All cases

Wayside Cross Stolen and Destroyed in Arcambal

August 15, 2020, France

In Arcambal, in mid-August, a stone cross was stolen. The cross was part of the small heritage of the village and was located in the commune of Arcambal, in the Lot, at the corner of the castle wall, at the crossroads of the route du Tréboulou and the route de Cahors. It was torn off the wall and stolen. A complaint was filled.

Church Staff in Cheshire Physically Assaulted

August 15, 2020, United Kingdom

During an attack in August, one member of staff at a church in Cheshire was bitten and forcefully and inappropriately touched in his private area by an unknown perpetrator. According to a report by the Countryside Alliance the assault was one of 66 crimes to take place in churches in Cheshire. After several complaints, that too little has been done to raise awareness about crimes at churches, an investigation started.

Vandalised Church in St Paul sur Save

August 15, 2020, France

On August 15th, the Church in St Paul sur Save was target of vandalism. Unknown perpetrators broke open the doors of the sacristy and cabinets were opened and searched. A complaint has been filed by the municipality who owns the building. The police are investigating.

Vandalism in Murchante Against The Church and The Mayor

August 14, 2020, Spain

On the night from 13th to 14th August, vandals painted the streets and the door of the Church in Murchante with a threat warning against the mayor. The church and the police were insulted. Some writings said, "God is a black female" or "Worship Satan", and called police "parasites". Also, four containers were burned and had to be put out by the firefighters.

Church of Our Lady of Czestochowa Destroyed

August 14, 2020, Italy

On August 14th, A 54 year-old man entered the Church of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Rome on the morning, while a lady and the elderly parish priest were cleaning. He then started to destroy objects violently, and could not be stopped by the witnesses until the police intervened. The attack targeted the altar, the painting of Our Lady of Czestochowa, the stoups, crosses and candlesticks.

A Group of Drunk Teenagers Destroyed And Desecrated A Statue of Jesus on The Cross

August 14, 2020, Italy

On the night of Friday 14th August, a group of drunk young teenagers or even children destroyed the Statue of Jesus on the Cross, recorded it on video, and posted it later on social media. The Statue was on the road between Vindicatico and Monte Pizzo, in Lizzano. On the Video, one hears laughter and curses, while one young man hits the statue with a bat, the statue was also broken into pieces and smashed on the ground. The Carabinieri investigated and tracked down the perpetrators, who were between 19 and 16 years old. They were then denounced. One of the perpetrators wrote a letter of apology. The statue had been recently restored and people reacted badly to the scene.

Damage And Vandalism Against The Metropolitan Church Of Agios Minas

August 13, 2020, Greece

On Sunday 9th August, an Algerian threw stones and damaged the stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of Agios Minas in Heraklion. He also damaged a showcase of a library in the Archdiocese of Crete. On 11th August, he returned to the Cathedral armed with a hammer and began to break down a door. The police was able to identify and arrest the man through a video footage. There are various cases of vandalism and theft to churches in Greece..

A Cross Vandalized in Rivière-Salée

August 11, 2020, France

The Statue of Christ on the cross has been vandalized before 11th August. The photos of the statue, which lays inside the traffic circle next to the bridge leading to the Trois-Ilets road, were circulating on social media. The statue was repainted in black and an inscription saying "Faith Kills" was also written on it.

Chapel of Santo Stefano Desecrated by Vandals

August 11, 2020, Italy

A small chapel in the hamlet of Montesardo in Alessandria was vandalized by unknown people. They used spray paint to write vulgar and blasphemous phrases and images such as "Fck church, Fck God" and an anarchist symbol. A Mass of Reparation was held.

Eglise Saint-Pierre Vandalized and Desecrated

August 11, 2020, France

During the night of 10-11 August, unknown perpetrators broke into the church of Saint-Pierre de Montendre. The large central crucifix was discovered smashed on the ground. Father Bergson Julien was shocked: "I went to open the church at 8.45 this Tuesday morning and found the large cross with Christ in terracotta on the floor, broken vases on the altar, and the tabernacle had disappeared". The tabernacle was later found, but the ciborium and lunula with consecrated hosts it contained were missing.

