These are some of the latest attacks on the church and church property as reported by news agencies around the world. These are links to world news agencies. Texas Gospel Canada does not imply ownership of the content by posting links here.

12/4/2020 Four teens arrested for Missouri church vandalism – Authorities found shattered windows, smashed-through walls, tipped over pews and furniture, scorch marks and bullet holes inside the historic Black church. – Fulton Sun | ABC17 

12/3/2020 Pennsylvania church target of repeated vandalism – “While the details of the investigation are being handled by the Derry Borough Police Department, as well as state police, we are prayerful that the eyes and ears of the people of Derry are open and help us put a stop to this,” said Paul Paterra, Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg spokesman. – Trib Live | WPXI 

12/1/2020 Man arrested in Florida church vandalism, charged with arson -The footage showed Charlton, who was shirtless, throwing bricks at statues and setting a flower bed ablaze.  – WSVN | WCIA 

12/1/2020 Acts of Vandalism Leaves Church With Extensive Damages and Major Food Loss – The damage is extensive and the worst thing is that several programs that assist the community have been affected. – NBC4

11/30/2020 Police make arrest for Illinois church fire – Police Chief Jason Taylor said Mattoon officers arrested Michael Kallis, 41, on a preliminary charge of arson early Sunday morning in connection to the fire at the three-story church building – Journal Gazette 

11/26/2020 Vandals destroy historic Missouri church on Thanksgiving eve – This small building has been the place of worship for a small predominately African American congregation for nearly two centuries. The vandals destroyed the place where many souls were saved, people fed and spirits uplifted. – KRCG

11/25/2020 Arson at Florida church caught on video – Father Jorge Rodriguez de la Viuda said not only were the hands broken from the Jesus statue, but in another part of the church, a statue of the Virgin Mary was beheaded. The statue of St. Francis was missing a head as well. – Local 10

11/25/2020 man arrested in desecration of New Jersey Church – “This has hurt the community quite a bit,” Pastor Hernan Arias said on Wednesday. “We try to preach the Gospel…to have this abomination against the church is just awful.” – Morris Town Green

11/24/2020 Suspect arrested after Owen Sound houses of worship defaced – Police say St. George’s Anglican Church, Church of Nazarene, Georgian Shores United Church, First Baptist Church, and Beth Ezekiel Synagogue were all defaced.- CTV

11/23/2020 Owen Sound, ON police investigate vandalism at churches – The calls came from St George’s Anglican, the Church of Nazarene, Georgian Shores United Church, and First Baptist Church, and Beth Ezekiel Synagogue. – Blackburn News

11/19/2020 Sheriff: Man tried to burn church in Washington state – A witness told deputies that the man was aggressive and irrational – Whitman County Gazette | Malaysia Online  | CNA  | Spokesman-Review

11/18/2020 Beloved Australian church building restored after arson -The restoration of a much-loved historic church is almost complete after a deliberately-lit fire caused an estimated $200,000 damage in July last year.  – The Advocate

11/17/2020 More than 500 hate crimes against Europe’s Christians recorded in 2019 -The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe published data Monday documenting more than 500 hate crimes against Christians in Europe in 2019.  – CNA

11/13/2020 Criminals target churches during pandemic as shocking figures reveal theft and assault crimes -A rural campaigning group found that churches in and across the county are not only being targeted for their lead, but that there were also multiple other crimes recorded including vandalism and assault.   – Gazette Live UK

11/11/2020 Vandals damage statue in front of Pennsylvania church – The church’s pastor, Father Martin Kobos, says that statue has stood in front of the church for 25 years and in one intentional act, it was left extensively damaged. – WNEP

11/6/2020 Two Indiana men charged in church arson – The Rosewood Fellowship Church will need to be completely rebuilt, with damages totaling more than $500,000. – WPTA

11/2/2020 Man accused in string of church fires in St. Landry Parish sentenced to 25 years behind bars – Baptist churches have a lot of wood on them lol,” the account identified as Matthews writes. “Catholic churches are like solid (expletive) rock.” He also complains about how he “hates the media” and that “of course they are making it a race thing.” –  KATC 

11/1/2020 Provincial police probe ‘suspicious’ fires that destroyed two churches – Notably, the churches were just seven kilometres, or roughly 10 minutes, away from each other. This prompted police to suspect foul play. – CBC |  DHT World News | Global News | Welland Tribune

11/1/2020 French police release initial suspect in priest’s shooting, widen search – Officials say priest remains in critical condition, motive for shooting in Lyon unclear – CBC

