CHURCH ATTACKS: In a nation founded on religious liberty, American churches now face unprecedented hostility, with attacks soaring to alarming levels as the tragic shooting at a Minnesota Catholic school becomes the latest example of what many conservatives call a “war on faith.”
A bombshell report from the Family Research Council reveals a staggering 1,384 incidents of hostility against U.S. churches between January 2018 and December 2024 – a disturbing trend that coincides with declining religious attendance and what many faith leaders describe as growing anti-Christian sentiment in American culture.
The report’s timing couldn’t be more significant, coming just days after the horrific August 27 shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, where a heavily armed shooter took the lives of two innocent children during a morning Mass before taking their own life.
A PATTERN OF ESCALATING HOSTILITY
What began as isolated incidents has exploded into a nationwide crisis. The Family Research Council’s data shows a jaw-dropping increase from just 50 church attacks in 2018 to a peak of 485 in 2023 – an 870% surge that should alarm every American who values religious freedom.
While 2024 saw a slight dip to 415 incidents, that figure still represents more than one attack on an American church every single day of the year. These aren’t just statistics; they’re sacred spaces being desecrated, communities being terrorized, and a fundamental American freedom under assault.
“Such acts are destructive and have the potential to create a climate of fear,” the FRC report states. “Although the total number of incidents slightly decreased in 2024, we observed a continuation of many of the previous year’s trends.”
Even more concerning is the report’s finding that “gun-related incidents” against churches increased in 2024, a chilling precursor to the tragedy that unfolded at Annunciation Catholic Church.
SANCTUARY SHATTERED: THE MINNEAPOLIS MASSACRE
The tranquility of morning Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis was shattered on August 27, 2025, when a shooter wearing black tactical gear opened fire through the windows of the church, targeting children gathered for worship.
Eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel was one of two children killed in the rampage, with 18 others injured – including more than a dozen children from the church’s school. The shooter, identified as Robin Westman, was found dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today. We love you. Fletcher, you’ll always be with us,” Fletcher Merkel’s father said in a heartbreaking statement released through the Minneapolis Police Department.
According to police reports, Westman was “filled with hatred and had an admiration for mass killers,” based on evidence recovered from the shooter’s home.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters that the investigation was ongoing and that officials were treating the incident as a potential hate crime against the Catholic community.
A NATIONAL CRISIS BY THE NUMBERS
The geographical distribution of attacks paints a troubling picture of a nationwide problem, with California (40 incidents), Pennsylvania (29), Florida and New York (25 each), and Texas (23) leading the country in church attacks last year.
“As in previous years, states with larger populations tended to have more incidents,” the FRC report noted, though the attacks spanned 43 states – leaving only seven states nationwide untouched by anti-church hostility.
Vandalism remained the most common form of attack, but the FRC documented a troubling rise in more violent incidents, including 55 cases of arson, 14 bomb threats, and a growing number of gun-related incidents that culminated in the Minneapolis tragedy.
Security experts suggest these statistics likely represent just “the tip of the iceberg.”
“For every incident that makes the news, there are likely dozens that go unreported or are classified as random crimes rather than being properly identified as targeting religious institutions,” said Heritage Foundation security expert James Carafano, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security. “The real numbers are almost certainly much higher.”
THE CULTURAL BACKDROP: AMERICA’S DECLINING FAITH
This wave of anti-church violence comes at a time when American religious participation is experiencing historic declines.
According to recent data from the Pew Research Center, only one-third of U.S. adults report attending religious services in person at least once or twice a month, a dramatic decline from historical norms that once saw the majority of Americans in weekly worship.
The Heritage Foundation’s report “The Great Falling Away” found that weekly religious services attendance has significantly declined across all demographic groups over the past 50 years.
For many conservative commentators, the connection is clear: as America drifts from its religious foundations, hostility toward people of faith – particularly Christians – has filled the void.
“What we’re witnessing isn’t just random violence; it’s the predictable result of decades of cultural hostility toward traditional faith and values,” said Catholic Vote president Brian Burch. “When politicians, media and entertainment constantly portray people of faith as backward, dangerous or hateful, is it any surprise that disturbed individuals act on those messages?”
SILENCE FROM THE LEFT?
Conservative critics have pointed to what they describe as a “deafening silence” from progressive politicians and media outlets that they say would be quick to condemn attacks targeting other religious groups or institutions.
