The Catacombs - Anti-Catholic Violence

‘Irish’ knifeman interrupts Rosary before Mass to stab woman

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:39:52 +0000

‘Irish’ knifeman interrupts Rosary before Mass to stab woman

The knifeman is said to be a stranger to the woman he attacked but not to the police.

Holy Cross Catholic Church, Tramore, Co. Waterford

Henry Kol/Shutterstock

Jul 21, 2026
(LifeSiteNews) — A Catholic has been badly injured by a knifeman in her church in Ireland.

The middle-aged woman, who has not been publicly identified, was stabbed by a man this morning, July 21, at around 9:45 a.m. The attack interrupted the morning recitation of the Rosary at Holy Cross Church in Tramore, County Waterford. Parishioners immediately summoned emergency services. The victim, reported as being in her 50s, was taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening wounds.

The police apprehended a suspect, currently described as “Irish” and “in his thirties,” at a home nearby.

According to the Irish Mirror, the parish priest, Father Richard O’Halloran, called the attack “random in nature.”

“It has been a very shocking event,” he told the outlet. “However, the people and, indeed, my colleague who was there at the time responded wonderfully well. All the emergency services were called, and they looked after everything that was happening.”

The recitation of the Rosary was to be followed by the 10 a.m. Mass. The attacker is said to be a stranger to the woman he stabbed but not to the police.

The Diocese of Waterford & Lismore has released a statement saying that they are “deeply shocked by a violent incident which occurred this morning during Mass at Holy Cross Church, Tramore.”

Quote:Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured parishioner, and we pray for her full and speedy recovery.

We wish to commend the courage and presence of mind shown by the parishioners who assisted during this frightening incident. We also thank the priests of the parish for their immediate pastoral care and concern, and we express our sincere gratitude to An Garda Síochána, the National Ambulance Service and all emergency personnel for their prompt response.

We ask the people of the Diocese to pray for the injured woman, for everyone affected by this distressing incident, and for the parish community of Holy Cross, Tramore.

Naples: Man steals miter from statue of St. Januarius in Duomo; arrested outside the EU

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:04:56 +0000

Computer translated from the Italian:

Naples: Man steals miter from statue of St. Januarius in Duomo; arrested outside the EU

ImolaOggi.it | July 8, 2026

A 43-year-old non-EU citizen was arrested in Naples after stealing the bishop's headdress from the statue of San Gennaro in the Neapolitan Cathedral. After the alarm was raised by the caretaker, an army patrol stopped him, chasing the thief and catching him, then waiting for the Carabinieri to arrive.

The theft of the headdress of San Gennaro
The thief entered Naples Cathedral on Wednesday morning and reached one of the cathedral's altars where a bust of Saint Januarius complete with miter, the pointed bishop's headdress, is on display. The man, pretending to observe the statue, approached and grabbed the precious accessory, then quickly walked away.

The caretaker's alarm
The alarm was raised by the caretaker, who immediately alerted 112. The operations center of the Naples provincial command located the man thanks to cameras in front of the churchyard, and radioed his location to an army patrol engaged in Operation Safe Roads. The officers, following the operator's instructions, chased and stopped the 43-year-old.

The recovered heirloom
Moments later, the Carabinieri of the Naples mobile radio unit arrived and arrested the man. Once the heirloom was recovered, the 43-year-old will face charges of attempted aggravated theft and is now awaiting trial.

https://tg24.sky.it

Update:

Migrant arrested after attempting to steal St. Januarius relic in Naples
A 43-year-old foreign national faces charges of attempted aggravated theft after seizing the mitre from the bust of St. Januarius inside Naples' famed cathedral.

Jul 10, 2026
NAPLES, Italy (LifeSiteNews) — An immigrant man has been arrested after attempting to take the mitre displayed on the bust of St. Januarius inside the cathedral in Naples, Italy.

On July 8, a 43-year-old foreign national was arrested after attempting to steal the mitre displayed on the bust of St. Januarius inside Naples Cathedral. The relic was recovered within minutes through the coordinated response of the Italian Carabinieri and Army personnel serving under the “Strade Sicure” (“Safe Streets”) security operation. According to Italian authorities, the suspect will face a charge of attempted aggravated theft.

According to information released by the authorities, the man entered the cathedral alone and walked directly toward the altar where the bust of St. Januarius, the patron saint of Naples and the Campania region, is displayed. He removed the bishop’s mitre from the bust and quickly headed toward the exit before leaving the church.

The cathedral’s custodian immediately noticed what had happened and alerted Italy’s emergency services, triggering the police response.

The surveillance system installed outside the cathedral allowed operators at the Naples Provincial Carabinieri Command to identify the suspect as he moved away from the building. Army personnel stationed nearby as part of the “Strade Sicure” operation were informed of the suspect’s movements by radio and intercepted him a short distance from the cathedral.

Carabinieri officers from the Naples Radiomobile Unit arrived shortly afterward, placed the man under arrest, and recovered the mitre intact.

“The relic was recovered,” authorities confirmed after the arrest.

They added that the intervention relied on close coordination between the emergency operations centre, surveillance cameras positioned in front of the cathedral, Army personnel deployed in the area, and responding Carabinieri officers. The sequence of events – from the emergency call to the recovery of the mitre – unfolded within only a few minutes.

The thief had attempted to steal the mitre of St. Januarius, one of the principal devotional objects associated with the patron saint and former bishop of Naples. Following the recovery of the relic, devotees were reassured that it had been returned safely to the cathedral.

St. Januarius, known in Southern Italy as “San Gennaro,” is revered as the patron saint of Naples and the wider Campania region. His bust, together with its liturgical ornaments, is displayed inside Naples Cathedral, one of the city’s principal churches and a major destination for pilgrims and visitors.

