All cases

Statue of the Virgin Mary Vandalised in Pailhares

September 4, 2022, France

During the night of 4. September, the statue of the Virgin Mary in the village of Pailharès was vandalised. The statue was covered with paint and with, among other things, lipstick and underwear around her neck. The village is located between Annonay and Saint-Agreve in the north of the Ardèche. Mgr. Jean-Louis Balsa, bishop of the diocese of Viviers, wants to put the church back in the heart of the village: "It is inadmissible, we must accept the beliefs of all. It is a fundamental lack of respect for the faithful. He refuses that the Church suffers from acts of delinquency of this kind and drives the point home: "We should not be despised for our beliefs and victims of fools, we deserve to be respected in our faith."

Residents Disrupt Mass in a Spanish Town After the priest did not allow a concert inside the church

August 28, 2022, Spain

A group of about a hundred residents of Fuentesauco de Fuentidueña made this Sunday a "cacerolada" (disruption with loud noises by banging pots and other objects) at the doors of the church. They were protesting that the pries did not authorize the celebration of a concert of a local orchestra of this town in the parish church. The priest had considered that it was not a performance of church music. Due to the disruption, the priest had to call the police because he could not celebrate Mass normally due to a large crowd of people outside the church.

Girl in Samara Desecrates Grave by Mimicking a Sexual Act and Insults the Christian Orthodox Faith

August 25, 2022, Russia

An 18-year-old girl mimed a sexual act on a grave in a cemetery in Samara, topped by a cross, on 25 August. Before committing the desecration, the girl began by "talking to the dead" and then insulted the Orthodox religion, announcing that she would "commit an act that the Orthodox Church will not forgive her". The video was posted on social networks where her identity was quickly disclosed. The Samara police announced that they were opening an investigation into the incident.

Thieves of Church Offering Boxes Desecrate the Tabernacle of a Church in Ceglia

August 23, 2022, Italy

On July 23, trunk robbers ransacked the church of Ceglia, breaking into the trunks and the door of the sacristy, but the also desecrated the tabernacle where they spilled the consecrated hosts on the floor. Nevertheless, the thieves abandoned the sacred vessels when they realized that they were made of brass. A mass and prayers of reparation were organized.

Theft of Altar from Church in Pontelatone

August 21, 2022, Italy

Unknown persons stole the altar and a painting from the Chapel of the Church Santa Maria dell'Orazione in Pontelatone. This was announced by the Mayor of Pontelatone, Alfonso Izzo, who recalled how the small local community continues to be the victim of thefts to the detriment of its numerous archaeological and architectural assets. The altar is a specifically sacred object that is necessary to carry out religious services. The practices of the parish is limited due to this theft.

Church Walls Tagged With Slogans About Sex And Drugs

August 20, 2022, United Kingdom

On 21. August, "Grimsby Live" reported that the Willows Community Church in Grimsby had been tagged with slogans about sex and drugs that affected the community. Organizers of the Church repainted the walls within hours after the desecration took place. And the news outlet chose not to publish the pictures of the vandalistic act, due to the nature of the slogans. The police was notified and they will run an investigation.

The Organ of a Church in France Vandalised in a Night Attack

August 19, 2022, France

During the night of August 19 to 20, one or more people broke into the church of Saint-Etienne in Bayonne. "Furniture was damaged and objects belonging to the place of worship were stolen. Various elements are missing: a trunk containing cash donations, or a silver container," recalls Sud Ouest. Above all, the 19th century organ has been damaged, and the repairs could cost several thousand euros.

Sacred Objects Stolen From Two Churches Recovered and Perpetrators Identified

August 18, 2022, Italy

Sacred objects had been stolen during the first week of August from the church of San Rocco in Maggianico and the church of San Martino Vescovo in Calolzio. The police of Lecco were able to identify the perpetrators, who were two men, and recovered what had been stolen: a wooden offering box, three metal offertories, a base of a crucifix, a wooden crucifix, and brass plating of the crucifix itself. Although the objects were found, there is damage to the crucifix.