Church of Saint-Michel Vandalized in France

August 11, 2020, France

On the 11th August in the afternoon, the Church of Saint Michel was desecrated in Verdun-Sur-Garonne. The church was opened during the day. The perpetrators broke the candles and scattered them and crushed them all over the church, the pews were moved and the chairs were upside down. Also, the sheets of paper were scattered. They had inscribed "T" and "X" with tape on the tablecloth of the altar, which suggest that the perpetrators did not finish their profanation. This incident was followed by other similar ones in other churches the next weeks.

Man Broke Into Church And Destroyed Hymnal

August 11, 2020, Germany

On the 11th of August in Lößnitz, a man broke into the Johanniskirche and destroyed a hymnal. The 37-year-old man first tried to break open the entrance door of the church, then he smashed a window pane and entered the interior of the church. He damaged the hymn and songs book. The employees of the cemetery interrupted the perpetrator and the witnesses called the police. The damage made is estimated to be around 500 euro.The man was arrested and released on Wednesday.

Repetitive Degradation of the Church of Saint Joseph de Audierne

August 10, 2020, France

On the 10th of August during the night, the Church of Saint Joseph de Audierne was degraded. It is written on the board message on the door that the church will be remain closed due to repetitive vandalism.

Increasing Attacks on German Street Preacher

August 10, 2020, Germany

Street preacher Henning Heinrich Westrup reported that attacks against him increased in July. He calls on people to repent and follow Jesus Christ in the pedestrian zones in Bielefeld, Dortmund and Gütersloh, among others. He reported that attacks against him by people who reject his message have increased. He said he experienced insults, vulgarities, and threats -- along with an assault in July.

Saint-Pierre Church Desecrated

August 10, 2020, France

On the evening of 10th August, the side door of the Saint-Pierre Church in Charente-Maritime was forced open. The central cross was broken and thrown to the ground, the tabernacle was torn off, and the ciborium was emptied of the hosts. There have been many church profanations in the city of Charente-Maritime.

Man Broke Door of the Cistern of San Jose Church With a Butane Cylinder

August 9, 2020, Spain

In the morning of August 9th, a man went to the door of the cistern of the Church San Jose in Granada and threw a butane cylinder against it. He repeated this act several times until he broke it. At first, it was thought he could be mentally ill, but then the police has declared him as guilty.

Cross of St.Joseph Vandalized For a Second Time

August 9, 2020, Germany

During the time of 9th August to 11th, the 100-year-old Cross of St. Joseph was smeared and defaced for a second time after a week with the same satanic symbol. The cross had been defaced with an astrological symbol linked to satanism and feminism. The first act was reported on 5th August. The Statue was also lately burned. The suspect for the arson was caught by the police.

Satanic Motivated Profanation of 63 tombs in Lannemezan

August 9, 2020, France

During the night of August 9th, 63 tombs were vandalized and desecrated in the Lannemezan cemetery in the Hautes-Pyrénées region. Broken crosses and upside down plaques were discovered by family members. The police was alerted by the neighbors who heard the loud noise. A week later, the two young perpetrators were arrested and sentenced to 18 and 12 months in prison. According to their testimony the vandalism was driven by satanic motivations.

Wayside Cross Vandalized in Magneville

August 9, 2020, France

A wayside cross in Magneville/Manche was knocked down, leaving both the cross and the figure of Christ broken into pieces. An observer informed the Observatoire de la Christianophobie on August 9th.

Insulting Slogan Written on Doorsteps of Church in Cousances-les-Forges

August 9, 2020, France

During a walk in Cousances-les-Forges, a visitor noticed an inscription written on the doorsteps of the church with a marker, saying "I am the God of Fuck". He contacted the Observatoire de la Christianophobie on July 31 and provided them with a picture on August 9.