly affected by intolerance and discrimination in secondary schools. The report is based on 214 interviews with religious education teachers from each of Ireland's secondary schools. Half of the surveyed schools recognised bullying because of a students faith as a problem. Teachers expressed their concern about negative stereotyping and exclusion of students with strong beliefs or unpopular opinions. According to the responses in the study, Christians and particularly Catholics have been targeted the most. One teacher noted: "It is now socially accepted in Ireland that Catholics are insulted or belittled."
Saint-François Church in Le Havre Desecrated with Stanic Grafitti
September 2, 2021, FranceGraffitis were found on the front door of Saint-François church representing satanic symbols, inverted crosses and also insults against the police. The city council denounced the vandalistic act.
Statue of Saint Timothy Vandalised in Termoli
September 1, 2021, ItalyA vandal damaged the clay statue of Saint Timothy on 1 September, located on the roundabout near the Homonim church. As reported by a witness, the perpetrator seemed restless because he was muttering and accusing.
Church in Tamines Repeatedly Vandalised
September 1, 2021, BelgiumThe church of Bachères, in Tamines, was continually vandalized by unknown groups of individuals during the week leading to the 1st of September, according to local residents. They reported the late night activities at the old church and the acts of degradation to the police. These incidents showed a lack of respect for a sight that is sacred for many.
Vandalism and Desecration in the Church of Ca' de Caroli in Scandiano
September 1, 2021, ItalyOn 1 September the walls of the church were vandalised and statues, furnishings and liturgical objects destroyed. The Vicar-general rushed to the place of the incident as soon as possible, to evaluate the damages and calm down the community. In the forthcoming weeks, Bishop Massimo Camisasca will visit the church and preside a Holy Mass.
Theft and Vandalism in Church in Corigliano-Rossano
August 31, 2021, ItalyTwo men, 18 and 19 years old, have been arrested for theft and damage to property of the Maria Santissima Delle Grazie church in Corigliano-Rossano. They broke a votive lamp, knocked the Santo Rita statue to the floor, and caused damage of around 10,000 euros. They are awaiting trial.
Italian Church Vandalized with Graffiti for the Third Time
August 31, 2021, ItalyThe local church of Alatri was defaced for the third time in a couple of months by unknown vandals, this was reported on 31 August. The parish reported the act of vandalism, which was Graffiti with the Italian battle phrase "Avanti Savoia"on the Church "XII Marie". The parish community has already witnessed similar acts of vandalism. The local newspaper calls it "political" graffiti. The vandals have not been identified yet.
Priest Discovers Arson in German Church in Essen
August 30, 2021, GermanyThe priest of the Catholic Church of St. Peter and Laurentiusin Essen found the remains of an arson on 30 August. The unknown vandals sprayed disinfectant alcohol on a pile of papers to create a fire, damaging two benches and the floor. The case was reported to the police, which is looking for the suspects.
Grave of Father Profaned in Polish Cementery
August 30, 2021, PolandDuring the night to the 30. August, unknown perpetrators profaned the grave of Father Leon Kantorski. He was known for helping oppositionists and helping the Polish-Ukrainian reconciliation. The tomb was found by another member of the St. Christopher Church. The hundred-kilograms-heavy tombstones were removed, probably by several people. Fr. Wojciech Osial suspects that this was done to hurt the parish community and local Catholics, and also that maybe they unsuccessfully tried to steal the slabs. The police were informed and they are investigating the case.
Scotland Plans to Introduce Censorship Zones and Changes in Abortion Law
August 30, 2021, United KingdomThe Scottish government has recently proposed to create censorship zones outside abortion clinics. These plans are being pushed despite a poll showing that only 21% of the UK population supports the introduction of "censorship zones", while many people in and outside the pro-life movement denounce the risk of censorship zones as a threat to free speech. Other planned changes are increasing the number of hospitals and clinics required to provide late-term abortions and removing in-person consultations prior to the medical procedure, which makes it difficult to assess if a person is seeking an abortion due to abuse or coercion.
Cemetery in Redessan Desecrated for Second time in Two Weeks
August 28, 2021, FranceFor the second time in two weeks, the cemetery in Redessan has been vandalised. This time it was on the 28th of August. At least twenty graves were damaged, crosses were broken, etc. No graves have been opened and no inscriptions have been found so far. Investigations are ongoing and police are searching the cemetery for evidence.
Nottingham University Refuses to Instal Catholic Priest as new Chaplain because of His Catholic Views
August 27, 2021, United KingdomNottingham University confirmed on 25 August, that they had declined to install Father David Palmer, a priest of the Personal Ordinariate of Our lady of Walsingham, because of "the manner" he commented on his social media site, a university spokesperson said. Palmer was supposed to become the chaplain of both Nottingham University and Nottingham Trent University. While the latter instaled him the former invited Father Palmer to an interview in which he defended his posts about assisted suicide and abortion to go against the Catholic belief. After Bishop Patrick McKinney declined to propose another priest the University accepted to allow Father Palmer to celebrate mass as a "guest Priest".
Church Vandalised and Set on Fire in Behren-lès-Forbach
August 27, 2021, FranceOn 27 August unknown perpetrators set fire to the protestant church in Behren-lès-Forbach. The fire was started with rubbish and sacred objects found inside the church. Although the fire brigade managed to intervene quickly and got the fire under control promptly, it caused extensive damage, especially in the church's basement. The parish filed a complaint with the local police, who are currently investigating and looking for the perpetrators. Fortunately, no people were harmed, as the fire started outside of church service hours. Behrens Minister of Interior, Gérald Darmanin, as well as parishioners, condemned the incident.