The mitre on the bust of St. Januarius has immense value – artistic, historical, and devotional alike. It is not a mere ornament but a sacred jewel crafted in the 17th century, adorned with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds donated over the centuries by monarchs and faithful devotees.

It forms part of the renowned “Treasure of St. Januarius,” regarded as one of the richest collections of sacred art in the world. From an economic standpoint, the mitre’s material worth is estimated to be worth 20 million euros, or around $22.9 million.

Man targets ‘Christian religious symbols’ in attack on French Catholic church, priest says

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:46:30 +0000

Man targets ‘Christian religious symbols’ in attack on French Catholic church, priest says
Three confessionals dating from the early 19th century were ripped open with an altar cross during a brief but violent daylight attack on a French Catholic church.

Church of Saint-Étienne, Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, Alsace, France
Wikimedia Commons

Jul 7, 2026
MULHOUSE, France (LifeSiteNews) — A Catholic church in Mulhouse, France, was vandalized after a man damaged an altar cross and three confessionals before leaving the building.

On July 5, according to reports from Le Figaro and Tribune Chrétienne, a man entered Saint-Étienne Catholic Church in Mulhouse, in France’s Haut-Rhin department, and vandalized several liturgical furnishings. Notably, no property was stolen.

The church, which is open to the public each day, was empty at the time. The episode lasted about five minutes and was recorded by the church’s video surveillance system. The footage reportedly shows the suspect entering the sanctuary “in shorts, bare‑chested and barefoot,” throwing the altar cross to the floor.

According to Le Figaro, “the same individual then grabbed a vase and spilled its contents – water and flowers – onto the altar. He continued his rampage with his face fully visible, ripping open the doors of three confessionals using the cross as a crowbar.” Some of those confessionals date from the early 19th century. Thanks to the surveillance cameras, it was also possible to see that “the perpetrator fled with a second individual” who was waiting outside.

“He persisted and targeted Christian religious symbols,” said Father Pascal Boulic, parish priest of Saint-Étienne. Boulic also said that, during the five years since he arrived in Mulhouse, the p

Following the report filed by the priest on July 6, a 37‑year‑old man was arrested for vandalism. However, the president of the Grand Est region, Franck Leroy, has already cautioned in a statement that it will first be necessary to clarify “his degree of discernment at the time of the events.” The vandal’s identity has not been disclosed.

In recent months, France has witnessed a dramatic collapse of the sense of the sacred, visible both in the growing number of violent profanations against Catholic churches and in the permissive attitude of much of the clergy. In Paris last month, churches were used as venues for performances with occult or blasphemous symbolism, approved by ecclesiastical authorities, during the city’s “Nuit Blanche” exhibition.

Attacks against Christians in Israel double: spitting, assaults, and threats increase in Jerusalem

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:26:49 +0000

Attacks against Christians in Israel double: spitting, assaults, and threats increase in Jerusalem

INFOVATICANA | July 8, 2026

Attacks against Christians in Israel continue to rise. During the second quarter of 2026, the recorded assaults nearly doubled compared to the first three months of the year, according to a report by the Religious Freedom Data Center, which warns of an increase in hate incidents, especially in Jerusalem.

According to the KNA news agency, 83 anti-Christian incidents were documented between April and June, compared to 44 recorded in the first quarter. Of these, ten involved threats or physical assaults. Most of the cases occurred in Jerusalem, particularly in the Old City.

Spitting and assaults in public spaces

The report notes that more than half of the reported incidents consisted of spitting directed at Christians, a practice that for years has especially affected priests, religious, and pilgrims walking the streets of Jerusalem.

In total, 68 of the 83 incidents took place in Jerusalem and 46 occurred in the Old City, where numerous Christian holy sites are concentrated.

The authors of the report warn that attacks are increasingly occurring with greater ease and in broad daylight. “Harassment and assaults are taking place more and more openly in public spaces, and the perpetrators show little restraint,” the document states.

Among the most serious cases is the assault suffered by a French nun near the Old City, who was injured in the head after a violent attack.

Holidays concentrate more incidents

The study highlights that certain events lead to an increase in assaults.

During the celebration of Jerusalem Day, a holiday in which Jewish nationalist groups commemorate the occupation of East Jerusalem after the 1967 Six-Day War with a flag march, eight attacks against Christians were recorded in a single day.

Likewise, during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, seven other incidents were counted in a single day.

Misinformation fuels hostility

The Religious Freedom Data Center attributes part of the rise in violence to the proliferation of hate messages and disinformation campaigns on the internet against the Christian community.

The organization also denounces that the limited institutional visibility of Christianity in Jerusalem contributes to fostering a climate of hostility. In this regard, it calls on the City Council to give Christianity a public recognition similar to that received by Jewish tradition’s holidays and symbols through signs, institutional messages, and other urban elements.

According to the report, “the continued exclusion of the Christian presence from the public representation of Jerusalem directly contributes to manifestations of hostility by some Jews toward Christians.”

Proposals to curb the assaults

The organization has offered to collaborate with the Israel Defense Forces in training their personnel to prevent this type of behavior. It is also preparing informational material aimed at tour guides who accompany groups of soldiers through Jerusalem.

The report does not include attacks committed by Israeli citizens outside the country. Among them, it mentions the destruction of a statue of Jesus Christ and the desecration of an image of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon by Israeli soldiers.

Throughout 2025, the Religious Freedom Data Center documented 181 attacks against Christians in Israel, of which 150 occurred in Jerusalem, a trend that, according to data from the first half of 2026, continues to worsen.