11/1/2020 French churches honour Nice attack victims; 6 detained – Churches around France held Sunday services honouring three people killed in an Islamic extremist attack at Notre Dame Basilica in the city of Nice that pushed the country into high security alert, while police questioned six suspects in the case. – CBC

10/29/2020 France church attack: Three stabbed to death in ‘Islamist terrorist attack’ – Anti-terror prosecutors have opened an investigation into the attack and France has raised its national security alert to its highest level. – CBC | CTV | BBC | The Battlefords News-Optimist

10/28/2020 K9 unit helps nab man at church break and enter – The 41-year-old suspect is in custody awaiting a bail hearing on a charge of break and enter and a charge of mischief from another incident on Oct. 27. – CHAT

10/26/2020 Man damages altar inside St. Martin of Tours Parish – According to church officials, a man entered the parish Sunday night and caused ‘considerable damage.’ – WHAS11 | WLKY

10/23/2020 Ground to be broken for Murray Church rebuild on Sunday: It was in January of 2019 that the Murray Church was burned down by arson. Now, close to two years later, the historic church is set to break ground – Merritt Herald

10/22/2020 church begins cleaning up after vandals strike -The damage from the Oct. 18 incident included vulgar messages, some of which were left in the children’s wing. The vandals spraypainted sacrilegious images and pictures all over walls, chairs and photographs. – WINK

10/21/2020 Prescott Valley Police Looking For Information Into Recent Church Vandalism – Officers found a six-foot white, porcelain statue of the Mother of Jesus knocked to the ground, breaking off pieces of the statue. – KAFF

10/20/2020 Teen arrested after alleged arson attack at UK church The force said that there was no evidence yet to link the incident to another fire that happened at St Matthew’s Church, in nearby Darley Abbey – DerbyshireLive

10/20/2020 Virgin Mary statue vandalized outside church in Brooklyn The incident happened at Resurrection Roman Catholic Church on Gerritsen Ave in Marine Park. – ABC7

10/19/2020 OPP investigating vandalism to church camp in Sydenham Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after graffiti was spray-painted on trees and buildings at the Sydenham Holiness Church Camp. – WHIG Standard

10/19/2020 UK Churches under criminal attack Religious premises in the past year have seen a dramatic increase in a variety of crimes and vandalism. EuroWeekly News

10/17/2020 Crucifix rises again outside St. Vincent de Paul An unknown vandal ripped the crucifix from the ground and threw it down. The perpetrator smashed the cross against the side of the church until it was broken into many pieces. – Hudson Reporter 

10/16/2020 Alabama church sign set on fire, other churches vandalized No arrests have been made yet for a suspected arson attack at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Heflin, which was among several churches victimized by vandals in recent weeks. The Alabama Baptist

10/12/2020 North Carolina Church seeks help after windows are broken and walls spray-painted – The pastor says when he discovered someone had written demeaning words on their worship hall and broken seven windows at the sanctuary, he was crushed and disappointed to tell his congregation on Sunday morning. – WSPA

10/12/2020 Mitsero community ‘horrified’ by church vandalism  After vandals broke into the church in Mitsero in the Nicosia district overnight on Saturday and sprayed icons, doors and crosses with five-pointed stars, the village’s community leader Andreas Kyriakou said there are ongoing talks to the police to step up security. – CypressMail

10/12/2020 Three Alabama churches vandalized; police looking for information Huntsville police are investigating three cases of criminal mischief against local churches. – WZDX | News19 |

10/12/2020 Arson fire claims historic log church at Konni Lake in the Nemiah Valley – Smoldering ash is all that remains of the old log church at the end of Konni Lake in the Nemiah Valley on this Thanksgiving weekend, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. – Williams Lake Tribune 

10/11/2020 Mother Mary statue vandalized in Toronto, police release image of suspect Investigators have released an image of a man suspected of vandalizing a Mother Mary statue at a Toronto church in September. – The Post Millennial | CTV  | Global News | City News

10/9/2020 Suspects caught on surveillance video vandalizing church in California – Police have released surveillance video of two incidents of vandalism at a church in the hopes it would generate leads to an arrest of the vandals. Fox 11 | KFI 

10/6/2020 Vandalism reported at North Carolina, USA church Vandalism and property damage was reported to have occurred at a church in western Rowan County. The word Satan was written on a counter, property was damaged and dishes were smashed – WBTV

10/5/2020 Firefighters also investigating second church fire in Columbus, Mississippi Fire Chief Martin Andrews said firefighters responded to a fire at the Church of Christ on 10th Avenue Sunday. – WTVA

