Attacks on Churches Increased 800 Percent in Last 6 Years: Report

Designed by Richard Upjohn, the Church of the Holy Cross in Middletown, R.I., is a parish church of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island of The Episcopal Church. Public Domain

A report released by the Family Research Council (FRC) indicates an 800 percent increase in violent incidents against churches in the past six years.

The Feb. 20 report (pdf), titled “Hostility Against Churches Is on the Rise in the United States,” shed light on the aggressive trend of increased attacks against churches, with data indicating that attacks on the places of worship doubled in 2023 over the previous year.

According to the FRC’s 183 pages of findings, at least 915 acts of hostility against U.S. churches were identified between 2018 and 2023.

FRC president and former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Tony Perkins said of the report, "There is a common connection between the growing religious persecution abroad and the rapidly increasing hostility toward churches here at home: our government’s policies.

“The indifference abroad to the fundamental freedom of religion is rivaled only by the increasing antagonism toward the moral absolutes taught by Bible-believing churches here in the U.S., which is fomenting this environment of hostility toward churches.”

These acts encompassed various forms of aggression, including vandalism, arson, gun-related incidents, bomb threats, and more.

By categorizing these incidents, the report showed the diverse nature of the hostility faced by churches, from satanic imagery to anti-Israel sentiments and targeted attacks on nativity scenes.

The year 2023 alone witnessed a significant spike, with at least 436 reported acts of hostility against churches, marking more than double the number recorded in 2022.

The report further detailed that these acts of hostility in 2023 were widespread, occurring in 48 states and the District of Columbia. States with larger populations experienced a higher incidence of these attacks, with California topping the list at 33 incidents, followed closely by Texas with 28. It is worthy of note that Hawaii and Wyoming reported no such incidents during the same period.

Report Details

The FRC’s thorough investigation monitored reports and data available to the general public from January 2018 to November 2023.

The data indicated that the increase in animosity noted in their earlier analysis had not only continued but also increased in 2023, which the group asserts requires immediate attention.

The report offered more than 150 pages of details of the attacks, and outlined how congregants and clergy alike have found themselves in the crosshairs of these acts. The document also highlighted the psychological impact on individuals and communities.

The deliberate destruction of religious symbols, such as the beheading of a statue of Mary or the desecration of a historically Black church, is thought to extend beyond physical damage to convey a powerful message: that these churches may not be welcome or respected in their neighborhoods.

The FRC found that the ensuing sense of insecurity and disruption to normal church activities heightened the distress experienced by those directly affected.

The report condemned the attempts to impede religious practices through threats or violence resonates strongly, emphasizing the broader societal implications of these acts and the importance of fostering a culture of respect for diverse faiths. The group also indicated that they might not have fully encompassed the scope of the problem.

“It is important to note that this report is not comprehensive,” the document stated. “Many acts of hostility against churches are likely not reported to authorities and/or are not featured in the news or other online sources from which we collected data. Thus, the number of acts of hostility is undoubtedly much higher than the number reflected in this report. This report is intended to compile the publicly reported data and identify any trends.”

Motivations Behind Attacks

The motivations behind many of these abusive acts remain shrouded in uncertainty, underscoring the complexity of the issue. However, the FRC postulates that this surge in crimes against churches unfolds against the backdrop of an American culture that appears increasingly antagonistic to Christianity.

Acts of vandalism and destruction of church property, categorized as the most prevalent forms of hostility, may signify a broader societal erosion of reverence for houses of worship and, more specifically, the Christian faith.

Arielle Del Turco, director of the Center for Religious Liberty at the FRC and author of the report, said of the findings, “Although the motivations for many of these acts of hostility remain unknown, the effect is unmistakable: religious intimidation. They send the message that churches are not wanted in the community or respected in general.

“Our culture is demonstrating a growing disdain for Christianity and core Christian beliefs, and acts of hostility against churches could be a physical manifestation of that. Regardless of the motivations of these crimes, everyone should treat churches and all houses of worship with respect and affirm the importance of religious freedom for all Americans.”