“Imagine if we saw this level of violence directed at mosques or synagogues – it would dominate headlines for weeks and prompt congressional investigations,” said Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO). “But when it’s Christian churches being firebombed, vandalized and shot up, the response is often muted at best.”
The surge in attacks began in 2022, coinciding with the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade – a ruling that sparked what the FRC describes as “incidents motivated by pro-abortion sentiments” targeting Catholic churches in particular.
While the FRC noted a decrease in explicitly abortion-related attacks in 2024, the overall hostility toward churches remained near historic highs.
CHURCHES RESPOND WITH FAITH AND FORTITUDE
Despite facing unprecedented threats, America’s churches have responded with resilience and determination to continue their mission.
“These attacks will not deter us,” said Father Thomas Wilson, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Minneapolis, located just miles from the Annunciation shooting. “If anything, they remind us why our presence and message are so necessary in a world that has lost its moral bearings.”
Many congregations across the country have been forced to implement heightened security measures, including armed guards, security cameras, and active shooter drills – precautions once unimaginable in houses of worship.
“It’s a sad reality that churches now need the same level of security as banks or government buildings,” said security consultant John Peterson, who specializes in church safety and has worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on houses of worship security guidelines. “But we’re seeing congregations adapt without sacrificing their mission of being welcoming places of worship.”
A CALL FOR ACTION
As attacks continue to plague America’s churches, many conservative leaders are calling for a more robust response from law enforcement and political leaders.
“We need to see these attacks for what they are – an assault on the religious liberty that is fundamental to our nation’s founding,” said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. “When Americans cannot safely practice their faith without fear of violence, we have lost something essential to our national character.”
Security experts recommend that churches conduct thorough risk assessments, implement tailored security plans, and maintain close relationships with local law enforcement.
“Every church should have a security team and an emergency response plan,” Peterson advised. “The days of leaving church doors unlocked and unmonitored, unfortunately, are behind us.”
As the nation mourns the victims of the Minneapolis attack and churches nationwide brace for what many fear could be more violence, the question remains whether America’s political and cultural leaders will acknowledge and address what the data shows is a growing crisis of hostility toward the country’s houses of worship.
“These aren’t just attacks on buildings,” concluded Perkins. “They’re attacks on the very freedom that makes America exceptional – the freedom to worship without fear.”
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q1: How many attacks on churches have occurred in the United States in recent years?
A1: According to the Family Research Council’s comprehensive report, there have been 1,384 documented incidents of hostility against U.S. churches between January 2018 and December 2024. The number rose dramatically from 50 incidents in 2018 to a peak of 485 in 2023, followed by 415 in 2024. These incidents include vandalism, arson, bomb threats, gun-related incidents, and other crimes targeting churches across 43 states.
Q2: What happened at the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting in Minneapolis?
A2: On August 27, 2025, a shooter identified as Robin Westman opened fire at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis during morning Mass, killing two children – including 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel – and injuring 18 others, mostly children from the church’s school. The shooter, who was wearing tactical gear and carrying multiple firearms, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities are investigating the attack as a potential hate crime against the Catholic community.
Q3: Which states have seen the most attacks on churches?
A3: In 2024, California led the nation with 40 documented incidents of hostility against churches, followed by Pennsylvania (29), Florida and New York (25 each), Texas (23), and Tennessee and Ohio (19 each). According to the Family Research Council, states with larger populations tended to have more incidents, but the attacks were widespread, affecting churches in 43 of the 50 states.
Q4: Is there a connection between declining religious attendance and increasing attacks on churches?
A4: While the Family Research Council report doesn’t establish a direct causal relationship, the rise in church attacks has coincided with a significant decline in religious service attendance in America. Recent Pew Research Center data shows only one-third of U.S. adults report attending religious services at least monthly, down from historical norms. Many conservative commentators and religious leaders suggest that as society becomes less religious, hostility toward faith institutions has increased.
Q5: What can churches do to protect themselves from attacks?
A5: Security experts recommend that churches conduct thorough risk assessments, implement tailored security plans that may include security cameras, controlled access points, and trained security teams. Churches should also develop emergency response protocols, conduct training for staff and volunteers, and maintain close relationships with local law enforcement. Many churches have reluctantly implemented measures such as locked doors, security screenings, and even armed security personnel during services.
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