According to the Family Research Council (FRC), there are indications that there has been an increase in attacks against churches across the United States. The report states that 69 incidents of vandalism took place in the first three months of 2023, which indicates a rise in incidents of attacks as compared to 2022 when 22 such incidents took place. The data representing the first quarter of 2023 reveals that most incidents of attack took place in January (43), followed by 14 attacks in February and 12 in March. The attacks took place across 29 states and included vandalism, arson, bomb threats and also gun-related incidents. In most cases, the attacks involved vandalism.

Christian Today reports:

There are signs that violence against churches in the US is on the rise, according the Family Research Council (FRC).

There were 69 acts of vandalism against US churches in the first quarter of 2023, up from 22 in the same period last year, and 15 in 2018, according to a report from the organisation.

Data for the first quarter of this year shows that most of the attacks occurred in January – 43 incidents. There were a further 14 in February and 12 in March.

They spanned 29 states and ranged from bomb threats and arson, to acts of vandalism. There were three gun-related incidents.

Vandalism accounted for most of the incidents covered by the report.

Cases cited by the FRC included Dellabrook Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where vandals sprayed the sanctuary with a fire extinguisher.

At Holy Nation Church in Memphis, Tennessee, audio-visual equipment was stolen.

Jesus Is Alive World Reading Center in Reading, Pennsylvania, was badly damaged when vandals destroyed their sound equipment, a podium, stained-glass windows, a piano and the carpet.

A pipe bomb was discovered outside St Dominic Catholic Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Missouri was spray-painted with the words “Trans PWR”, while another church in Riverview, Florida, was graffitied with the slogan “Womens body womens choice”.

Read the full article here.

About Post Author

Neeparanya Guha

Neeparanya is a researcher and holds a PhD in sociology. She loves to write and finds enjoyment in researching and learning about religion. She is a vegetarian and an animal lover.

See author's posts