All cases
Crystal Glass Pyramide Protecting the Statue of Antonfrancesco Farsetti Vandalized
June 28, 2020, ItalyOn June 28th the crystal glass pyramid, which is supposed to protect the statue Antonfrancesco Farsetti, founder of Ilsa della Donazella, was smashed by unknown vandals.
Repeated Acts of Vandalism and Theft in Bergamo Church
June 27, 2020, ItalyIn the week before June 27th, the church of Sant’Andrea in Bergamo was the victim of two crimes. The first incident was the vandalism of the liturgical chair which was discovered upside down in the middle of the church and wet with what the priest suspected was urine. The second incident was the theft of the offerings, accomplished by severely damaging the valuable offering boxes. This series of events led to the closure of the church except for Sunday Mass, until funds have been raised to install comprehensive security measures.
Robbers Cause €100 in Damage to Steal €5 from Sulzbach Church
June 26, 2020, GermanyPolice report that between June 26th and June 28th unknown perpetrators stole money from the offering box of the evangelical Church of Sulzbach. While the damage to the church property was estimated to be one hundred euros, the thieves fled with five euros.
Fire Devastated Catholic Parish Hall; Apartment
June 26, 2020, GermanyAAround 10:30 p.m. on June 26th, the Hemmingen fire brigade was called due to a report of smoke in an apartment. Upon arrival, they discovered that that the adjacent caretaker's apartment in the attic of the Catholic Church of St. George parish hall was on fire. The fire brigade had to put out the fire and prevent it from spreading to the church, which is just a few meters away. According to the Ludwigsburg police, the caretaker's apartment was completely burnt out and is now uninhabitable. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Disturbance in the Church of Oppau in Ludwigshafen Suspect Fled
June 23, 2020, GermanyOn June 23rd, the priest of the Catholic church in the Oppau district of Lugwigshafen heard a loud noise inside the church around 12:30 p.m. While investing the noise, he discovered a young man fleeing and found several objects in the church toppled over. The damage caused is estimated to be around 500 euros. The police are investigating.
Statue of Saint Junípero Serra Vandalized with "Racist"
June 22, 2020, SpainThe statue of the Mallorcan friar and saint Junípero Serra in Palma which stands in front of the central convent of Sant Francesc, was vandalized on June 22nd. The word 'racist' was smeared on the base of the monument, and the saint's image was also stained with red paint. The statue was attacked after the Podemos councilor in the Palma City Council, Sonia Vivas, mayor of Social Justice, Feminism and LGTBI, noted the statue of the eighteenth-century Franciscan friar had been attacked in California, USA. She suggested the statue of the saint should be thrown away "peacefully, "calling the saint a symbol of the "oligarchy".
‘Black Madonna’ in Breda defaced
June 22, 2020, NetherlandsOn June 22nd, vandals defaced the image of Our Lady of Częstochowa and painted the letters "BLM" at the base in a park chapel in Breda. The image of Our Lady, which is revered by Poles and also known as the 'Black Madonna', was erected in the park in 1954 in thanksgiving for the city’s liberation from the Nazis.
Unknown Perpetrators Destroyed Forest Chapel In Achel
June 22, 2020, BelgiumOn 22 June, vandals destroyed the small forest chapel at the Prinsenloop on the Witteberg in Achel. The facade was thrown out of the window and the statue of the Virgin Mary was completely destroyed and the debris was found near the chapel. Some tiles of the roof and a flowerpot were also smashed. The police are investigating.
Theft from Bühl Church
June 19, 2020, GermanyA thief caused nearly €200 in damage when he violently tore the offertory box affixed to a table in the Catholic church in Bühl on June 19th. Reports indicate the box only contained a few euros. The Bühl police began an investigation.
Church Devastated, Altar Burned and Crucifix Stolen in Gattinara
June 18, 2020, ItalyOn the night of 17th to 18th June, unknown vandals targeted the small Church of the Madonna of the Consolation. The vandals forced the door open, stole the Crucifix, set fire to the altar, which also damaged the paintings and decorations, and destroyed the statue of the Madonna. The statue was found outside from the building.
The Sanctuary of Carmel of Cesana Brianza Damaged
June 16, 2020, ItalyThe sanctuary of Carmel of Cesana Brianza has been seriously damaged. The parish of Santi Fermo e Rustico reported the incident on Facebook. To report the episode, promptly reported to the authorities, is the parish of Saints Fermo and Rustico who on their facebook page reported the incident: "In the evening, numerous underage teenagers gather, leaving dirt and damage. To the children we say: the sanctuary is a place of silence and prayer, do not ruin it with irresponsible behaviour! This is no place to bivouac! We respect the sacredness".
