Attacks on American Christian churches skyrocketed 730% from 2018-2024: FRC study

A report released earlier in August has revealed that there were 415 attacks on Christian churches across the US in 2024, marking a 730 percent increase from 2018, when the Family Research Council began tracking such incidents.

The report noted that while 2024’s total did not reach the record high of 485 incidents seen in 2023, "the total in 2024 (415) remains significantly higher than the yearly totals recorded in 2018 through 2022." Between 2018 and 2022 total there were 484 incidents.

A total of 383 churches across the US were affected by these incidents in 2024. An average of 35 hostile incidents occurred per month. June experienced the highest number of incidents, 49, "with approximately 22 percent of these incidents related to LGBT issues."

43 states saw hostile incidents against churches, with California having the highest amount at 40, followed by Pennsylvania (29), Florida and New York (25), Texas (23), and Tennessee and Ohio (19). Of the 415 incidents, 284 of them were vandalism, 55 were arson, 14 were bomb threats, and 47 were classified as "other." There were also 28 gun-related incidents, more than double the total seen in 2023 (12).

Wednesday saw a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two children were killed, ages eight and 10, and 18 were injured, 15 of which were children between the ages of six and 15 and three of which are adults in their 80s.

The suspect has been identified as Robert "Robin" Westman, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Westman identified as transgender, but expressed regret in writings left behind: "I am tired of being trans, I wish I never brain-washed myself."