Germany’s Catholic Church has reported a significant increase in acts of vandalism targeting religious sites across the country. A spokesperson for the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) indicated to the “Rheinische Post” that the incidents are escalating in severity and demonstrating a clear disregard for previously held boundaries.
Over recent years, the DBK has observed a worsening trend extending beyond simple property damage. Instances cited include the desecration of holy water fonts and confessionals with human waste, the defacement and destruction of religious statues – including decapitation – and the deliberate damage of prayer books, pews and altar pieces, in some cases through arson.
The DBK suggests that the full extent of the vandalism is likely underreported, with many incidents categorized solely as property damage in official police statistics. The organization has called for greater scrutiny from authorities when investigating acts of vandalism directed at churches, Christian liturgical objects and sacred imagery.
Political figures have expressed concern regarding the reported increase. Bodo Ramelow, religious policy spokesperson for the Left Party, described the incidents as “alarming signs of societal coarsening and a great lack of respect” highlighting the offense caused to religious feelings and the broader damage to social cohesion. He proposed a nationwide recording of incident numbers to accurately assess the scale of the problem and inform targeted preventative measures.
Lamya Kaddor, Green Party representative for religious policy, conveyed concern about the damage to churches, stating that attacks on religious sites – including churches, mosques, temples and synagogues – are a matter of concern for everyone. She lamented the need for increased security measures and temporary closures of churches, emphasizing the loss of accessibility and atmosphere that results.