Historic Catholic convent near St. Patrick’s tomb devastated by ‘deliberate’ fire

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:23:16 +0000

Historic Catholic convent near St. Patrick’s tomb devastated by ‘deliberate’ fire

Someone set ablaze the former Convent of Mercy in an arson attack on Sunday, according to local authorities,
just hours after a priestly ordination in the adjacent church.

Jun 29, 2026
DOWNPATRICK, Northern Ireland (LifeSiteNews) — The 150-year-old former Convent of Our Lady of Mercy in Northern Ireland was deliberately set on fire Sunday, the local fire department announced.

In a June 29 statement, the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRs) announced that over 70 firefighters from multiple departments had extinguished a massive fire the previous evening at the currently unused Convent of Mercy, which they believe was started through a “deliberate ignition.” The fire was put out before it could reach the adjacent St. Patrick Church, but it badly damaged the former convent’s building.

“Our Firefighters worked tirelessly throughout the duration of the incident to ensure that the fire was brought under control and extinguished,” NIFRs said in its statement.

“We would like to thank the public for their patience whilst we dealt with the incident. “The cause of the fire is believed to have been deliberate ignition, and the incident was dealt with by 10.03am.”

In a statement of its own following the fire, the Downpatrick Family of parishes, which includes St. Patrick’s, expressed gratitude for the firefighters’ efforts to not only extinguish the fire but to stop it from spreading to the church. The parish also lamented the fact that the old convent building was damaged, especially within 24 hours of a priestly ordination taking place inside St. Patrick’s Church.

The church and former convent are located just minutes from the tomb of Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick.

“We are relieved that the fire which destroyed the old convent last night was prevented by the heroism and skill of the Northern Ireland Fire Service from reaching St Patrick’s Church. Fire fighters worked through the night to protect St Patrick’s and to them we owe an enormous debt of gratitude,” the parish wrote in a Facebook post.

“Coming at the end of a wonderful day in the life of the parish family – the Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr Thomas Hampton – when the parish came together in a tremendous act of hospitality and welcome, it is particularly sad that so beautiful a building has been destroyed,” they added. “Let us be thankful that no lives were lost. And remind ourselves of the indelible influence for good in Downpatrick of the Mercy Order whose sisters have graced this parish for over 150 years.”

https://www.facebook.com/stpatricksdownp...6822026838

Blessed Sacrament Stolen in France

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:58:55 +0000

From gloria.tv June 20, 2026:

Blessed Sacrament Stolen in France: The parish church of Mugron in southwestern France, Diocese of Aire and Dax, was targeted in a theft between June 14 and 17. The missing items include all hosts reserved in the tabernacle and multiple chalices. An investigation is underway. A Eucharist of reparation is expected to be celebrated in the coming days.

Original article in French:

Quote:Publié le 19 juin 2026

[ Landes] Profanation à l’église de Mugron : calices, patènes et Saint-Sacrement dérobés

Selon des fidèles joints sur place , le Saint-Sacrement et l’ensemble des hosties conservées dans le tabernacle ont également disparu
L’église de Mugron, dans les Landes, a été victime d’un vol particulièrement grave entre le 14 et le 17 juin. Plusieurs objets liturgiques ont été dérobés au sein de la sacristie de l’édifice religieux. Le premier bilan fait état de la disparition de onze objets, dont huit calices. Mais selon des fidèles joints sur place par Tribune Chrétienne, le préjudice est en réalité bien plus important. D’après leurs témoignages, plusieurs patènes ont également été dérobées. Plus grave encore, le Saint-Sacrement a été emporté, tout comme l’ensemble des hosties conservées dans le tabernacle.

L’église de Mugron appartient au diocèse d’Aire-et-Dax, dirigé par Monseigneur Nicolas Souchu. Joint par téléphone ce jeudi après-midi, le diocèse ainsi que son responsable de la communication, Paul Perromat, ne semblaient pas encore avoir connaissance de tous les éléments de l’affaire.

Selon les mêmes sources, le curé de la paroisse est profondément bouleversé par les faits. Face à la gravité de cette profanation, il devrait porter plainte afin que la disparition du Saint-Sacrement, des hosties consacrées et des autres objets liturgiques soit pleinement prise en compte dans l’enquête.

Pour les catholiques, la disparition du Saint-Sacrement constitue une atteinte d’une gravité exceptionnelle. L’Église enseigne en effet la Présence Réelle du Christ dans l’Eucharistie. Le vol des hosties consacrées dépasse ainsi la seule dimension matérielle et touche directement au cœur de la foi catholique. Une messe de réparation devrait être célébrée dans les prochains jours à la suite de cette profanation. Au moment de la publication de cet article, les fidèles étaient encore dans l’attente de la communication officielle du jour et de l’heure de cette célébration.

De jour en jour, d’incendie en profanation, de vols en actes de vandalisme, les catholiques français ont le sentiment d’assister à une lente dégradation de leur patrimoine religieux et spirituel. Chaque semaine ou presque apporte son lot de nouvelles atteintes visant des églises, des chapelles, des calvaires ou des objets consacrés. Ici une statue brisée, là un tabernacle forcé, ailleurs un incendie criminel ou un vol d’objets liturgiques. Pris isolément, ces faits peuvent sembler anecdotiques. Mis bout à bout, ils dessinent pourtant un tableau inquiétant.Pour de nombreux fidèles, cette succession d’attaques constitue un véritable chemin de croix. Car derrière les pierres, les vitraux ou les objets sacrés, ce sont des communautés entières qui se sentent blessées. Une église n’est pas seulement un bâtiment patrimonial. Elle est un lieu où l’on prie, où l’on baptise ses enfants, où l’on célèbre les mariages et où l’on accompagne les défunts.

Lorsqu’elle est profanée ou dépouillée, c’est une part de la mémoire chrétienne locale qui est atteinte, c’est Le Christ Lui-même qui est blessé.

