All cases
Two Smashed Windows at Rodde Chapel
July 7, 2020, GermanyUnknown perpetrators smashed two windows of the chapel of the Josefskirche in Rodde between July 5th and 7th causing at least 500 euros in damage. The police began an investigation.
Severe Vandalism of 75kg Cross at Wieden Church
July 4, 2020, GermanyOn July 4th, unknown perpetrator knocked over the 75 kilogram cast iron cross in front of the Heart of Jesus church (Herz Jesu Kirche) in the Upper Palatinate town of Weiden, according to police reports. The cross, which was broken off steel pins, suffered massive damage. Police began an investigation and called for witnesses.
Repeated Cases of Vandalism in Church of Bissendorf-Achelriede
July 2, 2020, GermanyIn the three weeks between June 11th and July 2nd, the church of Bissendorf-Achelriede was vandalized three times by unknown perpetrators. The first two incidents happened at two buildings belonging to the church, eight windows were smashed and a wall sprayed with graffiti. The last incident occurred in the church and resulted in twenty-eight smashed windows, causing a total estimated damage of over thirteen thousand euros.
Repeated Acts of Vandalism and Theft in Bergamo Church
June 27, 2020, ItalyIn the week before June 27th, the church of Sant’Andrea in Bergamo was the victim of two crimes. The first incident was the vandalism of the liturgical chair which was discovered upside down in the middle of the church and wet with what the priest suspected was urine. The second incident was the theft of the offerings, accomplished by severely damaging the valuable offering boxes. This series of events led to the closure of the church except for Sunday Mass, until funds have been raised to install comprehensive security measures.
Robbers Cause €100 in Damage to Steal €5 from Sulzbach Church
June 26, 2020, GermanyPolice report that between June 26th and June 28th unknown perpetrators stole money from the offering box of the evangelical Church of Sulzbach. While the damage to the church property was estimated to be one hundred euros, the thieves fled with five euros.
Statue of Saint Junípero Serra Vandalized with "Racist"
June 22, 2020, SpainThe statue of the Mallorcan friar and saint Junípero Serra in Palma which stands in front of the central convent of Sant Francesc, was vandalized on June 22nd. The word 'racist' was smeared on the base of the monument, and the saint's image was also stained with red paint. The statue was attacked after the Podemos councilor in the Palma City Council, Sonia Vivas, mayor of Social Justice, Feminism and LGTBI, noted the statue of the eighteenth-century Franciscan friar had been attacked in California, USA. She suggested the statue of the saint should be thrown away "peacefully, "calling the saint a symbol of the "oligarchy".
‘Black Madonna’ in Breda defaced
June 22, 2020, NetherlandsOn June 22nd, vandals defaced the image of Our Lady of Częstochowa and painted the letters "BLM" at the base in a park chapel in Breda. The image of Our Lady, which is revered by Poles and also known as the 'Black Madonna', was erected in the park in 1954 in thanksgiving for the city’s liberation from the Nazis.
Theft from Bühl Church
June 19, 2020, GermanyA thief caused nearly €200 in damage when he violently tore the offertory box affixed to a table in the Catholic church in Bühl on June 19th. Reports indicate the box only contained a few euros. The Bühl police began an investigation.
Vandalism with Excrement in the Capuchin Church in Spoleto
June 14, 2020, ItalyThe small church of the Minori Cappuccini di Spoleto was discovered vandalized with human excrement on June 14th, the feast of Corpus Christi. The excrement was scattered in several places in the church, including the chapel of the Madonna, on the entrance threshold, and on door handles.
Statues Beheaded in Chapel Sculpture Garden
June 14, 2020, BelgiumThe statue of Saint Anthony in the De Kluize sanctuary in Knutsegem in Velzeke and the statue of Julius Caesar on Romeins Plein were vandalized on the weekend of June 14. Their names were sprayed with graffiti. Additionally, all the statues in the sanctuary sculpture garden behind the chapel of Saint Anthony were beheaded.
