A recent report highlights a significant uptick in attacks on American churches in recent years, with incidents like the recent shootings at Catholic schools in Minnesota serving as a stark example.
The Family Research Council, an evangelical nonprofit organization, documented 1,384 cases of hostility towards the church from January 2018 to December 2024.
Initially, the number of reported incidents was relatively low: 50 in 2018, 83 in 2019, 55 in 2020, and 98 in 2021. However, a dramatic increase followed, with 198 incidents recorded in 2022, and escalating to 485 in 2023, then slightly decreasing to 415 in 2024. It’s worth noting that even with a decline, the reported figures in 2024 still encompassed 383 churches spread across 43 states.
“In 2024, we maintained 415 incidents. This figure aligns closely with our earlier report covering a longer 57-month span,” the report states. The initial findings were published in 2022.
California led the nation last year with 40 reported incidents, followed by Florida and New York, which both recorded 25. Meanwhile, Texas had 23 cases, and Tennessee and Ohio reported 29 each.
The report points out that states with larger populations typically saw more cases.
Data for this report was gathered through a review of public documents, reports, and media that included terms related to “church threats,” “vandalism,” and “arson.”
While the total incidents showed a slight decrease in 2024, the report noted a continuation of trends from the previous year. Vandalism remains the most common issue recorded. Many states that reported numerous incidents in 2023 also appeared prominently in 2024, with many incidents echoing those from before. A notable change in 2024 was an increase in gun-related offenses alongside a decrease in cases considered to involve middle-aged disputes.
The latest on shootings at Minneapolis Catholic Schools.
“We counted 415 cases in 2024, but this might not capture the entire scope of hostility experienced by churches, as many incidents go unreported to law enforcement or do not make it to news outlets,” the report explains. “We compile and analyze information from these sources to identify patterns.”
The motivations behind many of these acts of aggression remain unclear, even as participation in religious services continues to shift among the American population.
Additionally, the report mentioned a tragic shooting at a Catholic church in Minnesota, resulting in the deaths of two children and injuries to 18 others.
The police discovered the shooter, clad in tactical gear and armed with at least two long guns, deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Previously male, the shooter had legally changed gender in 2019.
