Church fires

The Catholic Women’s League of Canada is urging the federal government to encourage the application of existing terrorism laws when arson attacks on places of worship are prosecuted.

Like many Canadians, Mark Joseph has felt an increasing unease about the number of churches, synagogues and other places of worship being vandalized and torched over the past five years.

An April 13 fire has destroyed a deconsecrated church in Saint-Romain, Que.

A fire has destroyed the historic former Saint-Paul Church in Montreal’s Sud-Ouest borough.

Firefighters saved the historic cathedral in Cordoba, Spain, Aug. 8, after flames and smoke were seen billowing from the iconic mosque-turned-church.

The criminal sentencing for a man who admitted he set ablaze St. Bernard Church in Grouard, Alta., on May 22, 2023 has been indefinitely delayed as the confessed perpetrator failed to show up at the Court of King’s Bench in Peace River on June 12.

The alarming number of arsons that have defiled or outright destroyed Catholic and Christian houses of worship over the past several years did not garner attention from any of the political parties during the 2025 federal election campaign.

Prince Albert RCMP are characterizing the fire that destroyed Sts. Peter and Paul Church Feb. 21, as “suspicious.” But others within the community have no doubt on what is to blame for the church's destruction.

The Ottawa Police Service’s (OPS) Arson Unit is investigating a fire that broke out around 3 a.m. on Sept. 18 at the downtown St. Joseph’s Parish.

A man was taken into police custody after a major fire broke out at the historic Church of the Immaculate Conception in the northern French town of Saint-Omer in the morning hours of Sept. 2, causing its bell tower to collapse.