All cases
Church and Monastery Install Surveillance Cameras due to Repeated Acts of Vandalism
November 4, 2020, NetherlandsDue to repeated acts of vandalism on the grounds of the Monastery and Dutch Reformed Church in Ter Apel, cameras will be installed on one of the entrances to the Monastery, as reported on the 4th of November. The Museum director of the Monastery, Margriet van Klinken explains that the door has been damaged several times. She says that vandals go and hang out by the porch, which is a quiet place and out of sight at night, leaving the door damaged and garbage outside. The police is investigating.
French Bishops Appeal to Lift Ban On Churches During 2nd Lockdown
November 3, 2020, FranceThe second Lockdown in France restricts people to only leave their homes for essential work or medical reasons. Schools and churches remain open but masses are not allowed to take place after the 1st of November. A group of Bishops and several other religious movements have appealed to the Council of State for the allowance of communal services of 90 minutes. This appeal was rejected on the 7th of November, but Vincent Neymon, President of the French Bishop's Conference will continue to seek an agreement.
Historic Painting Vandalized in Carentan Church
November 3, 2020, FranceBetween November 3rd and 5th, the Notre-Dame Church in Carentan was vandalized. A historic painting representing Louis XIII from 1817 was tored open with a knife. A complaint was filed to the police.
Church in Jena Vandalized With Tags Relating to the Terror Attacks in Vienna
November 2, 2020, GermanyUnknown perpetrators sprayed the main entrance of the Jena Peace Church with a total of four graffiti in between November 2nd and 3rd. According to the police, these graffiti thematize the current events in Vienna. In addition, the perpetrators screwed the main entrance door shut and stuck an unknown substance on it before they were able to escape undetected. The police is investigating the case.
Statue of the Virgin Mary Beheaded and Vandalized
November 2, 2020, FranceA statue of the Virgin Mary, a replica of the Grotto of Lourdes, was found beheaded on November 2nd in Montpezat-de-Quercy. The investigations showed that the perpetrators also threw stones at the statue, causing the destruction. The mayor and the priests have reported the act to the police.
New Covid-19 Lockdown Regulations for Churches in Europe and Religious Freedom
November 1, 2020, InternationalIn response to the rising number of Covid-19 infections, most European countries have started to announce a new lockdown entering into force in November. The new measures led to a continuing of the discussion about the relevance of the church and the understanding of Freedom of Religion in various countries. After the first lockdown, a number of courts were held discussing the matter of Freedom of Religion, which is reflected in the diversity of new approaches amon European states. France, Belgium, Great Britain and Ireland have banned the celebration of masses, which has stirred up criticism from the churches, demanding proof of the necessity for these measures. Austria, Germany and Spain, as other countries like Poland, did not declare a stop of religious services, arguing that religious freedom is among the essential freedoms to be protected in a liberal democratic society. In these countries the criticism mostly comes from secular societies, claiming that religion is a private issue and should not be given priority over cultural or leisure activities. In Italy the allowance of masses depends on the cities, other European countries allow services although with very strong restrictions.
Repeated Longstanding Acts of Vandalism On Church Grounds in Dormagen
November 1, 2020, GermanyIn Dormagen, the Baptist Church has had several incidents of vandalism, including the one lately on November 1st. The Pastor, Roger Bahr, found the garbage cans in the inner courtyard of the church overturned, spreading the garbage all over the courtyard and the sidewlak lights were kicked. He explains that this is not an isolated incident, and he deals with such acts for several years already. In other cases, vandals have carried benches way, damaged lamps and climbed onto the roof. Pastor Bahr is worried about the need to hire a security guard, which would mean further costs. The incident was reported to the police (again).
Christian Leaders Seek Hearing For Freedom of Religion Following Lockdown's Ban on Churches
November 1, 2020, United KingdomIn the UK, a new lockdown was declared, which closes bars, restaurants and non-essential retail businesses. Churches are also ordered to cease gatherings and worship services. Leaders from different churches signed a pre-action letter to the government to take back the ban on worship services. As the government didn't respond, they now have launched a legal challenge led by Pastor Ade Omooba MBE and with support of the Christian Legal Center.
Various Devotional Objects Stolen From Sacristy
November 1, 2020, GermanyDuring the night of November 1st, unknown thieves broke into the sacristy of the Schönberg church. The worth of the stolen devotional objects like goblets, incense burners, chalices, monstrances and wooden figures sums up to about 20,000 Euros. The police is investigating the incident and the course of events.
