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Cemetery Vandalized in Indre-et-Loire

Between thirty and forty graves in the cemetery of La Riche were vandalized early in the evening of May 19th. Damage included smashed crucifixes. The mayor of La Riche called the act "pure vandalism," as no tags or other signs were left by the perpetrators. Families visiting the cemetery on the Pentecost weekend were distressed upon learning of the damage to their loved ones' graves. The city announced its intention to file a complaint, and urged affected families to do the same.

May 19, 2018, France

Fire in a Lyon Chapel

A fire broke out in la Chapelle Saint-Croix in the 6th arrondissement of Lyon in the afternoon of May 16th. It appeared that a fire set in the chapel's confessional started the blaze and three fire trucks were deployed to extinguish the fire.

May 16, 2018, France

Desecration and Theft in the Church of San Giacomo di Monselice

On May 14th, witnesses discovered that the tabernacle had been desecrated and two ciboriums containing consecrated Hosts had been stolen from the church of San Giacomo de Monselice. This was the 3rd robbery in the Padua diocese in five months.

May 14, 2018, Italy

Saint André Church in Grenoble Looted

Four boxes use to collect donations for the poor and for upkeep of the church were discovered looted in the Saint André church in Grenoble on May 13th. According to the parish priest, the perpetrators emptied the donation boxes and forced the drawers. Losses are estimated at around 600 euros.

May 13, 2018, France

Church Vandalized in Lombardy

Residents in Solbiate Olona discovered that young people had been repeatedly entering the Chiesa del Sacro Cuore and covering the floor with wax melted from votive candles. The church is loved by members of the community who take responsibility for keeping it clean.

May 11, 2018, Italy

Priest Assaulted during Mass

On May 11th, a man entered l’église de la Source à Saint Denis on the French island of Réunion during the celebration of the Mass, walked straight to the altar, and slapped Father Pascal Mussard. Many parishioners rushed to intervene. Police arrived soon after and handcuffed the man. After it was discovered that the perpetrator was "imbalanced" and had fled from a hospital hours earlier, the priest declined to file a complaint.

May 11, 2018, France
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NEWS & ACTIVITIES

Report 2018: Over 500 Documented Cases in 2016 and 2017

May 1, 2018, Austria

The cases in Observatory's report for 2016 and 2017 represent the range of hostilities Christians experience in their daily lives: from the ‘squeeze’ of interference with religious liberty, parental rights, freedom of expression and conscience, to the ‘smash’ of physical attacks, and vandalism of churches and cemeteries.

Germany: Officials Recorded Nearly 100 Anti-Christian Attacks in 2017

February 8, 2018, Germany

Germany’s federal police recorded almost 100 attacks on Christians or Christian institutions in Germany in 2017, with most of the violent incidents occurring among asylum seekers living in refugee centers.

OSCE/ODIHR Publishes 2016 Hate Crime Data

December 16, 2017, OSCE

To mark the International Day for Tolerance, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) published hate crime data for 2016 on November 16, 2017.

Sebastian Kurz Promises to Work for Protection of Christians

December 12, 2017, Austria

In a message to the hundreds of participants in the torchlight procession in solidarity with persecuted Christians he said, "The protection of Christians needs to be strengthened in our foreign policy, bilaterally and at the EU level." 
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