All cases
The Wall Behind the Church Destroyed
April 5, 2021, FranceDuring the night of Sunday to Monday, the wall of the old cemetery, just behind the church in the street of Rhome, has been destroyed. Anne-Sophie Peureux-Demangelle, the mayor of Lachapelle-sous-Chaux, claims that the wall did not fall down by itself. It was a clear act of vandalism with a tractor. The perpetrators circulated a video on social media particularly Snapchat. They commented: 'We didn't fake it last night'." The town hall has filed a complaint to the police.
Church In Paris Robbed And Desecrated
April 4, 2021, FranceOn the night of Easter Sunday, thieves gained entry into the Église Saint-Joseph des Nations church in Paris. They escaped with the proceeds of the collection, two sacred vessels and a consecrated host. According to Aleteia, “the thieves took away the large chest containing the proceeds of Easter collections, three (empty) boxes and two ciboriums that they located by forcing the doors of the tabernacle. The hosts were found on the altar tablecloth, while the large host used for adoration was taken away by the vandals. The police are investigating.
Church in Aichach Tagged with Insulting Graffiti "Hypocrite Church = Child Molester" During Easter Week
April 4, 2021, GermanyOn the night of Easter Sunday, April 4th, unknown perpetrators tagged the facade of the town parish church in Aichach with an insulting and stereotyping slogan. In the morning, the sacristan reported the damage to property to the police. The police are investigating.
Unknown Perpetrators Loot Offertory Box Of Church In Corigliano Scalo
April 4, 2021, ItalyIn the days immediately before Easter, the parish of Saints Leo and Nicholas in the town of Scalo in the Gallo D'Oro area was targeted. During the night, unknown persons broke into the church through a smashed window and stole from the church interior only a few coins that were kept in the offertory. They also broke open a door and stole a loudspeaker. The police are investigating.
Easter Service in Nidda Disrupted By Three Young Men Scanting Islamic Slogans
April 3, 2021, GermanyThree unknown, alcoholised young Muslim men have disturbed the Easter Vigil service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church "Zum Heiligen Geist" in Nidda, Central Hesse. According to the church congregation, they repeatedly attacked worshippers (especially children and teenagers) and shouted "There is only one God, and that is Allah" and "Allah is the greatest". The unknown perpetrators had already insulted some of the worshippers outside the church and even filmed them. The perpetrators were asked to leave numerous times, also because they did not wear masks but refused to do so. The State Security Service has started an investigation for disturbing the exercise of religion.
Blasphemous Posters on the Door of the Polish House in Bydgoszcz
April 2, 2021, PolandOn the 2nd of April posters explicitly attacking the Catholic Church and mocking the holy cross were hung on the door of the Polish House in Bydgoszcz. The Catholic House in Bydgoszcz, also called the Polish House, is a historic public building used as a place of activity by Catholic organisations and associations in Bydgoszcz. The unknown perpetrators also left the blasphemous inscription: "The secret of faith - cars and dollars". The holy cross, The incident was reported by the church authorities to the city police.
London Police Abruptly Interrupts Easter Service - Church Complains
April 2, 2021, United KingdomOn charges of violating COVID-19 rules, police in the UK have interrupted up a Good Friday service celebrated at the Roman Catholic Christ the King Church in London. Police also threatened to fine each person sitting in the pews $280. According to the British Independent newspaper, churches are allowed to hold services during the lockdown in England with no limit on the number of parishioners as long as the congregation adheres to social distancing and wears masks. The church rejected the police claims, saying in a statement, "We believe, however, that the police brutally exceeded their powers by issuing their warrant for no good reason, as all government requirements were met."
Vandalism Leaves Statue of 'Extraordinary Historical Value' at Chapel Destroyed
April 1, 2021, PolandA statue of the Virgin Mary of historical value has been destroyed at the Holy Spirit Church in Koszalin in Poland on 1 April. The statue was of exceptional value since it was given to the Parish by a survivor of the Dachau concentration camp and was seen as a shrine of memorial for the ones who did not survive the camp. The chapel in which the statue was standing was also vandalised. Police are investigating.
Vandalism in Diersheim Churches
April 1, 2021, GermanyOn the first of April, the Diersheim church was found with hymn books thrown around and paper lying on the floor with some of it burnt. It was not known who committed the crime.
Offensive Tags Hanged on Churches in León
April 1, 2021, SpainThe churches in León of El Salvador, San Juan, San Pedro de Renueva, Santa Marina and in the Collegiate Church of San Isidoro were all targeted with hateful messages. This included posters put on them with the words "Closed for sexist", "Closed for homophobes", "Expropriators", or "Closed for misogynists." The churches were also taped shut an the police opened an investigation into the matter as it was not known who did it.
