All cases
Religious Sister Cruelly Murdered in Satanic Ritual
June 6, 2000, ItalyIn the night of June 6th, 2000 in the Italian town of Chiavenna in the Lombardy, Sister Maria Laura Mainetti was murdered by three teenage girls in a ritual act of satanism.
Catholic Priest Falsely Accused of Participation in Satanic Rites
May 1, 2000, ItalyFather Giorgio Govoni, 59, pastor of Staggia di San Prospero Church in the province of Modena, Italy, was accused of being a member of a group of pedophiles who engaged in sexually violent and harmful acts with minors, including participation in satanic rites in the Massa Finalese Cemetery. He was cleared after his death by the court of second instance.
Church Vandalized After Anti-Gay Homily in Newcastle
October 28, 1999, United KingdomJesmond Parish Church in Newcastle upon Tyne was covered with obscene phrases and pornographic graffiti after Rev. Holloway preached about homosexuality in the teachings of the Bible. The graffiti included drawings of men having sex, and insulting expressions such as "Holloway Out", "Bigot" and "Down with Holloway".
Pastor Jailed for Expression of Pro-Life Opinion
March 11, 1998, GermanyPastor jailed for calling an abortion specialist “professional killer” and “torturer” in Erlangen.
Dutch MP Fined for Critical Comment on Homosexuality
December 30, 1996, NetherlandsA politician was fined in the first instance for hate speech in criticizing homosexuality. Even though the court of second instance lifted the sentence, the hypersensitivity of the first court is a worrying sign.
Conscientious Objection Denied
January 1, 1996, United Kingdom(1995/1996) Several instances have been collected in which staff were denied the right to conscientious objection and lost their jobs.
Holy Monastery of Prophet Elias in Cyprus Savagely Bombed by Turkish Air Force
July 9, 1974, CyprusThe Monastery of the Prophet Elias of Maronite Monks, situated near the village of Ayia Marina Skyllouras, in the Nicosia district in Cyprus, was bombed during the second phase of the Turkish invasion. The Turkish air force savagely attacked the religious building which caught fire and was badly damaged.
Church of Ayios Procopios, Cyprus Desecrated after the 1974 Turkish Occupation
July 1, 1974, CyprusAyios Procopios, a Byzantine church of the 11th or 12th century situated in the village of Synkrasi, in the Famagusta district, in the Republic of Cyprus, was desecrated after the military had occupied the region by force. The iconostasis was destroyed and the portable icons were stolen. The church is today a refuge for birds.
Wall-Paintings at Antifonitis Monastery in Cyprus Destroyed
July 1, 1974, CyprusAntifonitis Monastery, a Byzantine monastery, built at the end of the 12th century, was destroyed as a consequence of the Turkish invasion. The heads of the two Archangels in the apse of the church were ruined. Turkish illicit dealers in antiquities cut into pieces and removed from the walls the representations of the Day of Judgment and the Stem of Jesse, vandalising a large part of them.
Clergy Advised to Remove Roman Colar for Safety
January 1, 1970, United KingdomMembers of the clergy were advised to take off their Roman collars when they are on their own, to reduce the risk of being attacked. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury should remove the collar outside church.
UK Government Laywers Tell Christians: Leave Faith at Home or Find a New Job!”
January 1, 1970, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)Government lawyers have told the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that Christians should “leave their religious beliefs at home or move to another job” when faced with a clash between the requirements of their faith and their employment.
French Government to “Dissolve” “Religious Pathology” and “Excesses” in the Church
January 1, 1970, FranceInstead of tackling the enormous number of anti-Christian vandalisms, President Hollande announced a new 'the National Observatory of Secularism' to come into being this year, tasked with closely monitoring religious organisations for any potential 'excesses.' French Interior Minister Manuel Valls highlighted various Catholic organisations, stating that "All excesses are being minutely registered in case we have to consider dissolving it."
Women At Pro Life Manifestation Attacked
January 1, 1970, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)Male pro-abortion protesters physically attacked several pro-life women during a rally on March 10 in Warsaw, pushing and kicking them. The pro-lifers were part of the organization Fundacja Pro and were carrying a controversial banner of a woman who died during an abortion.
Women At Pro Life Manifestation Attacked
January 1, 1970, PolandMale pro-abortion protesters physically attacked several pro-life women during a rally on March 10 in Warsaw, pushing and kicking them. The pro-lifers were part of the organization Fundacja Pro and were carrying a controversial banner of a woman who died during an abortion.
Attempts to Silence Bishop for Voicing His Opinion About Gender Ideology
January 1, 1970, SpainThe Spanish political party, the United Left, presented a motion to the regional Parliament to convict the Bishop of Córdoba, Demetrio Fernández, for having spoken out his opinion on gender ideology. According to the motion, the bishop’s weekly pastoral letter entitled “Gender ideology breaks the family” was an acute case of discrimination. The motion, signed by spokesman Francisco Tejada, called on the government of Andalusia to “launch the legal mechanisms in the context of their power to prevent cases of abuse and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Priest Attacked After Confronting Thieves in Church
January 1, 1970, ItalyAfter celebrating the midnight Mass, parish priest, Father Massimo Malinconi returned to the rectory where he found four burglars.
