Official figures show that churches and chapels in Germany’s Baden-Württemberg state suffered 849 incidents of theft and vandalism in the past year. Damage to chapels alone rose by 26% compared with the previous year, with the total cost running into hundreds of thousands of euros, reports Evangelical Focus.
The statistics were provided by the state interior ministry following a request from the Free Democratic Party (FDP). While the ministry described the situation as “stable overall” and said there were “no indications of a general loss of social respect for religious symbols and cultural assets,” some local politicians expressed concern.
Tim Kern, the FDP spokesperson for churches, described the attacks as a serious affront. “Churches are not only sacred to many people, they are places of protection, peace, comfort and community. Vandalism in churches is therefore a double sacrilege,” he said.
The ministry’s data also highlights the challenges of prosecuting such crimes. Only around one in six incidents involving chapels led to an identified suspect, while in churches, roughly one in four cases resulted in a suspect being named.
Church leaders have questioned claims that respect for religious symbols remains intact. Michael Hertl, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Freiburg, noted an “escalation” in hostility against Christian symbols across Germany. He warned that burglaries not only cause material loss but also carry a spiritual impact. “Churches should be and remain open places. If they now decide to lock doors during the day or secure themselves more heavily, this creates barriers that can be harmful,” he said.
The trend in Germany mirrors concerns in other countries. In Britain, church thefts surged after Covid-19 restrictions ended, driven both by increased opportunities and rising metal prices. For decades, British churches have been targeted by thieves seeking lead from church roofs, with repairs often costing tens of thousands of pounds.
Adapted from CT UK.
