In 2024, more than 400 cases of attacks on churches reported in USA

A church against the sky. Photo: iStock/ehrlif

On August 10, 2025, a report by the Family Research Council (FRC) was published, stating that in 2024, 415 incidents of hostility against churches were recorded in the USA, and the number of firearm-related incidents more than doubled.

The report titled "Hostility Against Churches in the United States" notes that the attacks included vandalism, arson, threats with weapons, false bomb reports, and physical violence. A total of 383 churches in 43 states were affected. Although the overall number of cases is slightly lower than in 2023 (485), it is still significantly higher than in 2018–2022.

The number of armed attacks increased from 12 in 2023 to 28 in 2024. In Pittsburgh, a man pointed a gun at a pastor during a sermon; in Georgia, an armed intruder disrupted services in three churches; and in Houston, a woman with a rifle injured two people at Joel Osteen's church.

The most common type of offense was vandalism – 284 cases: from broken windows and damaged statues to the theft of copper wiring and air conditioners. 55 incidents were related to arson, and another 14 to bomb threats. Some attacks caused churches significant financial damage, reaching tens of thousands of dollars.

The report emphasizes that not all crimes are motivated by hatred of Christianity: some are related to thefts, others to hooliganism. However, there remain cases committed intentionally against the church, leading to serious material and moral consequences.

The most attacks were recorded in California (40), followed by Pennsylvania (29), Florida and New York (25 each), Texas (23), Tennessee and Ohio (19 each).

The Council's President, Tony Perkins, called the situation "a serious threat to religious freedom in the country itself" and urged authorities at all levels to strengthen the protection of believers and their places of worship.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that US human rights activists called on Trump to help return Armenian Christians to Karabakh.

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