Computer translation into English:

Desecration at the church of Mugron: chalices, patens and Blessed Sacrament stolen

Facade of Mugron Church - (Street View)

According to faithful contacted on site, the Blessed Sacrament and all the hosts kept in the tabernacle have also disappeared
The church of Mugron, in the Landes, was the victim of a particularly serious theft between June 14 and 17. Several liturgical objects were stolen from the sacristy of the religious building. The first report shows the disappearance of eleven objects, including eight chalices. But according to faithful contacted on site by Christian Tribune, the harm is actually much greater. According to their testimonies, several patens were also stolen. Even more serious, the Blessed Sacrament was taken away, as were all the hosts kept in the tabernacle.

The church of Mugron belongs to the diocese of Aire-et-Dax, led by Monsignor Nicolas Souchu. Reached by telephone this Thursday afternoon, the diocese as well as its communications manager, Paul Perromat, did not yet seem to be aware of all the elements of the affair.

According to the same sources, the parish priest is deeply upset by the facts. Faced with the seriousness of this desecration, he should file a complaint so that the disappearance of the Blessed Sacrament, consecrated hosts and other liturgical objects is fully taken into account in the investigation.

For Catholics, the disappearance of the Blessed Sacrament constitutes an attack of exceptional seriousness. The Church in fact teaches the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The theft of consecrated hosts thus goes beyond the material dimension alone and directly touches the heart of the Catholic faith. A reparation mass should be celebrated in the coming days following this desecration. At the time of publication of this article, the faithful were still awaiting official communication of the day and time of this celebration.

Day by day, from fire to desecration, from theft to acts of vandalism, French Catholics have the feeling of witnessing a slow degradation of their religious and spiritual heritage. Almost every week brings its share of new attacks targeting churches, chapels, calvaries or consecrated objects. Here a broken statue, there a forced tabernacle, elsewhere an arson or theft of liturgical objects. Taken in isolation, these facts may seem anecdotal. Put end to end, they nevertheless paint a worrying picture. For many faithful, this succession of attacks constitutes a real way of the cross. Because behind the stones, stained glass windows or sacred objects, entire communities feel hurt. A church is not just a heritage building. It is a place where we pray,where we baptize our children, where we celebrate marriages and where we accompany the deceased.

When it is desecrated or stripped, it is a part of the local Christian memory that is affected, it is Christ Himself who is wounded.

Two historic Catholic sites gutted by fires in a single day

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:45:06 +0000

Two historic Catholic sites gutted by fires in a single day
Separate fires tore through Brittany's Sainte-Anne Chapel and Condom Cathedral's cloister in Gers just hours apart on June 12,

destroying volumes of historic Catholic archives.

Chapel of Sainte-Anne-des-Rochers in Brittany, France, following the fire
Wikimedia Commons

Jun 17, 2026
(LifeSiteNews) — Two major fires struck a chapel in Brittany and a cathedral cloister in southwestern France, causing extensive damage to the historic Catholic heritage sites.

On June 12, two separate fires severely damaged the Sainte-Anne Chapel in Trégastel, Brittany, and the former cloister of Condom Cathedral in Gers within hours of one another. The incidents resulted in the destruction of large sections of the historic buildings and the loss of archival material. Investigations into the causes are ongoing.

“For the moment, we are above all very sad,” Trégastel Mayor Annie Macé said, according to a report by Tribune Chrétienne, summarizing local reaction to the loss.

The first fire broke out in the early afternoon at the Sainte-Anne-des-Rochers Chapel in Trégastel, located in the Côtes-d’Armor department of Brittany. The blaze rapidly spread through the roof of the 17th century building, causing extensive damage. Approximately 75 percent of the roof was destroyed, with part of the timber framework collapsing during the fire.

Thirty-two firefighters from several emergency centers in the region responded to the incident. They fought the fire for more than an hour using four hoses, including one mounted on an aerial ladder. Fire crews remained on site into the evening to extinguish remaining hotspots beneath the debris.

Despite the scale of the damage, all artwork and liturgical objects housed inside the chapel were successfully removed and preserved. Firefighters evacuated statues, including three protected as historic monuments, before municipal services took custody of the rescued items.

The chapel, built in 1635 and dedicated to Saint Anne, patroness of Brittany, already suffered structural defects. The building had been closed to the public since March 2026 over concerns about the condition of its timber framework.

Several witnesses reported different observations concerning the possible origin of the fire. Some suggested that flames first appeared on one side of the building, while others pointed to the belfry. Authorities have not reached any conclusion, and a gendarmerie investigation has been opened to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.

Later the same day, another major fire struck the media library housed within the former cloister of the Cathedral of Condom in the Gers department of southwestern France.

During the initial stages of the fire, flames reportedly rose more than 23 feet into the air, causing significant damage to the cathedral complex and resulting in the destruction of part of the city’s archival holdings. Among the losses were historic volumes dating back to the 16th century.

The two fires occurred independently of one another, and no connection between the incidents has been reported. In both cases, investigators are still working to establish the causes of the fires.

The events have drawn attention to the condition of religious heritage sites across France. Local officials, preservation associations, and heritage specialists have for years expressed concern about the maintenance challenges facing many churches, chapels, and other historic religious buildings, particularly in smaller municipalities where restoration costs can exceed available resources.

French heritage advocate Stéphane Bern recently called for greater support for rural religious monuments. “One finds €900 million for Notre-Dame, but one cannot find the first €1,000 for the churches of our countryside. An emergency plan must be implemented to save the religious heritage of rural France,” he said.

Israeli soldier desecrates statue of Blessed Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon

Fri, 08 May 2026 11:52:50 +0000

Israeli soldier desecrates statue of Blessed Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon
The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land issued a firm rebuke calling the incident ‘disrespectful and outrageous behaviour that must stop immediately.’

