Vandalism

The Latest

Restored statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Vandalized statue of Sacred Heart of Jesus returns to Texas cathedral

Feb 15, 2021

By CNA Staff

A west Texas parish has restored a century-old statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus after it was vandalized and... Read more

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York attends the No Hate. No Fear. Solidarity March at Columbus Park, Jan. 5, 2020.

Cardinal Dolan condemns 'ugly and unlawful' defacement of St Patrick’s cathedral

Jan 6, 2021

Cardinal Timothy Dolan has denounced the defacement of St. Patrick’s Cathedral after protesters spray painted graffiti on its exterior.  Read more

Damage inside the Church of All Nations in Jerusalem from a Dec. 4, 2020 arson attack. Photo courtesy of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Gethsemane church targeted in arson attack

Dec 4, 2020

The Catholic leaders of the Holy Land are demanding an investigation into an attempted arson attack at a basilica located... Read more

The beheaded statue at the Jesuit church in Straubing, Germany. Photo

Artist offers to restore beheaded statue of Virgin Mary in Germany

Nov 27, 2020

By Courtney Mares

An art restorer in Germany has offered to restore a decapitated statue of the Virgin Mary free of charge.  Read more

The decapitated statue of the Virgin Mary in the municipality of Marghera, Italy.

Patriarch of Venice calls for prayers of reparation after Virgin Mary statue decapitated

Nov 27, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

A statue of the Virgin Mary in a public square in a suburb of Venice, Italy, was vandalized Thursday night.  Read more

Christ the King Church, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Swedish parish holds day of penance and fasting after church vandalism

Nov 20, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Christ the King parish in Gothenburg, Sweden, is holding a day of penance and fasting Friday in reparation for the... Read more

The vandalized altar of Christ the King parish in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Pastor of Swedish Catholic church: vandal wanted to 'create an eternal Good Friday'

Nov 17, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The altar of Christ the King parish in Gothenburg, Sweden was vandalized on Friday, Nov. 13, in an act that... Read more

A statue of St. Junipero Serra, which was defaced and torn down by protesters Oct. 12, at Mission San Rafael Arcangel in San Rafael, California. Courtesy photo.

Archbishop Cordileone applauds prosecution of St. Junipero Serra statue vandalism

Nov 13, 2020

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco applauded the Marin County District Attorney for filing charges over the vandalism of a... Read more

Father Kyle Faller leads prayers at the site of a destroyed statue of St. Junipero Serra on Oct. 13, 2020.

California Catholics pray, protest at destroyed St. Junipero Serra statue

Oct 14, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

Catholics in California rallied in a peaceful demonstration Tuesday evening at the former site of a statue of St. Junipero... Read more

A statue of St. Junipero Serra, which was defaced and torn down by protesters Oct. 12, at Mission San Rafael Arcangel in San Rafael, California. Courtesy photo.

St. Junipero Serra statue defaced, pulled down on California's Indigenous People’s Day

Oct 13, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

A group of activists near San Francisco on Monday defaced a statue of St. Junipero Serra on private property with... Read more

Vandalism at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio. Courtesy photo.

Vandal takes baseball bat to Catholic seminary in Texas, but none harmed

Sep 25, 2020

By Kevin J. Jones

A man who wielded a baseball bat on the grounds of a Catholic seminary in Texas damaged a crucifix and... Read more

Spoleto Cathedral in Umbria, central Italy.

St. John Paul II relic stolen amid church robberies in Italy

Sep 24, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

This week a relic of St. Pope John Paul II was stolen from a cathedral in central Italy, while a... Read more

Statue of Christ damaged in St. Patrick's Cathedral, El Paso.

El Paso cathedral suffers vandalism attack

Sep 16, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

A vandal destroyed a statue of Jesus at St. Patrick Cathedral in El Paso, Texas on Tuesday, the latest in an... Read more

US Senator asks attorney general to fight anti-Catholic vandalism

Aug 13, 2020

A United States senator has asked the nation’s attorney general to intensify efforts to fight the vandalism that has been... Read more

The base of a beheaded statue at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Denver.

Denver archbishop praying for conversion after St. Jude statue beheaded

Aug 13, 2020

By JD Flynn

After the statue of a saint was beheaded outside a Denver parish, the city’s archbishop said he’s praying for the... Read more

Queen of Peace Catholic Church after a fire July 11.

Anti-Catholic attacks merit national media scrutiny, Irish-American group says

Jul 15, 2020

National news media cannot ignore intolerance against Catholics, the Ancient Order of Hibernians has said, citing recent attacks on Catholic... Read more

In Montana, man tears down Ten Commandments monument at county courthouse grounds

Jun 30, 2020

A man has been arrested for allegedly tearing down a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of a county courthouse... Read more

The Poolse Maria Kapel (Polish Mary Chapel) in Breda, the Netherlands.

Vandals deface image of Poland’s Black Madonna in Dutch city

Jun 24, 2020

The mayor of a Dutch town has condemned vandals who defaced an image of Our Lady of Częstochowa and daubed... Read more

Bellarmine University.

Report: Vandals on Catholic campus target pro-life community

Feb 1, 2018

Recent vandalism on the Catholic campus of Bellarmine University reportedly targeted the school’s pro-life community, destroying a “Cemetery of Innocents”... Read more

Fouad Twal, then-Patriarch of Jerusalem, inspects damage to the Church of the Multiplication from the June 18, 2015 arson attack.

Israeli extremist sentenced for arson attack on Holy Land church

Dec 14, 2017

An arson attack on the church complex at the site of Christ’s multiplication of loaves and fish on the Sea... Read more