Catholic churches, like other houses of worship across the nation, are confronting the painful reality that sanctuaries are no longer guaranteed places of refuge. Leaders are increasingly considering new layers of security to protect their congregations, drawing on strategies once reserved for government facilities.
The rise in attacks on religious institutions has left many Catholic faithful shaken. The recent tragedy at a Mormon church in Michigan was a grim reminder. Authorities reported that Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, “rammed his truck into the church while members were gathered for services… then opened fire on worshipers and set the building ablaze before being killed by law enforcement officers at the scene” (Washington Post). Four lives were lost, and at least eight others were injured.
This was only weeks after a shooter “killed two children and injured 21 people at a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis” (Washington Post). Such events make clear that Catholic parishes are among the communities touched by this wave of violence.
Carl Chinn, head of the Faith Based Security Network, summarized the concern: “No matter what level of violence you look at, violence against faith-based organizations is increasing… we can’t any longer just sit in our church with a steeple on top and a name up front declaring that we’re a safe haven” (Washington Post).
The Washington Post reported that houses of worship are taking visible steps to harden security: installing “bulletproof film on windows, reinforce[d] doors, erect[ed] fences and bollards in parking lots, and set up surveillance systems designed to detect potential threats during services.” In some cases, consultants have even added “ballistic material in a pulpit to protect a pastor who was worried about armed threats.”
Training is also being emphasized. According to the report, some congregations have “conducted active-shooter drills, studied de-escalation techniques, and participated in medical and firearms classes.” While the article does not single out Catholic parishes in describing these trainings, Catholic churches have been named as targets of recent attacks, placing them in the broader movement of faith communities seeking better protection.
James Hamilton, a former FBI agent and private security consultant, compared the approach to government-level protection: “It’s the same kind of system we use in government to protect an embassy, almost the same template from the government. There are layers that someone has to get through before they actually get into the congregation” (Washington Post).
For Catholics, the challenge is finding balance: ensuring the safety of the faithful while keeping parishes open and welcoming. Michael Masters, national director of the Secure Community Network, warned that if religious institutions begin to resemble militarized zones, “we will have fundamentally lost a huge part of what it means to be a functioning democracy that upholds religious freedom” (Washington Post).
Chinn echoed this, noting that protection must go beyond firearms alone: “That’s not what we need. We need training and drills. I tell people, train like your life and the lives of those you love depend on it” (Washington Post).
Catholics know that trust in God does not mean ignoring prudence. While security steps may feel uncomfortable, they are ultimately aimed at ensuring the Eucharist can be celebrated in safety. As St. Paul reminds us, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).
The measures being considered reflect a difficult but necessary reality: vigilance allows our parishes to remain what they are meant to be… sanctuaries of prayer, communion, and peace, even in a world where hostility toward faith is on the rise.
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