Our Lady of Graces of the Miraculous Medal
iStock/Getty Images Plus

May 7, 2026
(LifeSiteNews) — A photograph showing an Israeli soldier desecrating a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon has sparked widespread outrage, particularly among Christian communities.

The image, which surfaced publicly this week, was taken in the predominantly Christian village of Debel and shows the soldier smoking a cigarette while placing another cigarette in the mouth of the Blessed Virgin Mary statue.

Christian leaders have strongly condemned this latest incident of desecration, with the Custodia Terrae Sanctae (Custody of the Holy Land), the Franciscan religious order responsible for Catholic holy sites in the region, issuing a firm rebuke calling the incident “disrespectful and outrageous behaviour that must stop immediately.”

“We call on the Israeli government and the IDF to act and send a clear message that such behaviour is unacceptable, must not happen again, and that the case be handled with the utmost seriousness,” the Franciscans further demanded.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said they are investigating the incident. In a statement, the military claimed it viewed the matter “gravely” and promised to take action against the soldier involved.

Desire to suppress Christianity ‘without raising international alarm bells’

This is the second such desecration reported in Debel in recent weeks. On April 19, a photograph surfaced on X and other social media outlets showing an Israeli soldier smashing the head of a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer. The image quickly went viral and sparked global outrage among Christians, including the Catholic bishops of the Holy Land who issued an “unreserved condemnation” of the desecration.

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa stated that the act “constitutes a grave affront to the Christian faith and adds to other reported incidents of desecration of Christian symbols by IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon.”

Following the public outcry, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office condemned the act, and the two soldiers involved—one who wielded the sledgehammer and another who filmed it—were reportedly removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in jail.

READ: Israel replaces smashed statue of Jesus, arrests soldiers who destroyed it

Close observers have noted that Israeli authorities reserve such swift condemnations and action against anti-Christian desecrations, vandalism and physical attacks to when they gain widespread global attention and risk eroding U.S. and other international support for Israel.

This decision to take disciplinary action against the two soldiers is noteworthy, as it contrasts with the Israeli military’s typical handling of alleged violations by its troops. In the vast majority of such investigations, soldiers are ultimately cleared of wrongdoing.

This pattern was confirmed by a Catholic priest and longtime resident of Jerusalem in a LifeSiteNews interview in April. Citing sources, he explained how the Israeli policy in dealing with the Christian presence in the Holy Land reflects an intentional effort “to limit church apostolic activity as much as possible without raising international alarm bells.”

‘Judeo-Chrtistian’ values ‘one of the biggest lies in history’

Israel repeatedly claims that it does not target religious sites, yet the long ongoing history of their destroying clearly identifiable Christian religious buildings and symbols tells a completely different story.

READ: Catholic leaders in Holy Land decry escalating Jewish attacks against Christians, shrines

In his commentary on the desecration of the Blessed Virgin Mary statue, British Catholic analyst George Galloway called it a “particularly repugnant and provocative display” of “anti-Catholic hatred,” especially in the month of May, which is dedicated to Our Lady.

He cited “a dramatic spike in the desecration of Catholic churches, attacks on Catholic pilgrims, (and) attacks on nuns in the streets of Jerusalem by so-called Israeli settlers.”

Such behavior reveals “what the attitude to Jesus Christ the Messiah is in Israel,” along with “the attitude to the followers of Jesus Christ and his Holy Mother Mary in this month of May,” he said. And all of this puts an end “to the notion that there is anything called Judeo-Christian values. This is one of the biggest lies in history.”

Belgian TV segment shows people destroying statues of Our Lord, Our Lady

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:43:02 +0000

Blasphemous Belgian TV segment shows people destroying statues of Our Lord, Our Lady
An EWTN correspondent confronted the people involved in the segment at a recent media event – and got them to admit that what they did was wrong.

Our Lady of Fatima statue
Ricardo Perna/Shutterstock

Mar 24, 2026
(LifeSiteNews) — A blasphemous sketch that aired on a taxpayer-funded Belgian television channel is garnering international attention for showing people smashing statues of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary to pieces.

EWTN International Correspondent Colm Flynn appeared at a recent media event in Latvia called Radiodays Europe where he confronted Eva De Roo, Dries Lenaerts, and Sam De Bruyn about the segment, which reportedly aired several months ago.

The channel that broadcast the footage, Studio Brussels, had shared a video of persons hitting the statues with what appeared to be iron rods. The stunt was part of a “rage room” stun where participants could destroy objects of their liking in order to supposedly make themselves feel better. The initiative was part of “Blue Monday,” a day that is recognized for drawing attention to people feeling sad or depressed.

Flynn asked the trio about why the statues were allowed to be destroyed given their religious character.

“It might offend people,” one man replied. But “we’re not a very religious country.”

“We all come from the Christian tradition ourselves,” Eva De Roo added. “So it’s more laughing with ourselves.”

To his credit, Flynn did not let the matter go. He pressed them to further explain the reasoning behind the sketch.

“The statue [of Jesus] was turned, faced towards the back of the room so you wouldn’t see the face,” one man said, attempting to deflect from the obvious sacrilegious nature of the program. “I would have been more careful in another country. In Belgium, it is not a big issue.”

Flynn then asked if they would air footage of someone destroying a statue of Mohamed or a six-pointed Star of David.

That is a “very dangerous” question, one man replied.

“That would be inappropriate,” De Roo interjected. “In Belgium there are many…” at which put she caught herself before saying there are many Muslims in the country. After stuttering for a moment, she admitted that, “I know there are Christians” in Belgium.

