Germany is experiencing a growing incidence of vandalism targeting churches, according to statements released by the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK). A spokesperson for the DBK described a significant escalation in the severity of these incidents, noting a disregard for previously held boundaries.
The DBK reports a worsening trend that has been observed for several years. Acts of vandalism now include the desecration of holy water fonts and confessionals with human waste, the defacement and destruction of religious statues – including decapitation – and damage to prayer books, pews and altar pieces. Instances of arson affecting entire altars have also been reported.
The Bishops’ Conference believes that the full extent of this vandalism is not accurately reflected in official police statistics, as many incidents are categorized simply as property damage. They have called for greater scrutiny by authorities when investigating acts of vandalism specifically targeting churches, religious artifacts, statues and devotional images.
Bodo Ramelow, religious policy spokesperson for the Left party, expressed alarm at the developments, characterizing the destruction of religious sites as indicative of societal coarsening and profound disrespect. He emphasized that such acts offend religious sensibilities and damage the wider community and proposed a nationwide recording of incidents to better assess the scale of the problem and formulate effective countermeasures.
Lamya Kaddor, the Green party’s representative for religious policy, voiced concern regarding the damage inflicted on churches. She stated that attacks on religious sites – be they churches, mosques, temples, or synagogues – are a matter of collective concern. Kaddor further lamented the necessity for many religious communities to implement security measures or temporarily close their doors, leading to a loss of openness and distinct atmosphere within these spaces.