All cases

Nativity Scene Vandalised in Saint-Hilaire Church in Faye-l’Abbesse

January 11, 2020, France

On 11 January, the Saint-Hilaire Chruch in Faye-l'Abbesse was found without the baby Jesus statue from the nativity scene. The pieces of the Jesus statue were found again at the back of the church. The body, arms and head were scattered. This adds up to recurring vandalism observed by the gendarmes. There have been looting, the cutting of the organ's power supply wire, the disappearance of the sheep from the nativity scene and the burning of music sheets and the curtains of a confess ional altar and coverings and many more.

Extensive Damage to Church in Jühnsdorf

January 11, 2020, Germany

On the 11th January, unknown persons broke into the church of Jühnsdorf and stole a large metal cross, smashed a window, and damaged the organ. The church had been recently restored by the parish community.

Vandalism and Theft in Borgolavezzaro Church

January 10, 2020, Italy

Just before 4 pm on January 10th, at least three men entered the church of Santi Bartolomeo e Gaudenzio and broke through the thick glass case of the shrine carved out of a side altar containing the containing the urn of Santa Giuliana, patron saint of the town. Using a crowbar, the thieves also broke the glass of the urn and stole a rosary crown, a gold crucifix, rings, and other valuables worn by the patron saint's mannequin. The figure's left hand was the most damaged, with two destroyed wax fingers.

Paint Attack on Catholic Church in Berlin

January 9, 2020, Germany

During the night between the 8th and 9th of January 2020 unknown perpetrators vandalized the historic building of St. Elisabeth-Kirche in Berlin-Schöneberg with black and white paint, sprayed the words “Pro Choice” on its entrance doors together with other unidentifiable symbols and glued the parish hall doors closed. A purported confession letter was later posted on the extreme left platform de.indymedia.org, naming a Berlin feminist/left-wing radical alliance as responsible for the vandalism.

Nine Statues of the Virgin Mary Attacked in Less than Four Hours in Pyrenees

January 9, 2020, France

On the morning of January 9th, in the space of 45 minutes, five statues of the Virgin Mary, located in three different churches of Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques): Saint-Martin, Saint-Jacques and Notre-Dame, were destroyed. Similar vandalism continued in the churches of the Béarn communes of Lons, Artix, Denguin, and Mourenx, where, each time, a statue of the Virgin was destroyed. A 35-year-old man, described as homeless, was arrested in Mourenx at the end of the day and sent for psychiatric evaluation.

Sankt Martin Church in Berlin-Schönefeld Hit with Tar Bomb and Repeated Attacks

January 9, 2020, Germany

On January 9th the Sank Martin Church in Berlin-Schönefeld was hit with a tar bomb that was smeared all over the church. It was not the first criminal incident that the church has faced. Offertory boxes were broken open, the holy water basin was soiled with urine, and candle sticks were stolen.

Christ Figures Stolen Twice in Two Weeks in Fabriano

January 7, 2020, Italy

The Christ child figure was stolen on Christmas Eve from the nativity in the church of San Giovanni Battista in Fabriano (Ancona). Volunteers purchased a new figure to replace it. The new figure was then stolen from the San Filippo church around Epiphany, but returned a few days later.

Nativity Scene Burned down St. Pankratius

January 7, 2020, Germany

On the 7th January, 40 firefighters rushed to St. Pankratius Church to put down a large crib that has been ablaze, which led to enormous property damage. The police are investigating and they do not exclude arson. The police are looking for witnesses and clues to gather more information about the origin of the fire. Witnesses can call the criminal investigation department at 02902-91000.

Children Set A Christmas Nativity Scene On Fire

January 7, 2020, Belgium

On January 7th two boys aged 11 and 12 set a Christmas nativity scene on fire and almost destroyed the Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation in Vilvoorde. The boys confessed and the case will now be dealt with the youth prosecutor's office.

Theft, Damage, and Madonna Smeared and the Wheels Of The Parish Priest's Car

January 6, 2020, Italy

The statute of the Madonna and other religious images were smeared with black pain. The perpetrators also deflated the wheels of the parish priest. They stole bottles of soft drinks disappear from the premises of the patronage, then exploding firecrackers.Some children are being accused of these acts of hooliganism.

