Trends in Vandalism, Arson, and Gun-Related Incidents Highlight Growing Challenges to Religious Freedom
Washington, D.C. – Family Research Council (FRC) has released its Hostility Against Churches report, documenting 415 incidents of vandalism, arson, bomb threats, gun-related incidents, and other aggressive acts targeting U.S. churches. While the number of incidents slightly decreased from a record high of 485 in 2023, it remains significantly higher than the totals from 2018 to 2022, indicating a sustained challenge to religious freedom in America. Since January 2018, FRC has identified 1,384 such acts, underscoring a troubling trend.
FRC President Tony Perkins says religious freedom must be exercised to be achieved. “Religious freedom is seldom handed to the passive; it is claimed by those who exercise it even when a hostile culture says they may not. This report clearly shows religious freedom faces substantial threats here at home. The American woke Left has been intentional in spreading its hostility toward the Christian faith throughout every corner of America.”
Read More
A Persistent Problem
The 2024 report, an annual update to FRC’s inaugural 2022 publication, tracks incidents across 43 states, with California (40 incidents), Pennsylvania (29), Florida and New York (25 each), Texas (23), and Tennessee and Ohio (19 each) reporting the highest numbers. Vandalism was the most common form of hostility, accounting for 284 of the 415 incidents, followed by 55 arson cases, 28 gun-related incidents, 14 bomb threats, and 47 “other” acts, such as physical assaults or disruptions of services.
The data reveals a significant rise in gun-related incidents, doubling from 12 in 2023 to 28 in 2024. Notable cases include a gunman pointing a weapon at a pastor mid-sermon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where a deacon’s quick action prevented tragedy, and another disrupting services at three Georgia churches while recording his actions. Arson incidents, like the fire that destroyed St. Mark AME Zion Church in Athens, Tennessee, and killed its secretary, Lina Buchanan, highlight the severity of these attacks. The perpetrator, stopped by a maintenance worker after claiming he was going to “get God’s water,” was later arrested. Bomb threats, mostly hoaxes, and vandalism, such as the $100,000 theft of air conditioning units from North Peoria Church of Christ in Oklahoma, further illustrate the financial and emotional toll on congregations.
Cultural and Social Context
The report situates these incidents within a broader cultural shift. Gallup data shows that regular religious service attendance has dropped from 42% of U.S. adults 20 years ago to 30% today. A Pew Research Center study indicates that “80% of U.S. adults say religion is losing influence in American life,” a six-point increase since 2022 and the highest in Pew’s surveys. This decline in religious affiliation, coupled with pop culture’s increasingly casual or mocking treatment of Christianity—evidenced by controversies like Lil Nas X’s “J Christ” promotion featuring himself on a cross—may contribute to reduced societal respect for churches.
While not all incidents are explicitly anti-Christian, some reflect clear hostility. For instance, a Portland, Oregon, church was vandalized with pro-abortion messages like “F— U” and “My body, my choice.” However, motives vary, with some perpetrators driven by financial gain, mental health issues, or juvenile delinquency. Anti-LGBT vandalism, often targeting churches with pride flags, accounted for 33 incidents in 2024, down from 42 in 2023, while pro-abortion and satanic incidents significantly declined.
Impact on Churches
These acts leave churches grappling with physical damage, financial burdens, and fear of future attacks. Bethel Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon, a small congregation of about 25 mostly elderly members, faced repeated vandalism, including fire extinguisher chemical damage that left its reopening uncertain. Deacon Mary Brown lamented, “I don’t know who we’ve irritated. It’s baffling.” First Christian Church in Brenham, Texas, saw 15 windows shattered shortly after a restoration project. Pastor Charles Topping shared, “It was angry, intentional, from all I could see. It hurts me there is that kind of anger towards a church. As far as I know, we didn’t offend anyone, we didn’t malign anyone. That’s not what we’re about. But when I look at the damage, it breaks my heart to know that somebody could harbor that much anger against not only this building but also against God.”
Financial losses can be significant. First Church of Christ in San Diego, California, suffered $10,000 in damage after an intruder ransacked an office and destroyed organ pipes. Believer’s Joy Worship in Jacksonville, Florida, was set on fire by a woman the church had previously helped with mental health struggles. The pastor noted, “We forgive her, we have to go on, and we just hope she can get some help and continue on.”
Broader Implications
FRC’s findings align with its 2024 report, Free to Believe? The Intensifying Intolerance Toward Christians in the West, which documents government actions against Christian practices, such as fines for prayer or preaching. The Trump administration’s executive order, “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias,” acknowledged this trend, stating: “[H]ostility and vandalism against Christian churches and places of worship surged, with the number of such identified acts in 2023 exceeding by more than eight times the number from 2018. Catholic churches and institutions have been aggressively targeted with hundreds of acts of hostility, violence, and vandalism.”
Arielle Del Turco, Director of FRC’s Center for Religious Liberty, added, “No instance of vandalism or other crimes against churches is acceptable, and political leaders should be quick to condemn such actions and affirm the importance of religious freedom. We must bolster cultural support for religious freedom and respect for our Christian heritage.” Travis Weber, FRC’s Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs, noted, “The reality presented by this report may be surprising to many, as we are often accustomed to thinking of ‘the West’ as the place of freedom. Yet, my hope and prayer is that anyone who is a friend of freedom will observe the trend documented here and sit up and take notice.”
Looking Ahead
While the slight decrease in incidents from 2023 to 2024 offers some relief, the high number—nearly matching the 420 incidents over 57 months in FRC’s first report—revealed a persistent problem exacerbated under the leadership of former President Biden. FRC vows to continue tracking and raising awareness about this trend, urging leaders and communities to condemn these acts and uphold religious freedom, a right enshrined in the First Amendment.
For the full report, visit frc.org/HostilityAgainstChurches.