Seemingly recognizing the hypocrisy of their comments, the trio tried to justify themselves before eventually admitting it was wrong.

“We have all been raised Catholic so that gives us a little more credit to do this, but it’s harder if you do it from a religion that you know nothing about,” one of them said.

“[I] would not do this on every station” but Studio Brussels is “very alternative” and its viewers “are not very religious in any way.”

De Roo was the first to express regret over the situation.

“Now [that] we [are] having this conversation, I’m so sorry Colm, we shouldn’t have done it because we didn’t think that much about it,” she confessed. “We’re just smashing all kinds of stuff and it happens to be an old Jesus [statue] and we smashed it.”

“We do some things out of the silliness and someone lets us know this was really inappropriate and that becomes a topic for us to sort this out and to be able to say, ‘oh yeah, we never thought about this, actually. That’s pretty stupid,’” one of the men commented.

It is a good thing that they admitted the footage was indefensible. No one has the right to destroy religious art.

Religious symbols and icons reflect sacred things. They are to be revered, unlike ordinary objects such as paintings of waterfalls or old lamps. To destroy them, even if they are already cracking or are irreparable, in the way in which they were smashed on Studio Brussels is not only offensive but sacrilegious.

Fortunately, De Roo and Lenaerts issued an apology. So did Studio Brussels, which admitted in a statement that “today, we would make different choices.”

“Eva and Dries apologize. The video was intended as a humorous act, and they underestimated how sensitive religious symbols can be. They understand that this was hurtful to some people and would make different choices today,” the company said in a statement.

Kudos to Colm Flynn for putting their feet to the fire and for defending the sacred nature of statues that depict Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. If nothing else, this minor victory is worth celebrating in a world that all too often only doubles down on attacking that which is holy.

Vandals desecrate Catholic school in California

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:30:03 +0000

Vandals desecrate Catholic school in California, destroy statue of Our Lady, throw tabernacle to floor
Attackers devastated Holy Innocents Catholic School in Long Beach, destroying a large statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, attempting to break into the tabernacle, and destroying objects made by religious sisters.

Immaculate Heart of Mary
Shutterstock

Feb 3, 2026
LONG BEACH, California (LifeSiteNews) — Staff arriving at Holy Innocents Catholic School in Long Beach, California, on Monday morning found the school assembly hall, chapel, and classrooms had been ransacked, with smashed statues, ruined images of Our Lady, and the tabernacle knocked to the floor.

Vandals had evidently attempted to break into the tabernacle, but were unsuccessful. “The tabernacle was not breached and the hosts, though damaged, remained inside,” noted a statement by the school.

The school was forced to cancel Mass, though the school was able to open for the day.

One statue of Our Lady, which has been in the school since 1958, was worth at least $40,000, Tony Tripp, director of advancement for the school, told the Long Beach Post. Another was valued around $10,000. “Many of the religious articles couldn’t be priced, as they had been handmade by the sisters,” Tripp said, according to the Post.

After inspecting the damage, Bishop Mark Trudeau said that it is the worst case of vandalism that he’s ever seen in the region.

“The sound equipment and that sort of thing was ripped out of the wall,” Tripp told local news outlet, KTLA. “Any closet that was there, everything was pulled out, so we thought, ‘Oh, OK. This is to be expected,’ but what was not to be expected is the sanctuary part. We have a large statue of Mary that was pushed down and destroyed. We had the tabernacle, the gold tabernacle where our Lord is kept here, they tried to break that open to get the host out of there.”

“I want to know why you could do this to kids,” said the school’s principal, Cyril Cruz. “What kind of heart do you have to do this?”

“This is horrific, there are some demonic forces at work in our country,” noted Jeremy Wayne Tate, the leading promoter of classical education in the United States.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division immediately promised to investigate what she described as “an awful crime.”

Activist Robby Starbuck, a Protestant, and Catholic convert and entertainer Rob Schneider stepped forward and offered to cover the cost of replacing Bibles destroyed in the attack on the school.

The desecration of the Catholic school comes just two weeks after an angry mob stormed a Baptist church in St. Paul, Minnesota, while a Sunday worship service was in progress.

A GoFundMe account created to help the school recover from the vandalism has quickly garnered nearly $90,000 in donations.

Man desecrates altar, Blessed Sacrament inside St. Peter’s Basilica

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:38:11 +0000

Man desecrates altar, Blessed Sacrament inside St. Peter’s Basilica
The January 17 profanation follows a series of desecrations that have occurred inside St. Peter's Basilica in recent times.

St. Peter's Basilica
Shutterstock

Jan 21, 2026
VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews [slightly adapted, not all hyperlinks included from original]) — A man desecrated the altar of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica, prompting an immediate rite of reparation.

On Saturday, an unidentified man climbed onto the altar of the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament inside St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and violently threw candlesticks, the monstrance, and the altar cross to the ground in front of worshippers gathered for prayer, an act considered particularly serious because the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for perpetual adoration. Authorities carried out an immediate penitential rite of reparation in accordance with canon law.

“A rite of reparation was celebrated immediately after the profanation,” a witness told journalist Nico Spuntoni. However, security tried to cover up what had happened.

The man reportedly managed to reach the altar and knock down the liturgical furnishings before being stopped. The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament is one of the most sensitive areas of the basilica, as it is reserved for Eucharistic adoration during daytime hours, meaning that the consecrated Host is exposed.

Spuntoni confirmed to LifeSiteNews that, according to the witness, the incident would have taken place in the early afternoon. Although there is no certainty on this point and authorities are evasive on the issue, it is highly likely that the desecration occurred while the Blessed Sacrament was exposed. According to the adoration schedule published on the website of St. Peter’s Basilica, on Saturdays adoration is uninterrupted until the Eucharistic blessing at 6:45 p.m.

