All cases

Priest and Parish People Attacked in Rome

April 9, 2022, Italy

Don Guido Panella, the priest at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Marsala, was physically and verbally attacked by a homeless woman on April 9th. Before this, a homeless man had entered the church and was yelling at everyone until the priest gave him a euro and he left. He then returned with two others, including the woman, and they began shouting at people and the woman even slapped the priest. Two police officers then arrived on the scene at which point the men left but the woman remained and was taken by the carabinieri.

Tabernacle Stolen from Church in Leipzig

April 8, 2022, Germany

The tabernacle was stolen from the Provost Church in Leipzig on April 8th. The shrine was found a short distance from the church with its lock damaged and some of the hosts within were missing or broken. The police were investigating the incident and the leader of the church, Gregor Giele, described the theft as a "bitter experience."

Children: Church Pew Set on Fire in Aalen-Waldhausen

April 8, 2022, Germany

A pew in the St. Nicholas church in Aalen-Waldhausen was set on fire on April 8th. It was discovered by a 56-year-old woman who an hour and a half earlier saw three children about eight years old run out of the church. She extinguished the fire with a blanket so the fire brigade, which was notified by the sacristan, was thankfully not needed.

Cross Stolen from Church in Mainz

April 8, 2022, Germany

On Friday the 8th of April, a cross made of bronze was stolen from an Augustinian church in Mainz. A nun noticed that the cross was missing from the altar and, upon reviewing video, the police were able to recognize a 51 year old man who had previously stolen goods. They were then able to locate the cross, along with three alter candles, and return them to the church. The man was convicted of the theft.

Church in Halstenbek Ransacked

April 8, 2022, Germany

The Redeemer church of Halstenbek was the victim of a targeted attack on April 8th that left the church a mess. The rioters destroyed alter candles, scattered sand in the worship place, burned pages of the Bible, and took metal letters from the "song display." Due to the severity of the act, police were investigating and wanted witnesses who might be able to give them information about who committed the crime.

Church of San Gottardo Tagged with Obscene Symbols

April 7, 2022, Italy

The church of San Gottardo in Vittorio Veneto has been once again vandalized in an attack that was described as blasphemous and brutal. The incident was reported on the 7th of April. Unknown perpetrators inscribed Insults and phallic symbols in black on the walls of the sacred temple. Due to the lack of surveillance cameras, those who did it will be hard to find but after this act, the Municipality was considering putting some in.

Update: Two Men Arrested for Theft and Vandalism of Several Churches in Paris

April 6, 2022, France

Two men were taken into custody by the police on April 6th as they were expected to have committed multiple thefts and sacrilegious acts at Catholic churches in the Paris region. The churches included the Saint-Pierre Church in Bondy and the church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois in Romainville, in which the tabernacle and consecrated hosts were vandalized, as well as thefts in the Grenoble Cathedral, and churches located in Val-de-Marne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis and Paris. The total damage amounted to several tens of thousand of euros.

Orthodox Church in Strasbourg Tagged with Letter Z

April 6, 2022, Germany

The letter Z was painted several times on the entrance of the Russian Orthodox Church in Strasbourg on April 6th. This letter is a symbol that has been associated with the Russian Army and the attack was obviously hateful. A complaint has been filed and the parish commented: "We mourn what is happening and wish a quick return of peace to Ukrainian land."

Russian Troops Commit Sacrilege at Chernihiv Cemetery in Ukraine

April 5, 2022, Ukraine

Russian troops vandalised a large cemetery near Mariupol on March 4th by repeatedly driving over crosses and tombstones with tanks. The necropolis is one of the largest in Europe and those who witnessed the event called it sacrilege. The cemetery was entirely destroyed in this unnecessary, sacrilegious, and inhumane destruction.

Statue of Madonna of Fatima Stolen from Cerreto Guidi Church

April 5, 2022, Italy

A meter-high painted wooden statue of the Madonna of Fatima, along with a small crucifix, was stolen from the Church of the Company in Cerreto Guidi. The sacrilegious theft happened Tuesday, April 7th and greatly upset the people of the town. The statue was of "great emotional value" to the town said archpriest, Father Alessandro Locatelli, and "the Christian people of Cerreto have been deprived of a dear image." The incident was reported to the local police station.