All cases
Isle of Man Cathedral Vandalized
June 21, 2018, United KingdomOn June 21st, police condemned a continuous wave of vandalism against the Peel Cathedral on the Isle of Man. A spokesman for the police said that vandals sprayed graffiti in different places around the cathedral over several days. A week earlier, a prominent sculpture was broken, and the lawn and other objects were damaged.
Arson in Church in Plappeville
June 21, 2018, FranceThe church of Sainte-Brigide de Plappeville (Moselle) suffered an arson attack on June 21st at 5:40 p.m. Firefighters reported two fires inside the church. After being arrested in the vicinity, two young men admitted entering the building by breaking some of the windows and setting fire to the altar cloth and the cabinet in which the books were kept.
Gang Robbed Nine Churches in Two Months
June 21, 2018, SpainAn organized gang stole from at least nine churches on the Island of Tenerife. The last incident occurred in the town of La Camella in the early hours of June 21, 2018. The perpetrators broke into the church, damaging the entrance door, and stole sacred objects and valuables worth at least 3000 euros. They were discovered by nuns who had been sleeping in rooms next door and had woken up when they heard a loud noise. The perpetrators fled the church and the incident was reported to the police. Local media suspected the robbery was carried out by the same gang that had attacked at least nine religious buildings on the island, including the church of San Mateo in Punta del Hidaglo, where they stole valuables worth 10,000 euros.
Fire Set in German Church
June 16, 2018, GermanyA parishioner found the remains of a fire already extinguished on the carpet of the church of St. Petrus in the town of Kirchweiler. According to the police, the unknown perpetrators set the fire between 8 am and 4:45 pm on June 16th. Material damage affected the carpet, a cloth, and a speaker wire.
Four Teenagers Caught Stealing in Church in Clermont-Ferrand
June 16, 2018, FranceFour teenagers were caught by the police inside a church in Clermont-Ferrand stealing the box containing the alms on the night of June 16th.
Paint Thrown against Saint-Étienne Church in Mulhouse
June 15, 2018, FranceAn unknown person stained the main entrance of the Protestant church of Saint-Étienne in Mulhouse, France with white paint on June 15th in the afternoon.
Polish Supreme Court Rules against Printer; Tribunal Reversed in 2019
June 14, 2018, PolandPoland's Supreme Court ruled against a printer who refused to create a roll-up banner for an LGBT business group because he did not want to "promote" the gay rights movement, citing his Catholic religious beliefs. The Court held that although there may be legally justifiable reasons to refuse services based on religious objections, in this case they did not apply. UPDATE: In June 2019, the Constitutional Tribunal ruled that the law the printer was convicted under was unconstitutional, because punishment for refusing to provide services on the grounds of beliefs interfered with the service providers’ rights to act according to their conscience.
Spain Fined UK Christian Television Broadcaster
June 14, 2018, SpainThe National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) fined Revelation TV, which is based in the UK but broadcasts in Spain, €6,000 after an individual complained to the state agency about comments made by an evangelical pastor during a morning program in September 2017. The CNMC deemed the pastor's comments "homophobic" when he expressed his opinion about transgender issues and whether Christians should move their children from schools when another student identifies as transgender.
Theft and Vandalism in the Church of Bellecombe-Tarendol
June 13, 2018, FranceDuring the night of June 13th, between 10 pm and 7 am, unknown individuals forced the door of the Bellecombe-Tarendol church, breaking the lock. Once inside, they caused minor damage and stole a golden chalice. In addition, they sprayed the interior of the building with a fire extinguisher to conceal their tracks.
Theft in Sant'Antonio Church in Manduria on its Feast's Eve
June 12, 2018, ItalyThieves entered the church of Sant'Antonio in Manduria on June 12th between 11 am and 2 pm and stole an amplifier and part of the sound system from the sacristy, taking advantage of the confusion in the preparation of the patron's local feast the next day.
Theft and Vandalism in the Chapel of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
June 12, 2018, FranceA painting of the chapel of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme was stolen during the night of June 8th by an unknown person. In addition to the robbery, the grid that protected the chapel was broken and various decorative objects and religious art were damaged.
Asylum-Seeking Christian Family Fears Death in Face of Deportation
June 11, 2018, United KingdomThe Home Office has repeatedly rejected the asylum applications of a Christian family, who have been living in the UK for the past six years. They fear death if forced to return to Pakistan.
Anarcho-Satanist Graffiti at the Basilica of Chaumont
June 11, 2018, FranceOn the morning of June 11th, an unknown person sprayed Anarcho-Satanist graffiti on the facade of the Basilica of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Chaumont (Haute-Marne). Along with the traditional anarchist symbol, the word Satan accompanied by a heart was discovered.
Food Delivery Driver Ripped Cross from Wall of Christian Home
June 11, 2018, United KingdomA Greek Orthodox Christian, noticed that the Palm Sunday cross which had been hanging outside her front door for many years had been ripped off when she left for work. It was scattered in pieces on her doormat. After reviewing security cameras, the family discovered that a food delivery driver had torn the cross down just before delivering food to the home. The homeowner reported the incident as hate crime and police began an investigation.
Two Flags Stolen from Church in Züsch
June 9, 2018, GermanyDuring the night of June 9th, between 3:00 and 3:30 pm, two flags were stolen from the Züsch parish.
Obscene Graffiti on Facade of Italian Church
June 6, 2018, ItalyThe Greek church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in the city of Barletta was stained with various graffiti by unknown vandals. Among the graffiti, there were many obscene images and phrases.
Abandoned Church Suffers Gross Desecration
June 6, 2018, ItalyA passerby discovered that unknown people had entered the abandoned church of Santa Corona in Garbagnate Milanese desecrated the interior.
Court of Justice of the European Union Redefines “Spouses”
June 5, 2018, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)The Court of Justice of the European Union issued a judgment in the case of Coman and others ruling that all EU Member States, including those that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, must recognize same-sex marriage contracted abroad, regarding the right of residence.
Man Wields Knife in Berlin Cathedral
June 3, 2018, GermanyWhen a 53-year-old Austrian man became aggressive and started wielding a knife in the Berlin Cathedral, police were called to intervene. The staff of the cathedral, which is also a popular tourist spot, were able to lead all visitors to safety. About a hundred people were in the cathedral at the time.
Bibles Removed from Hospital Rooms
June 3, 2018, United KingdomThe Royal Infirmary of Dumfries and Galloway made the decision to remove Bibles from hospital rooms and social areas upon complaint that Christianity was given "preferential treatment".