Live Nativity Play Parody on TV Sparks Outrage

January 5, 2020, Spain

Although it was intended to be "funny," the performance shown on the "Viva la vida" television program on the afternoon of January 5th was offensive and disrespectful to viewers. Taking advantage of the fact that that afternoon the typical Three Kings' parade was taking place, the program chose to parody the scene, using their presenters as protagonists. "Shameful" and "it is a lack of respect and humiliation" and "I am a Muslim, but this seems disrespectful to me, it is not necessary to play with the beliefs of Christians to try to be a trending topic" were some of the phrases that appeared on Twitter after "Viva la Vida" published an image of the performance.

Third Suspicious Fire in 18 Months at Syrian Orthodox Church

January 5, 2020, Sweden

On January 5th a fire was discovered in the meeting room of Syrian Orthodox St. Maria’s Church in Norrköping. After firefighters extinguished the fire, investigators classified it as arson. Just a month before, on December 3rd 2019 a similar incident occurred when someone poured gasoline outside the church and lit it. Those two fires were not the first time the building fell victim to a suspected arson attack. In August 2018 police investigated another case. The church assembly has been discussing plans enhance security, including enlisting volunteers take turns guarding the church at night to complement the police patrols and security cameras.

Two Nativity Scenes Burnt in Ivrea

January 4, 2020, Italy

Police in Ivrea (near Turin) identified a 46-year-old woman suspected of setting fire to two church nativity scenes: one in the church of San Maurizio and the second in the church of San Salvatore on January 4th. She faces a complaint for damage. The fires not only destroyed the two nativity scenes with plastic statuettes, but in the Church of San Maurizio the fire practically incinerated a painting by Tullio Alemanni, "The Baptism of Jesus," which was located above the baptismal font next to the crèche, in addition to a fresco, also by Alemanni, positioned between the crèche and the baptismal font.

Baby Jesus Figure Stolen from Church Crèche

January 4, 2020, Italy

The parish of Sacro Cuore in Trapani reported the theft of the Christ figure from the nativity scene in the church on January 4th.

Various Cases of Theft of Christmas Crib Figures Across Germany

January 4, 2020, Germany

After Christmas various churches in Germany were victims of theft, specifically the figures of Christmas cribs. On January 4th unknown perpetrators stole the valuable wooden figure of King Melchior from the Christmas crib of the Catholic church St.Maria in Göppingen. Another two thefts occurred , also on January 4th, in the church of Parnhofen and the church of Ganacker, in both cases the perpetrators stole the little Jesus figure out of the Christmas crib. On the same date the Jesus figure of the Christmas crib of the city church of Friedberg was stolen from the altar. Lastly, on March 21st unknown perpetrators smashed a window to gain access to the protestant church of Aldekerk, ransacked two closets and stole two figures of the Christmas crib.

Graffiti on Walls and Door of San Giovannello Church in Campobasso

January 4, 2020, Italy

On the 5th January 2020, some vandals defaced the small sixteenth-century church of of San Giovannello located in the north of Campobasso. Writings, scribbles and profanity were made with a spray can. The area is often subjected with acts of vandalism and abandonment of syringes. The neighbourhood Committee San Giovannello asked for the placement of video surveillance cameras.

Martyr's Cross Smashed At Puente Genil

January 3, 2020, Spain

On January 3rd 2020, the cross of the martyr Antonio Baena Castellanos, which represented the genocide of Puente Genil, was thrown on the ground and damaged. Antonio Baena Castellanos was axed to death in July 1936 by the Republicans of Puerto Alegre. During the genocide, 157 victims were killed, 7 churches were completely destroyed and 28 private buildings burned to the ground. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.

Statue of Virgin Mary Stolen from Saint-Étienne-du-Grès Church

January 2, 2020, France

A statue of the Virgin Mary was stolen from the church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption in the town of Saint-Étienne-du-Grès on January 2, 2020.

Nativity Scene Repeatedly Vandalized in Alice Castello

January 1, 2020, Italy

The nativity scene installed by Alice Castello volunteers was repeatedly vandalized at the end of December and into the new year, with the figures broken and some of the statues beheaded. This was the third year in a row that this installation was attacked by vandals.

Infant Jesus and Cradle Burnt in Manger Scene

January 1, 2020, Italy

Inhabitants of Pedemonte were shocked to discover that the figure of the baby Jesus in the nativity scene erected in the Piazza San Rocco church square was burnt on New Year's Eve. Only the charred remains of the figure were left inside the blackened wooden cradle.