All cases
Arson in Church in Spain Caceres Caused 420,000 Euros Damage
August 1, 2020, SpainIn August 2020 some reckless minors set fire to the church of San Martín de Plasencia in Cáceres, Spain. After analysing the damage caused by the fire to the church's roof and altarpiece bishop José Luis Retana, bishop of Plasencia, announced that the restoration will cost 420,000 Euros. Four Spanish institutions have agreed on collaborating to repair the church. The elements most damaged by the fire were the roof and the altarpiece, which was a 16th-century Mannerist style piece by Luis de Morales. Bishop Retana hopes for the restoration to begin as soon as possible so that the church can be reopened in time for a sacred exhibition of Castilla y León in Spring of 2022. It is unknown whether or not the culprits have faced legal consequences.
Stained Glass Window in Saint-Cadou's Chapel Vandalised
August 1, 2020, FranceThe chapel, which dates back to the XVI century ,has been vandalised. The perpetrators smash a stained glass window, which was already damaged and restored again in 2018. The costs for another restoration of the ancient window are estimated at 900€.
Window Facade of Saint-Paul Church in Saint-Nazaire Damaged
July 31, 2020, FranceDuring the night of July 31st the window facade of Saint Paul Church in Saint-Nazaire was severely damaged, apparently collateral damage of a wider outbreak of gun violence occurring throughout the city. Despite the extensive damage the church community gathered to celebrate Mass on Saturday evening.
Vandalism and Theft in Two Schwieberdingen Churches
July 31, 2020, GermanyDuring the night of July 31st, an unknown perpetrator gained access to the Protestant Georgskirche in Schwieberdingen through the sacristy, stole an antique chalice, and went on to smash a crystal window of the main building of the church. Only a few days earlier, the Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul had been attacked. An unknown person broke open the offertory box as well as the cash box of the prayer candles and stole the small amount of cash contained in it. A police spokeswoman said that no clues to the perpetrator have been found so far. However, she said, one could assume a possible connection between the two crimes.
Priests Not Allowed to Give The Sacraments to the Elderly in Residential Homes
July 31, 2020, SpainThe Bishop Lopez of Salamanca expressed his concern that the priests were not allowed to entry residential homes of elderly in residential homes. The elders requested the sacraments in the final stage of their lives. The bishop calls for the respect of the Organic Law of Religious Liberty that guarantees religious assistance for every person. He also argues that there are no regulations during the pandemic that impede the exercise of the right to religious assistance in the vicinity of death. Using the example of the Hospitals in Salamanca, he believes with the proper hygienic standards, religious assistance should be allowed.
Politically-Motivated Vandalism of Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth
July 28, 2020, FranceOn the morning of July 28th parishioners discovered graffiti sprayed on the walls of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth in Vaison-la-Romaine. One tag read "vaut mieux une paire de mères qu’un père de merde" ("better a pair of mothers than a shitty father"). On another side of the cathedral, the word "sorcellerie" ("witchcraft") was painted. The vandalism appeared a day after Monsignor Cattenoz, Archbishop of Avignon, wrote an open letter to the deputies and senators of Vaucluse as well as to the local press denouncing the pending bioethics legislation in France. In his letter (in full below), he noted that if the law passes, "a woman will be able to give one of her fertilized oocytes to her partner, it will be implanted in her uterus so that they will both be mothers, erasing any reference to the importance of a father ... for the growth and life of a child."
Activists Hang Rainbow Flag and Anarchist Bandana on Statue of Christ in front of Warsaw Basilica
July 28, 2020, PolandDuring the night of July 28th activists from the self-described "anarchist-queer" community launched what they termed a "rainbow assault" across Warsaw. They placed a rainbow flag on the statue of Jesus Christ carrying the Cross in front of the Basilica and attached a purple anarchist bandana over Christ's face. Several of Warsaw's other famous monuments were similarly targeted. The activists left cards with a "manifesto" beginning with the phrases "This is an assault! It's a rainbow. It's an attack! We've decided to act." The message went on to say their provocative actions would continue until Polish society accepted them.
Theft and Vandalism in a Cemetery in Thionville
July 27, 2020, FranceBetween the 26th and 27th of July, about 21 bronze statuettes of Christ or the Virgin Mary were torn off and stolen from the Saint-François de Thionville communal cemetery (Moselle). Official said this was "a targeted, premeditated and large-scale operation."
Repeated Vandalism of Virgin and Child Statue in Noirmoutier-en-l'Île
July 27, 2020, FranceUnknown perpetrators vandalized the statue of the Virgin Mary and Jesus during the night of July 27th for the third time -- this time, decapitating the head of the Christ child. In 2018, vandals beheaded both figures on the statue; and in mid-July, (see link below) the pedestal of the statue was vandalized with graffiti.
