All cases
Historic Church Stained-Glass Window Damaged with Stone
April 30, 2022, GermanyThe outer protective pane of a historically significant stained glass window of the Evangelical Church of Peace in Manching, was broken with a stone that was thrown at it. The windows were made by Arno Bromberger, who taught at the Academy of Arts in Munich and is famous for his stained glass church windows. The crime happened on April 30th but it was not known who did it.
Graffiti on Historical Church in Barcelona
April 29, 2022, SpainThe heritage church of Santa Maria del Pi, in the Barri Gòtic of Barcelona, had a large amount of graffiti painted on its façade on April 29th. As well as defacing the church, the graffiti also damaged a medieval shield as it may be difficult to remove the black and pink paint. This marked an increased amount of vandalism in the area.
Vandalism and Arson at St. Nicholas Church
April 29, 2022, United KingdomThe St. Nicholas Church in Swallow was targeted by vandalism on April 29th. Unknown perpetrators, possibly youth, took two picnic benches from the church to a park, set fire to one, and painted the other with obscene language and initials. The church was quite disappointed by the act especially since it took time to repair the damage.
Theft from Statues in Ischitella Church
April 29, 2022, ItalyThieves stole jeweled necklaces from four statues in the church of Sant ' Eustachio Martire in Ischitella, on of them being the statue of Madonna del Carmine. Although the value of the jewels was not particularly high, the sacrilege, shocked the entire religious community.
Arson attack at Dinslaken Church
April 29, 2022, GermanyUnknown arsonists set the Heilig-Geist-Church in Dinslaken Hiesfeld on fire on April 29th. The property damage was not too extensive but the shock of such a hateful attack was great.
Statue of Virgin Stolen from Pau Church
April 29, 2022, FranceA statue of the Virgin Mary was stolen from the Saint-Martin church in Pau on April 29th. People saw the man walking through the streets with the 1.5-meter statue and quickly alerted the police who then arrested him. Father Jean-Jacques Dufau said: “She was perched on one foot, on the right side of the church as you entered. I don't know how [the thief] did it."
Tags and Graffiti on Church in Piozzo
April 28, 2022, ItalyOn the night of April 28th, a sentence was written in red paint on the Parish Church of Santo Stefano in Piozzo. It read: "The Nazis create poverty to take away freedom." The perpetrator(s) remain(s) unknown.
Glindenberg Church Devastated by Vandals
April 28, 2022, GermanyThe St. Nikolai Church of Glindenberg was devastated on April 28th and had to be closed as a result. The inside of the church was devastated: the altar cross was torn off as well hymn books were left in the streets with their pages torn out. The police were looking for the perpetrators.
Satanic Graffiti and Desecration in Graz Church
April 28, 2022, AustriaSatanic graffiti appeared in the St. Vincent church in Graz on the 28th of April. The word Satan, upside-down crosses, and the Antichrist number 666 were painted with red spray paint on the walls and altar of the church. The vandals also sprayed an angel's face red and burnt a bible. The Priest, Wolfgang Pucher commented, "It's just unbelievable."
Jesus and Saint Statues Broken and Chapel Vandalized
April 28, 2022, PolandA chapel near the village of Pokrzywna was the victim of a vandalistic attack that left a statue of Christ ruined. In the past years, this statue has been targeted, but on the 28th of April, both its legs were broken off just below the knee. A statue of Mother Biska was also torn out and thrown into a stream and a small piggy bank was stolen. The crime was reported to the police but due to the absence of security cameras, the perpetrators may be difficult to identify.
Ireland: Couple to go to Jail for Attending Mass During Lockdown
April 28, 2022, IrelandJim Ryan (64), and his wife Ann (59), were both fined €300 for travelling 70km to a Mass on Easter Sunday when there was a 5km limit for non essential travel during lockdown. They have since appealed their sentence but have also said they will go to jail rather then pay. Jim told the Sunday World "I have no intention of paying them a fine for me going to Mass - for doing what I have done my whole life."
Valuable Items Stolen from Church in Villach
April 28, 2022, AustriaDuring the night of May 28th, unknown perpetrators entered the Heiligenkreuzkirche in Villach and stole several items. They took gold-plated candlesticks, the quantity of which was not yet known, as well as a gold-plated lamp. An investigation was started and the amount of damage was still being quantified.
Man Steals from Three Churches in Wasilków and Zabłudów
April 27, 2022, PolandThe police received several reports in the last weeks of April, of thefts from churches in Wasilków and Zabłudów. In the incidents, the perpetrator had pulled the piggy bank off off the wall of one church and and in the other one, he broke the door off the money box and took around 4000 PLN. He then tried again in the church of Sokólski but the police caught the 37 year old who could be facing up to 10 years in prison.
Church in Zweibruecken Defaced with Obscene Tags
April 27, 2022, GermanyA 22-year-old man graffitied the facade of the Alexander Church in Zweibruecken on April 27th with obscene symbols. He tried to escape but the police were quickly alerted to the act, which happened around 19:30 and the man was arrested. He will have to pay around $500 for this crime.
Windows of Church in Albersdorf Broken
April 27, 2022, GermanyOn April 27th, it was discovered that three of the windows on the Remigius Church in Albersdorf were damaged by thrown stones. Two had holes in them and one was cracked with the damage amounting to around 3,000 euros. There were no leads to the perpetrators and the police were looking for witnesses.
Scottish Ministers Criticized for Seeking Dialogue Between Pro-life and Pro-Choice Groups
April 27, 2022, United KingdomScottish ministers said they plan to explore options of mediation with pro-life activists regarding "buffer zones" around abortion clinics. According to minutes from an abortion "buffer zone" meeting in February, the Centre for Good Relations asked for engagement “with all interested parties, not just those who are directly involved with the conflict itself." The ministers were criticized for their plan which aims to understand “the issues and perspective from all sides."
Christian Asylum Seeker Wins on European Court of Human Rights
April 26, 2022, FranceIn 2018, a Pakistani national who had converted from Islam to Christianity requested asylum in Switzerland but was rejected by the authorities. Despite them recognizing his conversion, The Federal Administrative Court rejected the request; however, upon taking the case, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled in favor of the applicant. They held that articles 2 and 3 of the ECHR would be violated should he be sent back to Pakistan.
1500 Euro Worth Destruction and Vandalism in Attendorn Cathedral
April 26, 2022, GermanyThe police were called to investigate a crime in the St. John the Baptist church in Attendorn on April 26th. The church said that the destruction was done to candlesticks, the Agatha altar, a holy water font, parts of a bench, and a disinfectant dispenser. Books and writings were also thrown around. The damage, around 1,500 euros, was thought to have been done by a slim young man, with dark hair, between the ages of 15 and 20.
Man Urinates on Church Trani
April 26, 2022, ItalyA man was seen on video, on the 26th of April, urinating in the churchyard of Sant'Agostino in Trani. Judging by the stench, others have done the same thing which eventually causes lasting damage to the walls that then have to be repaired. This man obviously had little respect for this sacred sight.
Church Windows in Newtown Smashed
April 25, 2022, United KingdomThe windows of the St. David's Church in Newtown were smashed by vandals on April 25th. It was not known who did the act and someone who was closely affiliated with the church said it was "absolutely disgusting to see yet again," which implies that vandalism similar to this has already occurred.