10/5/2020 Mississippi investigators suspect arson in church fire A juvenile has been arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed a church in Mississippi.  – WTVA | Huron Daily Tribune

10/1/2020 Massachusetts man charged in church vandalism -A man known to police as having a history of mental illness is facing charges for a series of bizarre crimes including a break-in at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption on Tuesday and a theft from a South End convenience store using a large statue of Jesus.  – Herald News 

10/1/2020 UPDATE: Florida man charged with arson at Catholic church – When sheriff’s deputies set out to arrest the Florida man who is believed to have set fire to a Catholic Church last month, it turned out he was already in jail. – CNA

9/22/2020 Shirtless vandal sought in Florida church fire Detectives are looking for a man who torched the inside of a church in central Florida. – CBS 12 

9/22/2020 Three of six churches in small South Carolina town vandalized – Pelzer Mayor Will Ragland says that some deliberately damaged property and shattered windows at Alive Wesleyan Church, First Baptist Church and the Old Presbyterian Church on Leeby Street, as well as smashing in the windshield of a First Baptist Church bus. WYFF

9/20/2020 4 Dartmouth churches broken into over 2 days – Halifax Regional Police are investigating after a string of church break-ins around Dartmouth, N.S – CBC

9/20/2020 Adam Schiff: Arson at Armenian church in San Francisco despicable  The devastating fire – caused by arson – at St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church in San Francisco is despicable. Those responsible for this act of hate must be swiftly brought to justice,” Schiff said in a Facebook post. – Public Radio of Armenia 

9/20/2020 Suspect Caught On Camera Vandalizing Pleasant Hill Church – We’re more concerned with someone’s spiritual condition and just how they’re managing life and the Lord that way,” said Pastor Denny – KPIX5

9/16/2020 US Church’s Community-Made Altars Defaced Altars that have stood at the entrance of the former St. Adalbert Roman Catholic Church for more than a year were vandalized this week. – BC Chicago

9/8/2020 Attacks on French churches back to ‘normal’ level after lockdown, say young Catholics  A spokesperson for the group Protège ton église (Protect Your Church) told CNA Sept. 6: “It is clear that the pandemic led to a decrease in attacks against churches, at least during the period of confinement.” – CNS

9/4/2020 Arraignment rescheduled in US church arson Arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 5 for a St. Louis man accused of starting a fire that heavily damaged Dow South Baptist Church in late July. – My Journal Courier

8/25/2020 Arson investigation: NY sheriff’s office seeking tips on Bible burning – The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fire investigators say appears to have been intentionally set at the Lima Presbyterian Church early Sunday morning.  Livingston County News

8/25/2020 Attempted arson at Mich church building –  Church members found a bottle on the ground that appeared to have a flammable liquid inside. Investigators say the bottle was thrown at a window in an attempt to damage the church – WOOD TV

8/21/2020 US church burglary suspects arrested in Florida Daniel Cruz Britt, of Pontotoc, and Kalley Breanne Foreman have been arrested for burglaries that occurred at Moss Hill Baptist Church and Calvary Methodist Church – New Albany Gazette

8/20/2020 Purcell police investigating after vandals damage church  Investigators say a vandal threw a rock through a stained glass window, which is going to cost about $5,000 to repair. KFOR

8/20/2020 Catholic statue beheaded, devotional candles destroyed at church Devotional candles at an outdoor prayer shrine were also destroyed. 9News

8/19/2020 Assault with a hammer; church window smashed Belleville police were called to a church on Harder Drive for a report of mischief. Someone had broken a window at the church overnight Monday. – The Intelligencer

8/19/2020 Arson investigation opened after fire damages church in Oregon – Pastor Tim Sanchez had expected to fly out Wednesday, Aug. 19, to spend his birthday with his children and grandchildren. – East Oregonian

8/14/2020 Police arrest Buffalo man who allegedly vandalized churches Blane Mitchel McCabe, 27, of Buffalo, is charged with two counts of second-degree burglary and two counts of first-degree criminal mischief. – Quad-City Times

8/12/2020 istoric Maryland Church Is A Victim Of Arson, Authorities Exploring Possible Hate Crime Two fires were set purposely on Sunday on the property of Judah Temple Ministries, a 123-year-old predominantly Black church, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland – DCist 

8/10/2020 Pastor of Ohio church damaged by vandals says he would ‘love to see a turnaround for them’ The pastor of a Boardman church hit by vandalism this month said he hopes those responsible can eventually turn their lives around. – WKBM

8/10/2020 Arson suspected after Sydney Community Church damaged by fire  The fire marshal’s office is investigating a suspected arson at the Sydney Community Church in Sydney, N.S. –CTV