Polish Anarchists Hung A Vulgar Banner On A Church In Warsaw
March 31, 2021, PolandFar-left groups in Poland are proud to show themselves profaning the Church of the Holy Saviour in the centre of Warsaw on social media. Local anarchists lit flares in front of the entrance to the temple and hung a banner with vulgar inscription on the scaffolding. The assault took place on the afternoon of March 31st. The far-left in Poland seems to enjoys an impunity. This is evidenced by the minimal reaction of the judiciary to the series of provocations, desecrations and attacks carried out against Catholic churches since October 2020. According to the TVP Info portal, the recent attack did not cause any material losses, and no one was physically harmed. Nevertheless, the series of incidents strongly accentuated the symbolic dimension of these acts.
Servite Church in Innsbruck Heavily Vandalised
March 31, 2021, AustriaUnknown perpetrators vandalized the Servite Church in Tirol's capital Innsbruck. The damage caused has been estimated to be several thousand Euros. According to police reports, the perpetrators destroyed several statues, sacred objects, and contaminated the premises. It is thought to have occurred sometime between 11.25 and 11.55 on the 31st of March. Police were investigating and witnesses were asked to come forward.
Altar Statue Smashed and Parish Documents Burned in Romilly-sur-Seine
March 31, 2021, FranceIn the Saint-Martin Church in Romilly-sur-Seine, a plaster statue of the Virgin Mary, located behind the altar, was smashed on the floor on March 31st. Earlier in the week, some parish documents from a display had been burned at the altar. Father Richard Lukaszewski filed a complaint about this vandalism and requested that the local police make more frequent rounds in that area.
Arson at St.Peter Church in Linz
March 28, 2021, AustriaOn March 28th, the church of St. Peter in Linz was severely damaged by a fire. According to the church's parish priest, the fire was set inside a chapel near the wooden altar. Despite early attempts to extinguish the fire, the wooden altar was destroyed and a statue of the Virgin Mary was damaged. The next day the police reported that a book commemorating the dead, which was lying on a side table, had been purposefully set on fire. Since the fire did not pose a serious threat to any person, the police stated they would only investigating for damage to property. The damage amounts to around €80,000.
Man Sets Fire To Church In Wokingham
March 26, 2021, United KingdomAfter a fire broke out at a church in Wokingham on 26 March, the police arrested a 28-year-old man suspected of arson. The police was called at around 3pm after the fire was reported.
Attempted Theft of Sacred Objects from via Catalani Church
March 26, 2021, ItalyOn March 26th, 34-year-old Moroccan Mohamed Laafar, attempted to steal a chalice, a pyx, and a throne, from the parish of Peata maria Vergine della Pieta, in via Catalani. He would have succeeded, had the carabinieri not been alerted to the suspicious activity at which point they intervened and arrested him. On May 24th of 2022, he was sentenced by the Court of Sciacca Dino Toscano, to 5 months and 10 days imprisonment and a fine of 200 euros.
Church of the Crosses in Foggia Desecrated with Obscene Symbol
March 25, 2021, ItalyOne of the five chapels of the Church of the Crosses in Foggia was smeared with blue paint. One pillar was defaced with a phallic symbol, now covered by a white cloth. The other pillars were sprayed with conspicuous and incomprehensible signs. Other writings were found on the ground of the chapel and on the pavement. The police is investigating.
Orthodox Pastor's Car Smashed with Stones By Vandals In Magenta
March 25, 2021, ItalyDuring the night of March 25th, several young people threw stones at Father Ioan's car. The car was parked in Via Melzi in Magenta, near the church of San Rocco, where the Orthodox community is based. There are yet no clear indicators for the motivation of this crime. The police is investigating.
Church in Baden Baden Set on Fire and Smeared with Paint
March 25, 2021, GermanyUnknown perpetrators threw a flammable object through a smashed window of a side door into the St. Bernhard Church in Baden-Baden during the night of 25 March. According to the police, heavy smoke developed and spread into the church interior. In addition, the perpetrators smeared a two-by-two-metre sign on the side wall of the church, which, according to the parish priest's interpretation, could represent a Jewish Star of David. The police are investigating.
Three Churches Broken into in Val-Doré, Nogent-le-Sec and Jumelles, Statues, Vases and Candlesticks Disappeared
March 25, 2021, FranceDuring the night of 24-25 March, three churches in the region of Eure, particularly in Val-Doré, Nogent-le-Sec and Jumelles, have been targeted by thieves. Several religious objects such as statues, vases, candleholders, 16th century statue of Saint Christine were stolen. The churches were broken into probably with a crowbar. Police are investigating.