The Head of Saint Arnould Detached and Thrown in Ravine
June 14, 2020, BelgiumThe head of the statue of Saint Arnould, patron saint of brewers, erected in Bouillon (province of Luxembourg), was unscrewed and thrown into a ravine during the night between June 13th and 14th. It was badly damaged but not destroyed because vegetation in the ravine broke its fall. A complaint was filed and Bouillon Mayor Patrick Adam was confident the perpetrators would be caught: “Thanks to the cameras that are installed by the municipality and thanks to those of the private ones, we will be able to recover images. We do not want this act to go unpunished.”
Graves Vandalized in Eure
June 11, 2020, FranceMaintenance workers in a small municipal cemetery in the town of Lieurey discovered that dozen ancient graves had been vandalized. Several of the gravestones had been smashed, and on others, just the crosses were destroyed. According to the police in charge of the investigation, the incident dates back to the end of May or the beginning of June.
Statue of Christ Decapitated and Vandalized
June 5, 2020, SpainIn the early morning hours of June 4, unknown individuals assaulted the monument dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in La Roda de Andalucía and broke the face and hands of the image to pieces.
Saint-Joseph Parish Church Vandalized
June 4, 2020, FranceAt the end of the first week of June, broken glass was discovered in a corridor of the parish church of Schœneck caused by the throwing of a large stone of about one kilo against a church window. The projectile had been thrown from outside the church and loosened the metal frame of the masonry. In front of the entrance to the crypt, the impact of a projectile against a window pane caused a crack that spanned its entire length. Another window was broken in the sacristy. Additionally, the large metal entrance gate at the side of the grotto of the Virgin was damaged, and two crossbars were twisted and torn off.
Vandalism and Theft at the Church of Heuilley-Cotton
June 3, 2020, FranceBetween June 3rd and 4th, one or more people broke into the Saint-Loup church of Heuilley-Cotton to steal the "begging angel" (l'ange quêteur) donation box. It was found outside the church completely broken and emptied of its contents.
Four Graves, Including that of a Priest, Vandalized in Village Cemetery
May 27, 2020, FranceFour graves in the village cemetery of Saint-Pierre-de-Rivière were damaged during the night between May 26th and 27th by unknown vandals. Among those graves was that of Emile Genès, who had returned his native village after a long priestly life in the Paris region.
Saint-Arthémy Church Vandalized in Coteaux-du-Blanzacais
May 24, 2020, FranceThe Saint-Arthémy de Blanzac church in the town of Coteaux-du-Blanzacais was the target of acts of vandalism over the weekend of May 23rd and 24th.
Alsace: Two Vandalized Churches in Munster
May 23, 2020, FranceThe Catholic and Protestant churches, an ambulance company, the railway station, two banks and a sports complex were vandalized on the night of 22nd to 23rd May in Munster in le Haut-Rhin. Tags such as "Anarchie vaincera" (Anarchy will win) and the number "666" spray-painted in color were found. These damaging acts shocked and dismayed the inhabitants of the peaceful little town nestled in the heart of the Hautes-Vosges mountains. The gendarmerie launched an appeal for witnesses to find the perpetrators.
Gironde: 55 Vandalized Graves in a Cemetery in Gujan-Mestras
May 21, 2020, FranceFifty-five graves in the church cemetery of Gujan-Mestras were damaged by vandals during the evening of May 21st. Crosses and crucifixes were broken, as well as plaques and flower pots. Police opened an investigation.
Calvary Destroyed in Assé-le-Béranger
May 20, 2020, FranceA witness reported to the Observatoire de la Christianophobie on May 20 that the calvary erected in front of the Assé-le-Béranger town hall of Assé-le-Béranger had been broken by a sledgehammer. Some inhabitants of the small village of 450 people interviewed by the witness expressed shock over this act of vandalism which is estimated to have occurred in the previous two weeks.