Vandals Damaged Two Statues of the Redeemer in Bari
August 27, 2021, ItalyBetween the 26. and 27. August, the two statues in front of the Redentore Church in the Liberta district of Bari were damaged by unknown vandals. The statue of Mary took the most damage. After inspecting the case, the authorities decided to position the security cameras to cover the area. Now, in the public churchyard, the entrance will now also be only allowed with the specific ordinance.
Statues Vandalised outside Church in Bari
August 27, 2021, ItalyIn the evening of August 27th, one of the two statues outside the Church of the Redeemer was damaged in a vandalistic attack. Various leaders have decided to take action to prevent such acts in the future such as the repositioning of cameras, the banning of scooters in the area, and the placement of bollards.
Harvard University Elects Atheist as President of Chaplains
August 27, 2021, United StatesThe new unanimously elected president of the Harvard's organisation of Chaplains, Greg Epstein, is an atheist and humanist. He is also the author of a book called "Good Without God: What Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe" and he has served as a humanist Chaplain since 2005. Epstein says that he doesn't look towards God for answers, instead to personal relationships, sharing the idea that the value of religion relies on their strong community rather than the spiritual connection to God. Evangelical Chaplain Pete Williamson, who voted for Epstein, points out that even if the new president is not aiming to promote Atheism and promotes interfaith cooperation, the media has used a divisive tone that triggered outrage and worry among Christians. Bishop Robert Barron thinks differently as he says: “If a professed atheist counts as a chaplain — which is to say, a leader of religious services in a chapel — then ‘religion’ has quite obviously come to mean nothing at all.”
Doctor David Mackereth Appeals Court Decision
August 26, 2021, United KingdomIn 2018 Christian A&E doctor David Mackereth was fired from his position because of his deeply held belief that God created humankind male and female. An employment tribunal consequently ruled that Davids belief is not 'worthy of respect in a democratic society' and that the Christian belief is 'incompatible with human dignity'. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre Dr David Mackereth is now appealing the ruling, which legally states that Christians could be discriminated against, as their belief is not protected by the Equality Act. The first hearing is expected to start this autumn, probably in October.
Theft of Sacrilegious Objects in San Felice Church
August 26, 2021, ItalyUnknown perpetrators stole offerings and gold objects such as rings and a golden necklace from the San Felice di Tenna parish church in Tramonti. The incident is said to have happened sometime overnight from 25 to 26 August. The culprits must have known that parish priest Father Justin Nnamdi Emeziem left the town to attend a summer camp. Apart from the stolen offerings and a broken offertory box, the military and the police found a damaged statue of the Virgin Mary and gold objects belonging to the statue missing. Police in cooperation with the military is investigating the incident, which was caught by nearby surveillance cameras. An exact amount of the stolen goods has yet to be determined.
Desecration of Graveyard in Zielona Gora
August 26, 2021, PolandA cemetery in Zielona Gora has been desecrated by unknown perpetrators. The destroyed graves belonged to the family of Mariusz Michalski and his wife Małgorzata. They reported the incident to the local police on 22 August. Police found the gravestone overturned broken in four and scattered. As they haven't been to the cemetery for almost a month they do not know when it happened, but the family asked the locals for help. This is not the first case of vandalism in the Zielona Góra cemetery. It keeps happening over and over again, police are currently looking into CCTV while awaiting useful information from the public
Churchdoor in Germany Damaged by Unknown Perpetrator
August 26, 2021, GermanyUnknown perpetrators damaged the door of the Church of Merkenbach between the 26 to 28 of August. These persons caused a dent in the copper fitting on the door, the cost of the damage is undefined. The police have filed the case and they are looking to identify the perpetrators.
Anarchist and Disrespectful Tags on St.Elisabeth's Church Front Door
August 26, 2021, GermanyThe Catholic Church of St. Elisabeth on the Lammerberg appeared with graffiti on the front door. During the night of August 26, unknown people sprayed "Too loud" on the relief of St. Elisabeth and "Much too loud" on the two bronze doors using blue and green paint. The church caretaker, Gerhard Spiegler, was able to remove the anarchy sign "A" in a circle, which the vandals left on the glass notice box. On the north portal, however, a specialist is needed.
Multiple Thefts from Cemetery in Vivonne
August 25, 2021, FranceThe municipality of Vivonne has now recruited a guard for their new local cemetery as it had been subjected to various acts of theft and vandalism. The latest incident happened on 25 August where an unknown perpetrator stole flowers from various graves. As the police were informed they asked the public to put GPS chips in their flower pots, as this had helped to capture a flower thieve in a prior case. According to Vivonne's major the public is traumatized by these repeated acts of disrespect to the dead.
Catholic Television Channel Slammed for Airing Pro-Life Film
August 25, 2021, FranceFrench TV channel C8 aired the American film "Unplanned" on 16 August. After airing the fact-base-movie members of the public, as well as high ranking members of the Government, called the movie a "despicable anti-abortion propaganda tool". C8, which is owned by Catholic French billionaire Vincent Bolloré, is now accused of "obstruction to abortion". Politician Élisabeth Moreno is now aiming to legally prosecute the broadcasting service.