Vandalism in Hameln Cathedral: Pastor is urgently looking for helpers!

Vandalism in Hameln Cathedral: Pastor is urgently looking for helpers!

Vandalism is once again proving to be a serious problem for churches in Germany, and St. Bonifatius Minster in Hamelin is now another sad example. The pastor Dr. Heike Köhler reported that the church remains temporarily closed due to repeated vandalistic attacks. The disgusting acts include not only damage to the church building, but also the shocking incident in which pictures of those being baptized were burned. Such incidents shock the community and raise questions about the safety of the holy site, as the church can no longer be opened unattended. At the moment, access is only possible during church services or under supervision, which severely limits opening times, reports [Dewezet].

The pastor is actively calling for volunteers to be able to better oversee the church again. There is a lack of volunteers because many of those who were previously active are now older and no longer able to get involved. The press spokesman for the Hameln-Pyrmont church district, Harald Langguth, confirms this urgent problem. However, there is a glimmer of hope: since July 1st there has been a new structure to improve the security and opening times of the church, especially during the warm summer months when the cathedral is a popular destination for visitors.

Increasing cases of vandalism in Germany

The example from Hamelin is part of a worrying development. According to Vatican News, there has been a significant increase in church desecrations across Germany, while the authorities are clearly slow to respond. In 2023, more than 2,000 cases of property damage were recorded in or to churches, alarming numbers that demand public attention.

Almost a dozen cases of arson were documented in Vienna before Easter, while German statistics do not list a single case. This raises questions about data collection and accepted definitions of hate crime. The call for attention and action by OIDAC is becoming ever louder as many attacks against churches are not seen as such. The gradual increase in acts of vandalism should concern us all, even if such acts often disappear from social consciousness.

Politically motivated vandalism in Münster

Parallel to the events in Hameln, there are also current incidents of vandalism in the city of Münster. On Tuesday night, numerous buildings in the city center were daubed with red paint, including the historic town hall and the cathedral church. The police have called in state security and have not ruled out the possibility that these acts are politically motivated. Mayor Markus Lewe expressed dismay and suspected political motives behind these graffiti, as WDR reports. The city is even looking into using video surveillance to prevent future incidents.

All of these cases of vandalism in particular make it clear how important it is to promote social awareness of protecting our cultural and religious sites. Whether in Hameln or Münster – the call to raise awareness and get involved in your own community could be crucial in sending a signal against vandalism.