8/9/2020 St. Thomas church left a mess after music recording equipment stolen: police The St. Thomas Police Service is investigating after music recording equipment was stolen from a local church. – CBC

8/8/2020 Priest, a seminary rector, slain in El Salvador A Roman Catholic priest has been shot to death along a road in El Salvador and church authorities on Saturday called for investigation of the slaying. – CityNews

8/7/2020 Montana church vandalized with upside-down crosses, pentagrams and 666 Creative art pastor Scott Moore said he arrived at the church around 6:30 a.m. Friday and discovered the vandalism. – NBC Montana

8/4/2020 Fourth church added to list of places targeted by vandal or vandal in Texas City  San Angelo, Texas Police are still searching for a vandal, or vandals, who damaged the churches on July 20 between the hours of 10 p.m. and midnight. – Concho Valley News

8/4/2020 Firefighters believe Molotov cocktail was thrown at US church The incendiary device extinguished on its own but not before charring the door and door jam. – 7 News Boston

8/3/2020 Weymouth Police investigating possible arson at local church The front doors to the church were found burned with broken glass on the ground and the pastor says there was smoke damage inside the building. – Boston 25

8/3/2020 SAPD Searching for Information on Recent Church Vandalism San Angelo, Texas Police Department issued a notice Monday asking for the public’s help in finding the suspects responsible for vandalism at churches around town. – San Angelo Live 

8/3/2020 Teens arrested for vandalism of US churches Police Chief Nathan Gohlke said 17-year-old Nickolas Harborth and a 15-year-old juvenile whose name was not released because of his age were arrested following an investigation into the painting of graffiti on the Mount Calvary Church of God in Christ and a rock was thrown through a window of the Sweet Home Baptist Church across the street. – Fox 44

8/3/2020 Community fundraise to protect Holy Trinity Church for vandals The petition, which so far has raised £1,350 to go towards repairs and extra security, reads: “Theale in the main is a very peaceful and respectable place to live, where every resident should be able to feel safe and not intimidated. – The Reading Chronicle 

8/3/2020 Nicaraguan bishops denounce Managua cathedral arson attack as ‘terrorism’  The Nicaraguan bishops’ conference has called an arson attack on the Managua cathedral “an act of terrorism,” but vowed not to be intimidated as a government campaign of intolerance targeting the Catholic Church turns increasingly cruel and involves acts of sacrilege. – CatholicPhilly

8/3/2020 Arson investigators probe incident at Weymouth church A worker at Sacred Heart Church in Weymouth confirmed that arson investigators were on scene around 12:30 p.m. on Monday – Boston Herald

8/1/2020 Satanic symbols and desecrated statues: Several U.S. Catholic churches vandalized, attacked during July In the U.S. this month, several Catholic churches have been vandalized by unknown individuals. –  CHVN 92.1 FM

8/1/2020 Fire at church in Georgia fire ruled arson The building was being used for outdoor church services and it was determined to be deliberately set on fire by unknown person(s). US Law Enforcement

8/1/2020 Nicaragua: Chapel gutted in arson attack on Cathedral Witnesses say a hooded man entered the Chapel of the Blood of Christ on Friday and threw a petrol bomb. The fire that ensued engulfed a 400-year-old crucifix housed in the chapel. – ICN 

7/30/2020 EDMONTON – Church destroyed in one of two ‘suspicious’ rural fires Two fires that happened the same night within five kilometres of each other in Two Hills County are being investigated by RCMP as suspicious. – CTV

7/30/2020 Man, 34, Arrested For Vandalizing Churches, Worship Halls in US Natalee A. Hamilton, 34, was charged with criminal mischief, resisting arrest and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, Middletown Police Chief R. Craig Weber said.  – Daily Voice

7/29/2020 Calgary police release video of vandalism at Sacred Heart Church Calgary police have released CCTV footage of two people spray painting a statue of Jesus Christ in front of Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday, July 13, 2020. ​ – Global News

7/29/2020 ‘I’ll be on Satan’s lap:’ Sheriff’s deputies searching for suspect(s) in church vandalism The Gatesville Police Department and the Coryell County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help from the public in locating the suspects who damaged a church in Gatesville. ABC 25

7/29/2020 Gold Hill church tired of vandalism uses sign to offer a choice to the culprit A country church in the US is having a lot of trouble with a doughnut maker. He doesn’t make the sweet treats, he leaves the skid marks all over the new parking lot, and he’s been doing it night after night. –WBTV