UPDATE: Volunteer Charged with Nantes Arson
July 26, 2020, FranceOn Sunday, July 26th, the diocesan volunteer who had been questioned and released last week was indicted for the arson of the Nantes cathedral and placed in pre-trial detention.
Graffiti on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Chapel
July 26, 2020, FranceOn the morning of the 26th , the Priest found Graffiti on the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Chapel and the door was painted in red. He posted the image on his Facebook Page.
Vandalism of Church, Cemetery, and Morgue in Günzkofen
July 26, 2020, GermanyDuring the night of Sunday 26th unknown perpetrators severely vandalized the cemetery of the St. Jakobus church and and the enclosed morgue. According to police, the perpetrators broke several windows of the church and the morgue at the cemetery in Günzkofen with grave decorations. In addition, they also tampered with several graves, causing total damage of about 1,000 euros.
Vandalism with Satanic Inscriptions Found on Church Doors in Goleszów
July 26, 2020, Poland"666," a pentagram, an inverted cross, and the phrase "Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer" were painted on the door of the church in Goleszów by unknown perpetrators. The graffiti was noticed on the morning of July 26th by the priest who came to prepare the church for Mass. The police filed a report in this case and are investigating.
Barclays Bank and Online Platforms Closed Christian Charities' Accounts
July 25, 2020, United KingdomTwo Christian organizations that help people “who voluntarily seek change in sexual preference and expression,” have been notified by Barclays Bank that their accounts would be closed. The move by the bank followed a social media campaign demanding that the bank end its professional relationship with Core Issues Trust (CIT) and The International Federation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC), accusing both groups of promoting “conversion therapy.” In recent weeks, the UK government has pledged to ban "conversion therapy." The charities' head, Mike Davidson, disputes the use of the term: “The term ‘conversion therapy’ is being used as a catch-all phrase designed to discredit any help that people may provide to those with mixed sexual attractions who prefer their heterosexual side. This could include a listening ear, formal counselling or spiritual support.”
Vandalism of Wayside Cross in Bining
July 25, 2020, FranceOn July 25th, one of the wayside crosses in Bining (Moselle) was toppled over and smashed. The police are investigating and looking for possible witnesses.
Six Stained Glass Windows Smashed in Nîmes Church
July 24, 2020, FranceShortly before midnight on July 24th, a drunken man attacked the Saint-Baudile church in Nîmes, breaking six stained glass windows using a steel bar nearly two meters long. The man, known to the police, was arrested after being caught in the act.
Proposed Scottish Hate Crime Bill Threatens Freedom of Speech and Worship
July 23, 2020, United KingdomThe Scottish Justice Committee has proposed a new hate crime bill, which extends the current hate crime law covering race, to include other "protected characteristics" such as religion, sexual orientation, and transgender identity. Christian and secular groups have criticized the bill as too broad and subjective, potentially interfering with freedom of speech and worship. The Parliament has accepted to re-draft the Bill, to protect Freedom of Speech. The new amendment should be known in December 2020.
Fires Set in Tyrol Church; Witnesses Sought by Police
July 23, 2020, AustriaWould-be arsonists started a fire in the parish church in Waidring (Kitzbühel district) on July 23rd. According to police, between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., unknown perpetrators distributed and lit several matchboxes, matches, and candles on the church pews. In addition, they tried to set fire to a hymn book, presumably using matches. Around 5:15 p.m., a witness noticed the smell of fire in the church, but the fire had already gone out. There was a similar incident on Monday, July 20th: according to investigators, burning ignition wicks had been placed on the kneelers of the church pews.
Swastikas, Blasphemies, and Anti-Salvini Graffiti on Asola Church
July 23, 2020, ItalyThe parishioners of the church San Rocco in Asola discovered vandalism on the outside wall of the church, after they left Mass on the morning of July 24th. Unknown perpetrators painted black graffiti on the wall with a swastika symbol, blasphemous phrases, and anti-Salvini insults. The police and the priest of the church were immediately informed and the police filled a report.
Equality Legislation in Malta Threatens Freedom of Religion; Conscience; Expression
July 22, 2020, MaltaProposed Equality Bills 96 and 97 are ostensibly aimed at protecting an extensive group of people from discrimination and cover areas such as schools, public religious symbols, and services and employment. The Bills would make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, age, religious belief, state of health, and other “protected characteristics.” However, many sectors of society, including educators, professionals, business owners, health workers, parents, faith-based groups, and believers are concerned about the laws' overreach.