New Report Reveals Hostility Towards Churches in the U.S.
A recent report from the Family Research Council (FRC), a conservative Christian organization based in Washington, highlighted over 400 instances of hostility directed at churches across the United States. The document, titled “Attacks Against the American Church,” was published on Monday and notes a range of incidents, including vandalism, arson, gun threats, bomb hoaxes, and physical assaults.
The FRC’s findings recorded at least 415 acts of hostility in 43 states, drawing on open-source documents, media coverage, and official records, affecting a total of 383 churches. Reports suggest that while the number of incidents is slightly lower than the 485 recorded in 2023, it still surpasses the annual totals seen from 2018 to 2022, which amounted to 1,384 incidents.
“While many motivations for these incidents remain unclear, the increase in crimes targeting churches coincides with a decline in religious service attendance and affiliation among Americans,” the report indicated.
Reacting to the report’s release, FRC President Tony Perkins emphasized the significant threat to religious freedom in the country, suggesting that there is a concerted effort by some groups to promote hostility towards the Christian faith in America. He noted that positive steps had been seen during the Trump administration to uphold these crucial rights.
Perkins stated, “The awakened left of America was intentional to spread hostility to Christian faith throughout the nation.” He further commented on the need for ongoing efforts to protect these fundamental human rights.
According to the FRC, not all criminal acts against churches stem from animosity toward Christianity; some may be driven by motives like theft or youthful mischief. However, there are also instances that appear to be deliberately targeted and malicious, causing significant Physical, emotional, and financial strain on the affected churches. These institutions often face challenges funding repairs and living with the fear of potential future attacks.
As for the broader context, a Gallup report from 2024 revealed a decline in church attendance, dropping from 42% two decades ago to only 30% of U.S. adults participating regularly in religious services. This declining trend might contribute to the growing hostility observed.
“It’s crucial to note that while not every incident stems from hatred, the result is still the same — harm to the church and its community,” the report concluded.
