Again vandalism in favorites: religious messages smeared!

Again vandalism in favorites: religious messages smeared!

In favorites, a frightening development ensures concern: The church of St. Anton am Antonsplatz was repeatedly smeared with religious lettering. Such incidents are not only disrespectful, but also lag a light on growing tensions in the vicinity of the church. The outer walls of the brick church are affected by several lubrications, which triggers concerns about the community. Dean Matthias Felber invited district chief Marcus Franz (SPÖ) to talk about these incidents and promote better cooperation. A round table is planned, in which the police, social work and religious community should work out together solutions. The community is united: The disrespectful behavior of the young people at Antonsplatz must be addressed, said Albert Noss, member of the community management. District head Franz also expressed himself clearly and described the graffiti as a pietary towards believers.

The current situation falls into a larger context. Vandalism in church spaces has increased significantly in Austria. The speaker of the German Bishops' Conference, Jakob Johannes Koch, sums it up: Since 2010, a worrying increase in vandalistic attacks on churches has been observed and all types of property damage have become. This includes not only graffiti, but also more serious deeds such as arson and insults. The statistics show that the number of unreported cases is high; Many incidents do not flow into the official reports. In most cases, it is determined for property damage, while ideological backgrounds are often overlooked. Koch therefore calls for such attacks as serious crimes.

vandals in sight

According to a report by Oidac Europe, there was an increase in church descriptions in Vienna around Easter. These observations underpin Anja Hoffmann's demand for more attention to this problem. Her organization documented almost a dozen arson in 2023, while the state statistics could not grasp any of these acts. In Austria, a total of 150 anti -Christian hate crimes were reported in Austria, including 78 property damage to churches. Compared to Germany, where over 2,000 such incidents were documented, statistics in Austria are alarming. Therefore, the need for preventive measures is urgent because they not only prevent damage, but also to create a feeling of security for the believers.

The discussion about possible measures to prevent vandalism is getting louder. Municipalities are called to check whether their churches are near crime main areas. Possible solutions are the increase in personnel presence, the installation of light lighting or the use of video surveillance in order to deter potential perpetrators. As different as the opinions about the effectiveness are, the demands for more investments in this regard are unmistakable. Despite the dangers of an inviting faith, open churches should stop to promote community life and encourage believers.

The incidents at the St. Anton Church show not only the acute necessity of measures, but also the responsibility of the community, to ensure respectful interaction with each other. The round table could be a first step in the right direction to take the concerns of the believers seriously and together for security and respect in the neighborhood.