Theft and Vandalizm in Church in Nogent
November 1, 2020, FranceA theft in the church of Saint Germain and Saint Eloi in Nogent took place in the week of November 1st. The church was not only looted but also vandalized. All metal objects and the consecrated hosts were stolen. A mass for reparation is to be held.
Tag on Chapel of the Virgin Mary in the Old Cemetery of Nowy Sacz
October 31, 2020, PolandUnknown vandals sprayed a vulgar tag on the wall of the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Cemetery of Nowy Sacz on October 31st. The police is investigating and evaluating an estimate of the damage.
"Kill A Priest" and Other Insulting Tags on Cemetery Cross
October 31, 2020, PolandIn the Cemetery of the Victims of World War II in Gdansk, unknown perpetrators desecrated a cross on October 31st. On one side of the Cross the vandals wrote "Women's Hell" and "Kill a Priest" with white paint, and on the other side the cross was tagged with an insult against the PiS party. The incident was reported to the police.
Profanation of Symbols by Militant Feminists Protesting Against Abortion Law
October 31, 2020, PolandThe protestors against the new Abortion Law in Poland have until now vandalized and disrupted several religious places and monuments. They are also putting masks on Mary's face or an asterix above her head, which refer to the insult "Jebác PiS". The councillor of the PiS, Dariusz Matecki, denounced these incidents on his Twitter account on October 31st, also referring to the insults and violent acts against the church and the authorities.
Catholic Nun Physically Attacked on Public Transportation
October 31, 2020, AustriaIn Graz, a catholic nun was attacked in a bus by a 19-year-old man from Afghanistan on October 31st. The 76-year-old nun was on a bus, when she was slapped on her ear by the perpetrator, who tried to flee. The slap was so hard that the hearing aid of the woman fell out, fortunately she did not suffer any injuries. The police arrested the man with the help of the surveillance camera footage of the bus.
Monument for Unborn Children Vandalized in Polish Cemetery
October 31, 2020, PolandUnknown perpetratros vandalized a monument for unborn children at the cemetery of Brzezówka in Cieszyn, during the night of October 31st. Black paint was poured over the monument. The local authorities reported the case to the police from Cieszyn.
Church Tagged With Vulgar and Anti-Church Slogans
October 31, 2020, PolandOn the night of October 31st, the Church of Our Lady and St. Michael in Blachownia was tagged with spray-paint by unknown perpetrators. They left five vulgar slogans, anti-church and anti-government tags. On top of that, someone cut the padlocks from the cemetery, which remained closed. The acts were reported to the police, who is running an investigation.
Feminist Protesters Interrupt Church Service and Physically Attack Church Members
October 30, 2020, PolandOn October 30th the protests and acts of vandalism against the Church continue in Poland. In one incident protesters even acted violently. Two young girls entered the Church "Christ the Savior" in Gdańsk during Communion and disturbed it and were escorted away by a man. This caused a violent reaction and the young women tried to run back in to the church, being forced to stay outside, one of them hit a man on the head with her phone and shouted profanities. According to the witnesses, the other woman tried to kick a man and threatened him with a knife.
Multiple Statues Destroyed in Courtyard of Parish Church
October 30, 2020, PolandDuring the night of October 30th, unknown vandals entered the courtyard of the parish church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin in Chrzastawa Wielka and destroyed the statues of Our Lady of Fatima and other Saints. The police was informed and the parish informed. The police arrested a 46-year-old perpetrator on the next day.
Posters With Insulting Slogans Hung On the Door of St. Joseph Church
October 30, 2020, PolandThe parish of Ciechanow reported on October 30th, that posters were hung on the door of the church of St. Joseph. Slogans saying "If the altar boys got pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament", "My sisters are not incubators", "You have blood on your hands", "Abortion without borders" and "Choice is not compulsion" were displayed together with the symbol of a lightning, which is the "Women's Strike" symbol. The same attacks took place in the cities of Plock, Gostynin and Dzierzenin.
New Figures Show Churches Targeted For Theft and Vandalism
October 30, 2020, United KingdomAccording to figures published by Countryside Alliance, a total of 212 crimes were reported against churches in Devon and Cornwall over the last year, reported by Cornwall Live on October 30th. The request of the Freedom of Information Act was made to the Police, which revealed the target of churches for lead thefts, but also vandalism, violence, assault and burglary. The government made a commitment to protect places of worship with a crime action plan 2016-2020, which should provide security measures at places of worship vulnerable to hate crimes.