Theft from the Catholic Church
June 16, 2020, GermanyOn Sunday, June 14th, unknown people broke the sacristy door of a Catholic church in the northern complex. Between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., they entered the church and tampered with the wooden door. Keys were apparently stolen from the room. The property damage is estimated at around 200 euros. Police are looking for clues and witness. Please inform the criminal police in Gießen at 0641 / 7006-2555.
Abortion Allowed up to Birth in Case of Non-Fatal Disability in NI Despite Stormont Assembly Vote
June 15, 2020, United KingdomDespite the opposition by the Stormont Assembly, Parliament of Northern Ireland, the House of Lords in the UK backed the abortion regulations for Northern Ireland, which were made on the time when the Assembly had collapsed. The regulations permit abortions up to birth in cases of severe non-fatal disability, such as the Down-syndrome. Lord Shinkwin, a Peer in the House of Lords, who also has a disability asked how they could deny life to a human being diagnosed with a non-fatal disability.
Government Proposed to Ban Pro-Life Campaigns In Front Of Abortion Hospitals
June 15, 2020, IrelandIn Ireland, the Government proposed creating "free access zones", where pro-life campaigners would not be allowed to stand in front of Hospitals and Abortion centers. Pro Life Campaigner Eilis Mulroy criticises the intended introduction of censorship zones. He claims that these exclusion zones go against freedom of speech and peaceful protests. Also, the Pro-Life movement criticizes the absence of meaningful support or interest in providing other alternatives to abortion in the draft Program for the Government.
Vandalism with Excrement in the Capuchin Church in Spoleto
June 14, 2020, ItalyThe small church of the Minori Cappuccini di Spoleto was discovered vandalized with human excrement on June 14th, the feast of Corpus Christi. The excrement was scattered in several places in the church, including the chapel of the Madonna, on the entrance threshold, and on door handles.
Statues Beheaded in Chapel Sculpture Garden
June 14, 2020, BelgiumThe statue of Saint Anthony in the De Kluize sanctuary in Knutsegem in Velzeke and the statue of Julius Caesar on Romeins Plein were vandalized on the weekend of June 14. Their names were sprayed with graffiti. Additionally, all the statues in the sanctuary sculpture garden behind the chapel of Saint Anthony were beheaded.
The Head of Saint Arnould Detached and Thrown in Ravine
June 14, 2020, BelgiumThe head of the statue of Saint Arnould, patron saint of brewers, erected in Bouillon (province of Luxembourg), was unscrewed and thrown into a ravine during the night between June 13th and 14th. It was badly damaged but not destroyed because vegetation in the ravine broke its fall. A complaint was filed and Bouillon Mayor Patrick Adam was confident the perpetrators would be caught: “Thanks to the cameras that are installed by the municipality and thanks to those of the private ones, we will be able to recover images. We do not want this act to go unpunished.”
Attempted Arson at Rennes Cathedral
June 12, 2020, FranceDuring the night from the 11th to 12th of June, Rennes firefighters intervened to extinguish an intentionally-set fire in front of a door of the Saint-Pierre cathedral in Rennes. A trash bin, placed just in front of the door located at the back of the building, on Rue Saint-Sauveur, was set on fire. According to the first impressions from the investigation, this was a voluntary act because the bin was brought from an adjacent street and deliberately placed outside the door.
Desecration of University Chapel in Santiago de Compostela
June 12, 2020, SpainThe chapel of USC (University of Santiago de Compostela) in the South Campus of Santiago was vandalized on July 12th, which led to much damage and the desecration of consecrated hosts. The police are investigating the case.
Vandalism in Stegaurach Church Caused Damage of 10,000 Euros
June 12, 2020, GermanyIn the afternoon of June 12th unknown perpetrators vandalized the walls, floor and altar cloth in the Church of Stegaurach with liquid candle wax. They also scratched the faces of several paintings and threw three candles, a holy water box, and a holy water bowl into the Aurach river. The resulting property damage amounts to an estimated 10,000 euros and theft damage of 100 euros. The police investigated and about a week later, two underage girls admitted they had committed the acts "without any particular motivation."