Vaucluse Church Vandalized
January 1, 1970, FranceThe stained glass window depicting Jesus Christ in the church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Tour was found smashed.
Catholic School in Bubry Sacked by Vandals
January 1, 1970, FranceThe kindergarten and elementary private Catholic school Sainte-Hélène Bubry was attacked and the damage is estimated at several thousand euros.
Graffiti Attack on the Family Home of St. Bernadette in Lourdes
January 1, 1970, FranceMunicipal services in Lourdes took two weeks to remove obscene drawings and inscriptions painted on the family home of the revered Saint, despite complaints by neighbors and an alert from the online journal “Lourdes-Info.” The perpetrators of the vandalism are unknown.
Small Thefts Germany 2020
January 0, 0000, GermanySeries of thefts from churches across Germany in 2020.
Burglary in the Staldner Parish Church And the Church in Davos GR
January 0, 0000, SwitzerlandIn the night from Saturday to Sunday, unknown perpetrators broke into the Staldner parish church St. Michael and stole a sum of money worth about 800 francs. Another burglary incident took place in the church in Davos GR. After the abbatial service, unknown perpetrators stole the collections, which were intended to be given to Kids Foundation to support children with liver disease.
Various Cases of Thefts from Different Churches in the United Kingdom
January 0, 0000, United KingdomA perpetrator stole the charity box from St. John’ church project, Shildon Alive. Other equipment such as video camera and items worth about £560 were stolen from Angelican church All Saints’. A burglar broke into Preston church and stole money intended to help asylum seekers and vulnerable people. At the Pentecostal Church on St John’s Road, a thief stole two wheels from a church minibus. Police are looking for witnesses and clues. Some thieves stole cash from St.Mirin’s Cathedral. Police are appealing for witnesses. Cash and tin have also been stolen from St.Brynach’s church. Seven lawn mowers have been stolen from St John the Baptist Church, in Farnham Road. Three men from the West Midlands admitted theft over 30 churches in different parts of the country, including Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. Church of Little Massingham Church has also been a victim of theft.
Theft in the Kamionki Church And Priest Caught the Perpetrator
January 0, 0000, PolandThe Archdiocese of Poznan published a video on social media to expose the theft that had occurred in his parish of Kamionki near Posen. The church's donation box had disappeared. At that time the priest was at church and heard the noises of the perpetrators. The priest ran after one of the perpetrators and caught him. He is accused of at least four burglaries in churches in the area. The police opened an investigation and the perpetrator immediately confessed.
Wooden Fence and Sandstone Pedestal Sandstone At St. Josef Church Damaged
January 0, 0000, GermanyOn the 11th December 2020, unknown perpetrators damaged three sandstone bases as well as wooden fence. The police claims that there is a high probability that a large vehicle has been the main cause of the damage.
Street Names 'Taig' Offensive to Catholics
January 0, 0000, United KingdomTaig Road and Taig Gardens have been named after Nathaniel Taig, a term considered as derogatory for Catholics. According to the Oxford Dictionary, ‘Taig’ means ‘’ “derogatory term for a Catholic or Irish nationalist”. The mayor claims that the name has been used to honor a committed politician. If the East Dunbartonshire council refuses to change the name, anti-bigotry campaign vowed to take the case to the Scottish government.
British Street Preachers under Pressure after New Legislation Passed
January 0, 0000, United KingdomMore and more Evangelists in the UK, who preach on public streets are being prosecuted or are facing allegations due to the opinions they expressed. Due to the insecurity to know what can be or not be said, street preachers, but also comedians, secularists and LGTBT activists "came together (in 2013) against the criminalisation of “insulting” words or behaviour under the same Public Order Act. Referencing decisions by the European Court of Human Rights, they argued that freedom of speech did not only apply to information or ideas favourably received but also to those that offend, shock or disturb the state or any sector of the population. And they were successful. The removal of “insulting” from section 5 of the Public Order Act was heralded as a great victory which would prevent street preachers, comedians and peaceful protesters from facing unlawful arrest and legal uncertainty".
Monastery Vandalized in Monchengladbach
January 0, 0000, GermanyA picture of the Virgin Mary was damaged in the Marienkapelle of the Franciscan monastery when an unknown individual ransacked the place. This was not the first attack on this church but it even survived a bomb scare.
Burglary in Görlitz Church
January 0, 0000, GermanyAt 11:45 on January 28, the window grille was removed from the St. Peter's church in Görlitz and the window behind it smashed. The intruder then entered the crypt of the church and from there, stole two music boxes and a microphone. A small wooden organ was also significantly damaged in the process and the value of stolen goods amounted to around 1000 euros.
Church Windows of St. Aloysius Church in Iserlohn Smashed
January 0, 0000, GermanyOn April 7 two windows of St. Aloysius Church in Iserlohn were broken. The perpetrator, who could not be identified, also smashed a memorial candle.