All cases

Church Desecrated Following Series of Vandalism and Verbal Abuse

August 1, 2026, Spain

Santa Margarita María de Alacoque Parish in Madrid was burglarised and desecrated after intruders forced open two tabernacles, damaged the church and discarded a relic of the parish's patron saint. The incident followed months of reported vandalism and disruptions, including verbal abuse during mass, affecting the parish community

Scottish Teacher Takes Legal Action After Dismissal For Expressing Pro-Life Beliefs

July 30, 2026, United Kingdom

A Catholic teacher in Scotland has brought an employment tribunal claim after being dismissed for expressing her pro-life beliefs in response to pupils' questions during a classroom discussion. She alleges that her dismissal discriminated against her because of her Catholic beliefs and violated her freedom to express them in the workplace.

Altar Desecrated and Relics Taken From Church

July 30, 2026, Germany

Unknown perpetrators broke into St Martinus Church in Neuss-Holzheim, stole a Missal and relics of St Martin from inside the church altar, damaging the altar. The burglary caused limited material damage but a significant religious loss, requiring the altar to be blessed before it could again be used for worship.

Update: Perpetrator of Medjugorje Vandalism Identified

July 28, 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina

On the night of 27 to 28 July 2026, a scandalous desecration occurred on Apparition Hill in Medjugorje. Among the offences, the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was tagged with a blasphemous inscription, the altar of St James' church was set on fire, and a banner with aggressive messaging to the Medjugorje seers was hung up. Police have identified a Polish national who had been a pilgrim at Medjugorje back in 2017, but since then his life had taken a difficult turn "personally and spiritually". The local Catholic community have responded urging for prayers and forgiveness for the suspect, rather than judgement.

Man throws stones at image of St Joseph and damages church property

July 28, 2026, Italy

San Giuseppe Church and its parish oratory in the Matteotti district of Saronno were damaged in a vandalism attack in which stones were thrown at the church façade, damaging the image of St Joseph and the lighting of the Oratory. The incident not only affected the Christian community, but local organisations reached out in support in light of the "deeply saddening episode."

NI Police Guidance Warns Carrying a Bible Could Be an Offence Under "Buffer Zone" Law

July 28, 2026, United Kingdom

New guidance issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has raised concerns that ordinary Christian pastoral ministry could fall within the scope of Northern Ireland's abortion buffer zone legislation. According to the guidance, activities such as praying with patients at their request, reading Scripture or carrying a Bible through certain areas of a hospital may constitute criminal offences if they are considered capable of influencing or causing distress to a person accessing abortion services. Critics argue that the guidance illustrates the far-reaching scope of buffer zone legislation and risks creating a chilling effect on the peaceful exercise of freedom of religion and freedom of expression.

Third Church Targeted This Week: Tabernacle Desecrated and Excrement Left Inside Saint-Symphonien

July 27, 2026, France

On the night of 26 to 27 July 2026, the church of Saint-Symphorien in Chambray-lès-Tours was left desecrated and vandalised, the third church in the Indre-et-Loire region to be targeted this week. Unknown perpetrators entered the church, opened the tabernacle and threw consecrated hosts from the ciborium on the floor along and left excrement inside the church, the Diocese of Tours stated.

Tabernacles desecrated and painting slashed at Saint-Pierre Church in Nevers

July 25, 2026, France

On 25 July 2026, Saint-Pierre Church in Nevers was found to be vandalised with intruders having damaged the tabernacles and slashed the paintings inside the historic church. The perpetrators not only caused extensive damage to the furnishings of the house of worship, but committed a serious act of desecration which deeply affected the Christian community. The reports also describe the increasing frequency of acts of vandalism affecting churches in France.

Repeated acts of vandalism damage church grounds in Weil am Rhein

July 24, 2026, Germany

The grounds and parish hall of the Catholic Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Weil am Rhein have been repeatedly targeted in acts of vandalism. The damage affected the whole church property, including seats torn from their mounting and candle wax spilled inside the church, and reports state that the constant repair and cleaning up of the church grounds is a considerable burden on the parish community, who have appealed to local residents for assistance.

Suspected Catapult Attacks Target Church in Sheerness

July 24, 2026, United Kingdom

A church congregation on the Isle of Sheppey has been forced to move Sunday services to a local café after repeated suspected catapult attacks threatened the church's safety. As a result of safety concerns due to incidents starting in February 2026, the church has made plans to replace the damaged glass windows with a "bullet proof" alternative, and has had to board up windows to protect its congregants. The church minister believes such acts of vandalism are not isolated to Sheerness, but point to a wider problem in the UK.