Attacks on Churches Surged in First Quarter of 2023, Report Finds

Attacks on churches escalated in the first quarter of 2023 consistent with a years-long trend of rising vandalism, arson and shootings, none worse this year than the deadly rampage at the Covenant School in Nashville.

The Family Research Council’s supplemental first-quarter update to “Hostilities in Churches,” its December report, recorded 69 attacks on churches from January to March, nearly three times the number carried out against houses of worship during the same period in 2022.

“If this rate continues, 2023 will have the highest number of incidents of the six years FRC has tracked,” the conservative organization said in the report released Monday.

The vast majority of the incidents were vandalism. The report identified 53 episodes of property destruction and graffiti; 10 incidents of arson, arson attempts or fires with unknown causes; three gun-related incidents; three bomb threats; and two other attacks. Some incidents fell in more than one category.

The attacks occurred in 29 states, led by North Carolina, which saw seven episodes, followed by Ohio and Tennessee with five each. There were no incidents reported in 21 states or the District of Columbia. (Read more from “Attacks on Churches Surged in First Quarter of 2023, Report Finds” HERE)

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