7/29/2020 Fire torches Catholic parish offices, chapel in North Carolina A fire tore through the parish offices of a historic Catholic church in Monroe, North Carolina early Monday morning, and though the damage is extensive, the church’s pastor is thankful that the blaze did not touch the main sanctuary or the Blessed Sacrament. – Catholic News Agency

7/28/2020 Photos released in US church arson investigation The century-old Harmony Baptist Church was fully involved when crews arrived on scene and the fire was extinguished about 1:30 a.m. July 6. DSJ Now

7/28/2020 Devastating Holy Trinity church fire was deliberately set Devastating Holy Trinity church fire was deliberately set Investigators have determined that the fire that destroyed Holy Trinity church in Two Hills County was deliberately set, and may be linked to another in the area on the same night. – Grandin Media

7/28/2020 Florida Church Rebuilding After Arson Attack The Catholic community at Queen of Peace Parish in Ocala, Florida is rebuilding after the church was set on fire earlier this month. – National Catholic Register

7/28/2020 A suspect has been arrested after multiple houses of worship were vandalized in New Jersey. A woman was arrested in the US for vandalism of church property and an attack on a police officer who arrested her. – WABC | NBC4 New York

7/27/2020 Thieves defecated in the foyer of a 115-year-old Bronx church  ‘Can’t they see this is the house of God?’ Devastated Pastor hits out at thieves who defecated in the foyer of a 115-year-old Bronx church before stealing $8,000 in electronic equipment – The American Reporter

7/27/2020 Several juveniles accused of vandalizing US church; arrest warrants issued for others Officials say units responded to the Church of God in the 2500 block of Maryus Road regarding a trespassing in progress. Once inside, deputies discovered that several individuals had gone inside of the closed down church, damaged property within and took a painting belonging to the church. – WAVY

7/27/2020 New Jersey man charged in church vandalism Stephen Grosso of Fair Haven was charged via mail summons with criminal mischief, according to police. Grosso, 30, was skateboarding behind St. James Church on Broad Street on June 13 when the individual pushed over a religious depiction of the Holy Family. Video surveillance posted by Red Bank Green shows the Fair Haven resident knocking over the statue and skating away around 4 p.m. that afternoon – Patch

7/27/2020 California parish restores vandalized Our Lady of Guadalupe statue On July 21, security cameras at St. Joseph Parish in Upland, California, captured a video of a young man approach a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe and kick the statue repeatedly until it fell from its base. – Catholic News Agency

7/25/2020 Man arrested in connection with Delaware church fire: A Glasgow, Delaware man has been accused of setting multiple fires inside a church sanctuary. – WTOP Television.

7/25/2020 Preacher willing to sit down, talk with person who vandalized Oklahoma City churchThe preacher of Crown Heights Baptist Church told KOCO 5 he’s willing to sit down with the person responsible to discuss what sparked the act of vandalism. Dr. Joe Cannon also said he’s willing to share his thoughts and hear theirs. KOCO 5 Television

7/25/2020 Anti-Christian attacks rise in Europe Since 2010, the Paris-based L’Observatoire de la Christianophobie (Observatory of Christianophobia) has chronicled anti-Christian incidents in France and around the world. – Herald Malaysia Online 

7/24/2020 Delaware community gathers in prayer for man accused of burning church Pastor Chuck Betters led a group in prayer saying, “Lord I pray for the individual who did this.” WPVI Television

7/24/2020 Man started church fire ‘out of vengeance and anger,’ investigators say Court documents obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal also state that Thomas Loftis III threw video equipment and musical instruments after making his way into Reach Church Monday night.

7/24/2020 Churches vandalized across the US The reports come amid a national debate over what to do about offensive and controversial statues. – Tennessee Tribune

7/24/2020 Bronx Church Vandalized, Pastor Says At Least $10,000 In Damage VIDEO – The search is on for a group of vandals who ripped apart a century-old church in the Bronx. CBS2’s Natalie Duddridge reports.CBS New York

7/23/2020 Fire Marshal Says Delaware Church Fire Causing $250K in Damages Was Arson  A fire inside the sanctuary of a Delaware church was started by an act of arson, authorities said. State Fire Marshal Chief Deputy Robert Fox said multiple fires were started inside Reach Church, in Glasgow, news outlets reported.

5/22/2020 Atheist “A” painted at site of church arson -A message at the scene that said, in part, “Bet you stay home now,” has led the police in Mississippi to suspect arson.  – New York Times 

7/11/2012 Vandals paint atheist-themed messages on South Carolina church building -The congregation of Shady Grove United Methodist Church in Irmo is stunned after vandals spray painted anti-religious messages on church property. – WACH