Churches across Germany are reporting a sharp rise in vandalism and property damage, with congregations investing in costly security measures to protect their buildings.
A survey by the Protestant Press Service (epd) found increasing cases of break-ins, thefts, and deliberate destruction.
“Alms boxes are broken into, candlesticks or statues of saints are overturned, and in isolated cases, urination has even occurred in church rooms,” said Jakob Schötz, spokesperson for the Diocese of Regensburg. He warned that respect for what believers hold sacred “has declined significantly.”
Similar concerns were voiced in Würzburg, where church officials noted a hostile climate toward congregations and their buildings. Urban churches in particular have been forced to install alarm systems, reinforced doors, and theft-proof alms boxes. In Paderborn, authorities now require anti-vandalism features in all renovation projects.
According to a federal government response to a query from the AfD parliamentary group, 228 crimes motivated by “anti-Christian” sentiment were recorded nationwide between January and December 10, 2024. Most involved vandalism or arson, which are logged in Police Crime Statistics without a separate category.
The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC) estimates that at least 2,000 cases of damage to churches occurred in 2023.