Under the Code of Canon Law, when a sacred place or altar is gravely violated, the celebration of the liturgy is not permitted until a penitential rite of reparation has been performed (see can. 1211). The witness cited by Spuntoni stated that this rite was celebrated immediately following the incident, restoring the chapel for worship.

The January 17 profanation follows a series of desecrations that have occurred inside St. Peter’s Basilica in recent times. On June 1, 2023, a naked man climbed onto the Altar of the Confession inside the basilica and shouted a pro-Ukraine message.

On February 7, 2025, a Romanian citizen climbed onto the same altar, threw candlesticks to the ground and removed the altar cloth. On that occasion, however, no penitential rite was carried out.

On October 10, 2025, another drunk man carried out what was described as a grave profanation at the same altar by stripping naked and urinating in front of those present. As for this most serious case, Silere non possum reported that an immediate rite of reparation was not initially planned. According to the same source, direct intervention by Pope Leo XIV was required in order for Cardinal Mauro Gambetti to celebrate a reparatory rite without delay.

Multiple witnesses to these acts of vandalism have stated that, on several occasions, members of the Vatican staff known as sampietrini and officers of the Vatican Gendarmerie instructed people present, including tourists, to delete videos recorded on their mobile phones and to remain silent. Despite these instructions, information about these incidents have circulated online.

Outside St. Peter’s Basilica, security is provided by the Italian State Police, which maintains a constant presence in St. Peter’s Square. Inside the basilica, security falls under Vatican jurisdiction. In recent years, security in St. Peter’s appears to have been significantly reduced. According to reports carried out over the years by Silere non possum, the responsibility would lie with “an incompetent and nepotistic management of resources: many sampietrini have been removed from the Basilica and reassigned to office positions within the Fabric of Saint Peter.”

Responsibility for the internal governance of St. Peter’s Basilica lies with Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, an Italian Conventual Franciscan. He serves as archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter, vicar general of the Pope for Vatican City State, and president of the Fabric of St. Peter. Gambetti was created cardinal by Pope Francis in 2020.

Gambetti has been at the center of several controversies. Since 2023, following the implementation of Pope Francis’s motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, he has not permitted participants in the annual traditional pilgrimage Summorum Pontificum to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass inside St. Peter’s Basilica, allowing only a brief liturgical service instead.

French Government Targets Catholic Schools - Illegitimate Inspections

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:59:30 +0000

French Government Targets Catholic Schools - Illegitimate Inspections

gloria.tv | December 18, 2025

The French Ministry of Education started a series of controls in Catholic private schools, carried out mainly in late 2025.

The issue gained national attention following a parliamentary hearing of Guillaume Prévost, Secretary General of Catholic Education, held on December 2.

Prévost presented feedback collected from school heads and teachers.

On December 8, the Secretariat General of Catholic Education published a 14-page document summarizing incidents. They include:

Intrusive questioning

Inspectors asked young students and staff intrusive questions about their religious beliefs and practices, including about attendance at mass and private spiritual life.

Searches and documentation

Inspectors searched pupils’ belongings, such as schoolbags, and examined or photographed private materials, including spiritual journals or documents.

Questioning of very young pupils

Children were questioned without the presence of a neutral adult.

Undermining the Catholic identity

Certain inspection practices sought to neutralise the Catholic identity of schools. Inspectors expressed suspicion toward religious expression.

Furthermore, inspectors requested to remove religious signs.

The compiled testimonies described the inspections as arbitrary, anxiety-inducing, and overbearing. Catholic leaders said the methods had a deeply negative impact on school personnel and added stress.

The issue received wide coverage across French media outlets, including radio, national newspapers, religious publications, and press agencies.

In response, the Ministry of Education acknowledged the publication of the report. It "had taken note" of the allegations.

More than 300 students, staff abducted from Catholic school in Nigeria last week

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:12:27 +0000

More than 300 students, staff abducted from Catholic school in Nigeria last week
Initial estimates were that 52 children were abducted from St. Mary's Catholic boarding school, but recent reports indicate that it was 315 students and 12 teachers.

hyotographics/Shutterstock

Nov 24, 2025
(LifeSiteNews [slightly adapted - not all hyperlinks included from original]) — Attacks on Christians in Nigeria have reached new heights after more than 300 students and staff at a Catholic school in Papiri were abducted last week.

“I make a heartfelt appeal that the hostages be immediately released, and I urge the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to ensure their liberation,” Pope Leo said after Sunday Mass this weekend in St. Peter’s Square.

On Friday, gunmen forcibly took some 315 students and 12 of their teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Niger State, making it one of the worst kidnappings the country has ever seen. Initial estimates were that 52 children were taken.

“The gunmen were on about 50 motorcycle bikes while controlling them,” one of the children’s fathers told the BBC. “Some children were falling and the men would kick them and instruct them to stand up.”

Prayers seem to have been answered as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has reported that 50 students have been returned to their families.

“The pupils escaped between Friday and Saturday and have reunited with their parents as they could not return to the school after they escaped,” a spokesman for CAN’s Niger State chapter said.

Niger State promptly closed all schools after the abduction.

The Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles operate St. Mary’s. The group’s leader, Sr. Mary Barron, asked for “prayers and spiritual solidarity” in an appeal following news of the kidnapping.

“We believe deeply in the power of unified prayer. We need as many people as possible to lift this community before God during this moment of suffering and uncertainty. May God, in God’s infinite mercy, protect the innocent, guide leaders to act with justice, and bring all those taken back home safely,” she said.

