Church vandalism

The Latest

The remains of St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Surrey, BC

Coptic Orthodox church in British Columbia destroyed in ‘suspicious’ fire

Jul 20, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

A Coptic Orthodox church in British Columbia was destroyed in a fire on Monday, July 19, just days after an... Read more

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Berlin, February 2017.

Petition urges Canadian PM not to slander Catholic Church over residential schools

Jul 9, 2021

By CNA Staff

More than 4,000 people have signed a petition requesting that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cease blaming the Catholic Church... Read more

Sacred Heart of Jesus statue outside the Basilica of St. Lawrence, Asheville, North Carolina

Statue outside NC parish restored after vandalism

Jul 7, 2021

By Joe Bukuras

A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in front of an Asheville, North Carolina Catholic church was vandalized and... Read more

St. Jean Baptiste Catholic Church in Morinville, Alberta, before it burned down on June 30, 2021.

Canadian Indigenous leaders call for end of targeting of churches

Jul 7, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

Canadian Indigenous leaders and residential school survivors have called for suspected arson attacks on churches to stop.  Read more

Fire destroys St. Jean Baptiste parish, Morinville, Alberta

Canadian police investigate two more ‘suspicious’ fires at Catholic churches

Jun 30, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating two more fires at Catholic churches in Canada as “suspicious,” after four churches... Read more

Graffiti on wall of Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Denver, Colorado

Historic Denver church vandalized, motive unclear

Jun 30, 2021

A historic Catholic church in downtown Denver was tagged with graffiti on Monday evening, in a possible reference to the... Read more

One of the five Canadian Catholic churches that burned in a week: Sacred Heart Mission Church, Pentincton, British Columbia

Indigenous leaders condemn recent vandalism of churches in Canada

Jun 29, 2021

By Christine Rousselle, Joe Bukuras

Indigenous and Catholic leaders have condemned a recent spate of church vandalism in Canada, along with five Catholic churches having... Read more

Monstrance stolen from New York Catholic Church

Jun 28, 2021

By Joe Bukuras

A monstrance was stolen out from Catholic Church in the Bronx last Friday before the parish’s morning Eucharistic adoration.  Read more

Vandalized statue of Mary, St. Adalbert parish, Queens, New York

Parish fundraises to repair vandalized Marian statue

Jun 3, 2021

By Joe Bukuras

A parish in Queens, New York is raising funds to repair its statue of Mary, which was found knocked over... Read more

A statue of the infant Jesus was found decapitated outside the diocesan administrative offices in Brooklyn

Brooklyn diocese requests greater police presence outside churches, after acts of vandalism

May 18, 2021

The Diocese of Brooklyn is requesting increased police presence after two incidents of vandalism in three days at church properties.  Read more

The toppled crucifix display at St. Athanasius

Crucifixion display vandalized at New York church

May 17, 2021

A crucifixion display at a church in the Brooklyn diocese was vandalized last week in what is being investigated as... Read more

Rhode Island statue of Jesus vandalized

May 13, 2021

A statue of Jesus was vandalized this past weekend at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Narragansett, Rhode Island. Read more

A statue of Christ at St. Charles Borromeo parish in Waltham, Mass., that was vandalized May 2-3, 2021.

Christ statue at Massachusetts church vandalized

May 7, 2021

By Joe Bukuras

During the night of May 2-3 a statue of Christ at a Massachusetts parish was decapitated. Read more

Fr. Vito Di Marzio, pastor of St. Elisabeth of Hungary parish, prays in front of the defaced mural

Man takes sledgehammer to Marian mural in Los Angeles archdiocese

Apr 29, 2021

A masked man bashed a mural of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a sledgehammer last week, at a parish in... Read more

Statue outside Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Woodland, California

Two parishes in the Sacramento diocese vandalized 

Apr 27, 2021

By Joe Bukuras

Two parishes in the Diocese of Sacramento suffered similar acts of vandalism in the past two weeks.  Read more

Cathedral of St. Mary, Fargo, North Dakota

Fargo diocese investigating vandalism outside cathedral

Apr 21, 2021

The Diocese of Fargo and the Fargo Police Department are investigating an incident of vandalism outside the cathedral last weekend. Read more

Credit: Patrick Abbott

Knights of Columbus remove satanic graffiti from outside D.C. church

Mar 16, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

A D.C. Knights of Columbus chapter removed satanic graffiti from outside a parish on Capitol Hill this past Saturday.   Read more

Poor box    Credit: PunkbarbyO/Shutterstock

Philadelphia archdiocese warning parishes about series of thefts

Feb 18, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is warning its parishes to remain alert after a man was arrested for stealing from a... Read more

Rosary Cathedral in Toledo, Ohio. Credit: Susan Montgomery/Shutterstock.

Cathedral in Ohio vandalized with message 'Jesus is Black'

Jan 19, 2021

Police in Toledo, Ohio are investigating a suspected arson attack on Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral... Read more

New statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Church of Our Lady of Solace. Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Coney Island parish replaces vandalized Mary statue

Dec 16, 2020

The Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, last weekend unveiled a new statue of the Blessed Mother, after a previous statue... Read more