Stolen Virgin Mary Statue Found Damaged at Demolition System

August 18, 2022, Germany

A statue of Mary had been stolen from the Lady Chapel in Beckum and was found on the 18th of August. Employees of the Wocklum quarry found the figure, which was badly damaged, in the conveyor system that is used to feed the stones to the sand production. It was a great coincidence that the statue could be rescued, according to the police press officer Wibke Honselmann. "It was supposed to be destroyed in the Wocklum quarry, but the corpus blocked the plant," Honselmann said. Before the unknown perpetrators threw the statue into the pit, the head, hands and feet had been cut off. Police are investigating

50,000 Francs Damage with Biased Graffiti to Five Churches in Basel

August 17, 2022, Switzerland

An unknown perpetrator has vandalised several churches in Basel, as it was reported on the 17. August. Two of the churches that were vandalised were the St. Joseph Church and the Holy Spirit Church. In the St. Joseph Church, there was a message saying "Jesus Christ, Allahu Akbar" in white paint. The Holy Spirit church was severely damaged, as there were numbers and letters scratched into the sandstone and other inscriptions were made with black and red pen. In total there were 5 churches vandalized.

Desecration of Cementery in Lwówek Slaski: Crosses and Graves Destroyed

August 17, 2022, Poland

On the night of August 17-18, 2022, unknown perpetrators committed an act of vandalism at the municipal cemetery of Lwówek Slaski. Crosses were broken, pots and flowers scattered. Among others, the grave of a small child was damaged, while a cross on a neighboring tombstone was turned over.

Parish of Saint Mary in Santander Desecrated and Robbed by Unknown Perpetrators

August 16, 2022, Spain

On the 16. August, the tabernacle of the parish of Santa María Reparadora in Santander was desecrated. The perpetrators stole the ciborium with the consecrated hosts that were reserved inside, as well as the virile of a monstrance. The Diocese of Santander and the National Police confirmed that a group of unidentified individuals desecrated the temple. It seems that at least one parishioner witnessed the incident, seeing how two persons went to the tabernacle, opened it, and took the sacred objects. Fr Antonio Arribas, media delegate of the Diocese, told ACI Prensa that the incident has been reported to the Police.

Sacrilegious Raid in Mother Church in Castellammare del Golfo

August 15, 2022, Italy

On 15. August, the sacred St Nicholas' relic has been stolen from the Mother Church in Castellammare del Golfo, near Trapani. Also missing is the crucifix that was placed in the hands of the statue itself, the cross of the tabernacle was broken and the Synod lamp moved.

Statue of the Virgin stolen from cementery in France

August 15, 2022, France

On August 15, the Virgin of the cemetery of Guignicourt-sur-Vence was stolen. The statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, which was placed in a niche in 1949, was taken away. The town hall does not despair of finding another one to replace it, according to the local press.

Church of Buissenal Vandalized with Hateful Message

August 14, 2022, Belgium

The Church of Buissenal was vandalized on the night of 13. to 14. August by unknown perpetrators. The vandals broke into the building by destroying stained glass windows and left a message on the main altar with the word "EVIL". They also defaced two grave markers in the cemetery.

Church Desecrated With Insulting Tags in Rouen

August 14, 2022, France

The doors and several sections of the façade of the Saint-Patrice church in Rouen were tagged with insulting slogans and militant symbols on the night of Saturday 13. August. The Diocese released a statement expressing the sadness due to the desecration and announced that the parish has filed a complaint with the police for damage to property. The tags were removed from the historic Church on the 16. August.

Church Vandalised in Glodeni

August 13, 2022, Moldova

On the morning of August 13, the Glodeni police received a call about an act of vandalism in the town's church. Police officers arrived on the scene found that unknown persons had vandalised the building of the chapel property of a church near the old cemetery. According to preliminary information, an icon and a cross with the image of Jesus Christ were damaged.

Sacred Valuables Stolen From Church in Bad Schönborn

August 12, 2022, Germany

Shock at the Catholic Church of St. Lambertus in the Karlsruhe district: thieves stole a safe and valuable sacred objects on 12. August. The priest's personal chalice was also stolen. Estimated amount of damage: 200,000 euros. The theft is specifically tragic because the stolen objects are sacred and necessary to hold religious services. Police are investigating.

Plaque Honouring War Hero and Candlesticks Stolen From Church

August 9, 2022, United Kingdom

For the third time on the year, the village church of Saint Gregory the Great in Morville has been the target of theft and vandalism. This time, the thieves stole a plaque commemorating a war hero, Thomas Hoblyn-Robins (from WWI). This happened on the 9. of August. On the same day two brass candlesticks, one brass vase and two brass candleholders were stolen. The police are asking for witness information.

Around 10 000 Euro Damage, Window Panes Smashed in Evagelical Church

August 6, 2022, Germany

Between the 6. and 9. August, unknown perpetrators smashed the window panes of an Evangelical church in Beinum, Salzgitter, by using stones. The police issued a press release about the incident and are investigating. The damage is estimated at around 10 000 Euro.