Church vandalism

The Latest

Police have released images from a surveillance camera of a suspect they say vandalized Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Gales Ferry, Connecticut, on March 11, 2023.

Police looking for man who vandalized Connecticut Catholic church

Mar 13, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The suspect allegedly smashed windows and painted “hateful” messages on the floor and wall, police said. Read more

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Pipe bomb found behind Catholic church in Philadelphia

Feb 20, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

An 18-inch pipe bomb was found behind a Catholic church in Philadelphia and removed by the police department’s bomb squad. Read more

Jerrid Farnam, 32, has been charged with several felonies in connection with a violent vandalism at Subiaco Abbey in Subiaco, Arkansas, on Jan. 5, 2023. He said he was about to begin breaking open the tabernacle where the consecrated bread is kept, but something stopped him in his tracks: a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Police say church vandal was about to break into tabernacle — until he saw the statue of Mary

Feb 6, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

The suspect started to take a sledgehammer to the tabernacle where the consecrated bread is kept, but something stopped him... Read more

On Feb. 2, 2023, a vandal desecrated an image of Jesus at the Church of the Flagellation located on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, the route that Christ walked to Mount Calvary, where he was crucified.

American tourist desecrates statue of Christ in Catholic church in Jerusalem

Feb 2, 2023

By CNA Staff

The attack occurred at the Church of the Flagellation located on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, the route that Christ... Read more

Statues of Joseph and Mary were stolen from a Nativity scene at St. Patrick’s Co-Cathedral in Billings, Montana, after vandals destroyed the statues the night of Jan. 16, 2023. The statues were found Jan. 26, 2023.

A ‘hate crime’ at Montana Catholic churches? Some think so

Jan 27, 2023

By Tina Dennelly

Vandals destroyed a Nativity scene at St. Patrick’s Co-Cathedral in Billings, Montana, the night of Jan. 16. Read more

The statue, called “Christ in Death,” portrays Jesus’ corpse laying on a burial shroud with a crown of thorns laid alongside his lower legs.

Woman arrested at Fargo cathedral for smashing ‘Christ in Death’ statue

Jan 27, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Church surveillance footage reportedly shows the half-dressed suspect, Brittany Marie Reynolds, damaging the statue in St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo. Read more

Security camera footage shows the same man committing all three acts of vandalism to the California church.

California church vandalized three times since Christmas, suspect apprehended

Jan 12, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Father Scott Herrera, the church’s pastor, told CNA Thursday that he believes the vandal, who was caught on security cameras... Read more

Subiaco Abbey, in Subiaco, Arkansas, had its altar smashed with a hammer, and relics inside the altar stolen on Jan. 5, 2023. A suspect has been arrested and is set to be charged in connection with the attack.

Arkansas monastery’s altar desecrated with sledgehammer, 1,500-year-old relics stolen

Jan 6, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

A 31-year-old man was arrested Thursday in connection with the crimes committed at the Benedictine Subiaco Monastery. Read more

The numbers “666” were carved into three separate front doors of the historic Cathedral of Saint Peter in the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Christmas Day attack: Vandals carved ‘666’ on doors of Pennsylvania cathedral

Dec 30, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

The pastor of the Cathedral of Saint Peter in the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, discovered on Christmas evening that the... Read more

This photo shows the extent of the damage to St. Andrew Catholic Church. It has been edited to blur the spraypainted phallic images.

Alaska archbishop condemns attacks on Catholic church

Dec 21, 2022

By Peter Pinedo

Archbishop Andrew Bellisario called attention to two recent acts of vandalism that took place at St. Andrew Catholic Church in... Read more

Downingtown Police are searching for a suspect who vandalized four statues at St. Joseph Parish over the weekend of Dec. 10 and Dec. 11.

Suspect caught on camera vandalizing Pennsylvania Catholic church

Dec 14, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Four statues at St. Joseph Parish in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, were vandalized overnight between Dec. 10 and Dec. 11. Read more

Photo illustration.

Divine Mercy shrine at Catholic parish in Wisconsin defaced with graffiti

Nov 22, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

A photo shared on social media by Father Donald Calloway shows green spray-painted graffiti on one of the exterior granite... Read more

St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York

Arrest made in vandalism of Cardinal Dolan’s residence at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC

Nov 10, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Juan Velez was arrested by the New York Police Department’s Warrant Squad, police said Wednesday. Read more

Michael Stucchi poses in front of the restored statue of Jesus with children at St. Mel's Church in Woodland Hills, California.

Parishioner’s labor of love restores vandalized statue at California church

Nov 5, 2022

By Tom Hoffarth

After a vandal destroyed several statues at St. Mel's Church in Woodland Hills, California, parishioner Michael Stucchi volunteered to restore... Read more

One or more vandals desecrated a Catholic cemetery in Rochester, Minnesota, on Oct. 31, 2022, Halloween night.

Bishop Barron, expressing ‘outrage,’ vows to reconsecrate vandalized cemetery

Nov 3, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

One or more vandals left behind vulgar messages and the words “In Satan we trust” at the diocesan Calvary Cemetery... Read more

The Church of the Resurrection in Lansing, Michigan, was vandalized with pro-abortion and anti-Catholic graffiti on Oct. 8, 2022.

VIDEO: Pro-abortion vandals caught in the act of spray-painting Michigan church 

Oct 12, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

The three individuals can be seen approaching the Church of the Resurrection in Lansing on foot and spray-painting graffiti on... Read more

Some of the statues that were destroyed in São Mateus church in the town of São Mateus do Sul located in Paraná state in southern Brazil, Oct. 10, 2022.

Catholic church in Brazil desecrated and 28 statues of saints destroyed

Oct 11, 2022

By CNA Staff

The attack took place Oct. 10 around noon in São Mateus church in the town of São Mateus do Sul... Read more

Raphael, “St. Michael Vanquishing Satan,” 1518

CatholicVote to hold St. Michael novena in defense of churches, pregnancy centers

Sep 10, 2022

By Katie Yoder

CatholicVote is inviting Christians nationwide to pray a novena asking for St. Michael’s intercession amid the growing number of attacks... Read more

Windows were smashed at St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue, Washington, on June 28, 2022.

Report assesses threats to religious pro-life Americans following overturn of Roe v. Wade

Sep 9, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

The Religious Freedom Institute concluded that conditions remain in place for more attacks against pro-life entities and people to occur... Read more

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Rash of attacks on Catholic churches prompts $1 million ad campaign from CatholicVote

Aug 19, 2022

By Kelsey Wicks

The CatholicVote ad campaign will feature television ads in markets in Washington, D.C.; Arizona; and Wisconsin, as well as online. Read more