READ: Trump’s UN ambassador calls persecution of Nigerian Christians a ‘genocide’

Friday’s attack is the third major incident reported in recent weeks. Last Wednesday, gunmen killed at least two people and kidnapped several more in an attack on a church in Eruku, a town in the central Kwara State. Also last week attackers abducted 25 girls from a predominantly Muslim boarding school.

On Tuesday, November 18, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz described the ongoing slaughter of Christians in the country as a “genocide wearing the mask of chaos.”

Waltz made his remarks during an event hosted by the United States Mission to the United Nations. Following Waltz’s address, best-selling rapper Nicki Minaj took to the podium to express her own concerns. She previously praised President Donald Trump’s social media posts condemning the killings.

Trump previously announced that he is preparing the U.S. military to potentially “wipe out” Islamic terrorists who are killing and kidnapping Christians in the country.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has canceled foreign trips to South Africa and Angola, where he was scheduled to attend an African Union-European Union summit and a G20 summit. Tinubu has sent a delegation of government officials led by Nigeria’s national security advisor to the U.S. to meet with American government officials about the situation.

Findings published by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) highlight many of the state-sponsored attacks on Christians in the country. In its 2025 report, the USCIRF urged the U.S. government to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.” It also noted that “the Nigerian government remains slow or, at times, appears unwilling to respond to this violence, creating an environment of impunity for the attackers.”

Shockingly, during a keynote address for an event held at the Vatican last month, the current Secretary of State Pietro Parolin diminished the influence that Islam has played in the attacks.

The violence is “not a religious conflict, but rather more a social one, for example, disputes between herders and farmers. We should also recognize that many Muslims in Nigeria are themselves victims of this same intolerance,” he claimed.

Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who served as Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria from 1992 until 1998, denounced Parolin’s remarks.

“The shameful words of Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on the alleged ‘social conflict’ in Nigeria misrepresent the reality of a ferocious and genocidal persecution against Catholics, martyred while Rome rambles on about synodality and inclusiveness,” His Excellency remarked.

Arson attacks on European churches have doubled in one year: report

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:15:29 +0000

Arson attacks on European churches have doubled in one year: report
According to the report, a total of 2,211 anti-Christian hate crimes were recorded in Europe in 2024, including 274 attacks on individuals.

Kratka Photography/Shutterstock

Nov 17, 2025
(LifeSiteNews [slightly adapted, not all hyperlinks included from original]) — A new report has shown that arson attacks on churches in Europe have doubled in one year.

OIDAC Europe (Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe), an NGO, released its 2025 report on Monday, raising the alarm regarding attacks on Christians in Europe.

Notably, the number of arson attacks on churches and other Christian buildings doubled in 2024, compared to the previous year, with 94 reported cases. Germany experienced the highest number of documented arson attacks with 33.

According to the report, a total of 2,211 anti-Christian hate crimes were recorded in 2024, including 274 attacks on individuals. “Behind these figures are specific cases of church vandalism, arson, and physical violence that have real consequences for the lives of local communities,” explained Anja Tang, director of OIDAC Europe.

Most anti-Christian crimes in 2024 occurred in France (770), the United Kingdom (502), Germany (337), and Austria (116). According to the report, the crimes range from graffiti on buildings and smashed windows to murder.

OIDAC warned of a dangerous shift: although the total number has fallen slightly compared to 2023, attacks against individuals, as well as arson attacks, have increased.

Among the most severe cases, OIDAC names the murder of a 76-year-old monk who was killed during an attack on a Spanish monastery, and a man who was shot in “an ISIS-related attack during Sunday mass at a Catholic church in Istanbul.”

The report criticized the U.K.’s “buffer zone laws” around abortion facilities, criminalizing silent prayer for the unborn in those areas. It names U.K. army veteran Adam Smith-Connor, who was convicted for silently praying in one of these buffer zones.

OIDAC warned that increasing secularization would often lead to legal issues for Christians who expressed their beliefs about marriage or gender.

“In particular, traditional Christian beliefs – such as the view that God created human beings as male and female for one another – may be labelled as ‘discriminatory,’ even where no act of discrimination has occurred,” the report states. “The mere expression of such beliefs can result in disciplinary measures, including interrogation, suspension, or dismissal.”

OIDAC noted that surveys indicate a high number of unreported anti-Christian cases. Half of the priests in Poland said they faced aggression in the past year, while almost 50 percent of the youth in Germany said that hostility toward Christians is widespread in the country.

“When half of the priests in a predominantly Catholic country experience abuse, hostile attitudes toward Christians can no longer be dismissed as a marginal issue,” Tang said.

In light of the continuing high numbers of attacks against Christians, OIDAC Europe called for political action at the EU level. Specifically, the NGO advocated the appointment of an EU coordinator to combat anti-Christian hate crimes, comparable to the existing mandates against anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred.

At the same time, OIDAC appealed to member states to implement the new OSCE guidelines on anti-Christian hate crimes. The systematic recording of attacks against Christians is particularly urgent, as it is still incomplete or non-existent in many European countries.

Germany records highest number of arson attacks on Christian churches

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 22:45:50 +0000

Germany records highest number of arson attacks on Christian churches

disclose.tv | November 17, 2025

Anti-Christian violence is on the rise. Christianity in Europe faces increasing intolerance, according to a report from the Austrian NGO OIDAC Europe. In 2024, there were 2,211 documented anti-Christian offenses, including vandalism and physical violence, affecting local communities.

Despite a slight decrease from 2023's 2,444 incidents, OIDAC cautions that this may be due to inadequate reporting. Notably, attacks on individuals increased from 232 to 274.

Germany reported 337 anti-Christian crimes, up 22% from the previous year, leading Europe in church arson incidents. One survey indicated that many attacks in predominantly Catholic Poland go unreported, suggesting a broader issue of hostility towards Christians.

Original article in German here: https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/arti...hland.html