Residents of the Munster region in western Germany are distressed over a rash of vandalism in the area that has left dozens of Christian statues defaced or smashed.

Heatstreet is reporting on the crime wave that is sweeping through parts of Germany that is leaving many precious statues of Jesus, Mary and the saints in pieces. Some were outright smashed, others had their heads or limbs cut off.

Mirko Stein of the Münster police told the news channel, Lokalzeit Munsterland, that “large numbers of the people in the neighborhood where the sculptures [were damaged] are shocked and scared.”

He added: “Based on the intensity of the acts of the perpetrator, one can already conclude that this act has a religious background.”

A German criminologist named Christian Pfeifer believes the crimes were committed by someone who is “angry” and “hates the Church”.

Thus far, police have yet to name any suspects.

In the last two years, there has been a series of destructive events aimed at Christian institutions that left dozens of statues defaced. Six men associated with Islamic terrorism were suspected by the police but the investigation ended when three of the suspects went to Syria, one died, and the others disappeared.

News of the vandalism is breaking in the same week that members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) gathered in Viena to attend a conference on "Combating Intolerance and Discriminations of Christians."

During the conference, the Holy See’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Monsignor Janusz Urbanczyk, called upon State authorities to “act resolutely” to protect Christians from all cases of intolerance, discrimination, hate crimes and violent incidents against Christian individuals, communities and places or objects of worship.

“The active role of state authorities in protecting and promoting tolerance and non-discrimination can truly assure peace and security,” Monsignor Urbanczyk said, “as well as contributing to creating a peaceful environment where Christians, as well as all other religious groups, can freely profess and practice their faith.”

Let us keep the faithful of Germany in our prayers with the hopes that this season of love may touch and reform the hearts of the perpetrators of these hateful deeds.

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