All cases

Vandalism of Chiesa di Sant’Orso Facade

May 17, 2019, Italy

Both sides of the main wooden entrance portal to the church of Sant'Orso were painted with female faces in the Japanese comic style during the night of May 16th to 17th. The vandals also painted the letters A and T next to the faces. Police are reviewing CCTV footage.

Etsy Admits Sale of Consecrated Hosts Violated Policy

May 16, 2019, Germany

On May 7th, an unknown buyer purchased "nine real Catholic hosts, consecrated by a priest” from a Germany-based Etsy seller for $11.58. The seller, who called himself “AL” and his business “Pentagora,” said the hosts were “to abuse for classic black fairs or black magic purposes.” In response to a petition with over 10,000 signatures demanding the online marketplace ban the sales of consecrated hosts, the company admitted that such a sale was in violation of their policies.

Facebook Censors "Still One of Us" Image; Reverses Decision after Review

May 15, 2019, International

The Dublin-based Iona Institute for Religion and Society launched a pro-life ad campaign during the week of May 7th, which included billboard signs depicting an unborn child in the womb. Iona extended that campaign to Facebook and paid a promotion fee to bring it to a wider audience. Facebook blurred the image in the ads behind a warning and said that the image comes under the heading of “graphic” or “violent” content. UPDATE: On May 20th, Facebook reversed the decision, saying it was mistakenly categorized as "sensitive content."

Iranian Christian Awaits Trial in Iran after being Deported

May 15, 2019, Germany

The Iranian Christian convert Fatemeh Azad's claim for asylum due to conversion to Christianity was rejected by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and she was deported to Iran. The reason for her rejection was that she did not convince the judge of her genuine conversion. Upon arrival in Iran, she was arrested immediately and released on bail and now she is waiting for her trial which could mean a death sentence because in Iran there is a death penalty for apostasy from Islam.

Vandalism of Church and Walls in Orvieto Medieval Quarter

May 12, 2019, Italy

For what was is described as the "umpteenth" time, the walls of the medieval Rupe quarter and the facade of its church, San Giovenale, were vandalized with graffiti which included "blasphemous phrases." Police began an investigation and specialized cleaning teams will be hired to remove the paint.

Vandalism in Villeurbanne Church

May 12, 2019, France

During the night of May 12th, intruders entered the church of Sainte-Famille in Villeurbanne (Rhône) and damaged the holy water stoup, candles, and left trash. The city's urban safety brigade is investigating.

Christian Statues Stolen from Cemetery

May 10, 2019, France

Three metal, meter-high, statues of Christian figures were stolen off their granite pedestals in a family plot in the cemetery of Argenton-les-Vallées (Deux-Sèvres). Police are investigating.

UPDATE: Suspect Arrested for Arson in Equihen-Plage Church Sacristy

May 9, 2019, France

As a result of a forensic investigation into the origin of a fire that broke out around 6 am on May 5th in the sacristy of the church of Equihen-Plage, a man was arrested on May 9th and sentenced to four and a half years in prison (18 months suspended sentence and three years on probation). The 34-year-old confessed to having set the fire as well as having robbed churches in La Capelle-lès-Boulogne, Wimille, and attempting to rob a church in Boulogne. He said he also had tried to set those churches on fire, but without success. The damage to the Equihen-Plage was extensive, estimated at around 340,000 euros.

Sussex Church Suffers Repeated Vandalism

May 9, 2019, United Kingdom

In the latest in a series of vandalism incidents at the St John the Evangelist church in Copthorne, the Victorian gate memorial to World War I veterans in the churchyard was kicked in and broken. The Churchwarden reported that this was the latest in a string of incidents at the village church. Police are investigating.

Activists Block University Christians' Event in Göttingen

May 9, 2019, Germany

Activists prevented a planned lecture by the gynecologist Michael Kiworr (Mannheim) on 8 May at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

Break-in and Attempted Burglary in Two Hesse Churches

May 8, 2019, Germany

During the afternoon of May 7th, the priest of a Hofheim church caught a man trying to break into the donation box with a tool. The man fled the scene on bicycle. Later, during the night between May 7th and 8th, intruders entered a church in Raunheim (about 65 km away from Hofheim) through a broken basement window. Although it appeared that nothing was stolen, they damaged the locked entrance door as they left.

Theft from Saint-Germain-des-Près in Paris

May 8, 2019, France

The parish priest of the church of Saint-Germain-des-Près discovered that a gilded metal cross, bronze candlestick, and a candle had been stolen from the church altar by two intruders. The thieves were able to enter the church between 2:10 and 2:30 a.m. without forcing the doors due to construction scaffolding on the building. Police are searching for the two perpetrators filmed by the security cameras.

Christ Figure Broken in Half and Left on Church Altar

May 8, 2019, France

On May 8th, parishioners at the church of Saint-Martin d'Asson (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) discovered that a crucifix had been dismantled, and the Christ figure it supported broken in two pieces and left on both sides of the altar. A complaint was filed and police began an investigation.

Theft and Desecration of Saint-Germain Church

May 7, 2019, France

The Saint-Germain church in Brion-prés-Thouet (Deux-Sèvres) was the victim of a theft and desecration. Consecrated hosts and a lunula were stolen. On May 4th, a Mass of reparation was held.

Woman Arrested for Assaults, Threats and Vandalism Against Churches and Priests

May 7, 2019, Spain

A 46-year-old woman of Cuban origin was arrested on the 7. May for conducting over 40 altercations and assaults on priests, nuns and faithful of various Catholic parishes in Palma de Mallorca. The arrest took place after she violently stole the figure of a Buddha on 15 April.

Vandalism in Village Church Twice in 10 Days

May 6, 2019, France

The church of Saint-Genest was vandalized on the afternoon of May 6th, with the Easter candle and other candles dedicated to the Virgin Mary burnt, the organ's power supply damaged, and trash was found. According to reports, this is the second instance of vandalism that the village church in ten days. Police began an investigation.

Repeated Thefts from Churches in Baden-Württemberg

May 6, 2019, Germany

Freiburg police are investigating a series of thefts from Catholic churches in Rheinfelden-Nollingen, Schwörstadt, and Bad Säckingen from mid-April to the beginning of May. Offering boxes were pried open and the contents stolen in each of the churches, with the Nollingen church hit twice by thieves.

Winnweiler Church Damaged by Vandals

May 6, 2019, Germany

During the period from May 4th to 6th, unknown perpetrators broke the lock at the Herz-Jesu-Kirche in Winnweiler (Rhineland-Palatinate), lit a small campfire on the sandy ground outside the church, and defaced a wall with graffiti. A lightning rod was torn from the wall and the outer facade of the church was damaged. The police in Rockenhausen are investigating.

Thüringen Church Vandalized

May 6, 2019, Germany

Unknown perpetrators smeared "several numbers, characters and figures in different colors" on the outer wall of the Evangelical Lutheran City Church in Rudolstadt. Police began an investigation.

Rampage in Umbria Church

May 5, 2019, Italy

During the night between May 4th and 5th, vandals ransacked the church of San Girolamo in Narni. On Sunday morning the 5th, the priest discovered that statues, benches, and kneelers had been overturned and damaged. Wires were torn from the sound system, furnishings in the sacristy and other rooms were destroyed, and sacred books had been thrown to the ground. As a result of the extensive damage, Mass had to be cancelled. A complaint was filed with the police.