All cases
Church of Norway asked to remove crosses from cemeteries and chapels as Human-Ethical Association finds them 'threatening'
December 19, 2022, NorwayIn December 2022, the Church of Norway was asked by the local branch of the Human-Ethical Association (HEF) to remove the crosses on chapels and cemeteries as it finds them to be "threatening". The HEF advocates for more "neutrality" in public space.
Satanic Vandalic Attack on a Church in Golino
December 19, 2022, SwitzerlandBetween the 18th and 18th of December, unknown vandals tagged the walls of the church of San Giorgio in Golino, Canton of Ticino, with satanic and anarchist symbology in black paint. A complaint has already been made by the parish. The damage was noticed by the sacristan the next morning.
Saint-Roch's church in Paris Defaced with Hateful Graffiti
December 19, 2022, FranceOn 19 December several tags with insults, anarchist and nazi symbols appeared on several doors of Saint Roch's church in the centre of Paris. "A few days before Christmas, scandalous inscriptions were left on the church of Saint-Roch", wrote the mayor of Paris, Ariel Weil. He commented that a complaint had been lodged at the police and that the cleaning of the building had started.
Vandals Throw Flower Pots Through The Windows of a Church in Egham
December 18, 2022, United KingdomBetween the 18th and 19th of December, an unknown perpetrator destroyed several windows of the St. John of Rochester Catholic church in Egham Hythe. The perpetrator smashed the windows by throwing flower pots through them. The shattered glass spread over the floor and the incident was discovered by a church volunteer, Anne-do Bauchot. She and other church members said they were "heartbroken" by seeing this attack. Also, because of this, the church was not able to hold their traditional Christmas Eve service.
Man Arrested After Destroying Nativity Scene with Hammer
December 17, 2022, SpainA video was uploaded on Youtube on the 17. December of a man that destroys a Nativity Scene with a hammer in the Spanish city of Calahorra. He has already been arrested by the police.
16th Century Church Looted in Kosovo
December 16, 2022, KosovoAmid the new tensions of December 2022 between Serbians and Albanians in Kosovo, it was reported on Serbian news that ethnic Albanians looted several Serbian houses and one church: "Residents of the village of Bogoševac near Prizren said that Albanians had looted several Serbian houses. The local population lost everything - from equipment to personal belongings. The church of St. Nicholas, built in the 16th century, was also looted. In 2022, the highest number of attacks on the Serbian population of Kosovo and Metohija was recorded".
Good news: German court rules that the ban on worship services during pandemic was illegal
December 16, 2022, GermanyA German court in Minden has declared that the "decision to ban worship services was illegal" as "the measure was 'disproportional', not founded in the law for infection prevention and violated the freedom of religion severely." The case referred to the total ban on public worship passed by the municipal council of Lage, a small town in the state of Lower Saxony, during Easter 2021.
1,000 euros worth of Altar Pieces Stolen
December 16, 2022, CyprusTremithousa Village is located in Cyprus, where there has been a grand theft at the Chapel of the Prophet Elias. It was reported on the 16th of December that the police have started the investigation. Unknown perpetrators have broken into the chapel and have stolen four altarpieces that are worth 1,000 euros.
UPDATE: Spain's Lower House Passes Bill Allowing Abortion for Minors Without Parental Consent
December 15, 2022, SpainAfter some months of debate, the Congress of Deputies (the national parliament lower house in Madrid) recently passed the new abortion law. This law breaches human rights for parents and medical staff alike, as it allows minor girls 16 and 17 years old to undergo an abortion without parental consent. Also, the freedom of conscience for medical staff is under pressure, as doctors who opt-out from this procedure for conscience reasons will be placed on a list of "conscientious objectors" and removed from the medical committees that decide over a woman's claims of malformation or illness of the foetus that want to abort beyond the limit of the first 14 weeks.
Roof of the Lutheran Church of Chemnitz damaged
December 14, 2022, GermanyAccording to the police, on 14. December, unknown perpetrators have probably thrown fireworks at the rooftop of the Luther Church of Chemnitz. This has caused damage to the entrance, the estimated amount is around 7500 euros
Statues of Joseph and Mary Beheaded in Broad Daylight in Schaffen
December 14, 2022, BelgiumThe statues of Joseph and Mary were found beheaded at the Nativity scene in Schaffen (Diest), on 14 December. It happened in broad daylight, in the afternoon. According to local residents, it is not the first time vandals have struck at the nativity scene.
The ECHR condemns Bulgaria for violating the right to Religious Freedom of Evangelical Christians
December 13, 2022, BulgariaThe European Court of Human Rights has condemned Bulgaria for a 2008 governmental campaign to warn children and families away from Protestant churches. This came after in 2021, Pastor Tonchev and Pastor Kiryakov in Burgas, challenged the government's campaign that labelled Protestant Christians as "sects"and told children at schools that they should not attend such churches.
Arson Attack to Nativity Scene in Strasbourg
December 13, 2022, FranceThe nativity scene at the heart of the Christmas market in Illkirch-Graffenstaden, a town near Strasbourg, was destroyed by arson, reports the news site "20 Minutes". The incident was reported on the 13th of December. The police is searching for the perpetrator.
Vandalism to Church Property in Braga
December 12, 2022, PortugalThe vicinity of the Parish Church of São Francisco, in the parish of Real, in Braga, has been the target of vandalism and graffiti. Also a signboard in São Bento da Porta Aberta was found destroyed on 12 December.
Protestant Pastor arrested in Berdyansk, Ukraine by Russian Forces
December 12, 2022, UkraineThe Ngo Forum 18 reports that on 12. December, "armed Russian soldiers broke into the home of Serhiy Karpenko, Pastor of the Vefil (Bethel) Protestant Church in Berdyansk." The Russian forces took him away in an unknown direction. The Berdyansk News Online also reported this on its Telegram channel the same day. According to the news channel, local residents said "soldiers had also searched the Church and allegedly found Ukrainian symbols."
110 Year Old Cross Stolen from St. Michael Church in Germany
December 11, 2022, GermanyUnknown perpetrators stole the cross from the church of St. Michael in Blumenfeld, as reported on 11. December. It seems that this happened soon after the Advent singing, leaving the dean and the mayor stunned with the theft. The cross, which is more than 110 years old, is estimated to be worth up to 12,000 euros. The police have started an investigation and are looking for witnesses and information.
Assault in an Evangelical Church in Caserta: Worshippers Robbed During the Service
December 11, 2022, ItalyAn armed robbery took place on 11. December night in an evangelical church in Orta di Atella, in the province of Caserta. The six robbers, according to the witnesses, entered the church during the Sunday service with covered faces and, at least two of them, armed with pistols, robbing some of the worshippers present. The whole incident lasted only a few minutes, after which the bandits fled in a car, with the Carabinieri only appearing at the scene later.
Right-Wing Slogans Tagged on Church in Germany
December 11, 2022, GermanyThe Door of St. Peter's Church in Versmold has been tagged with right-wing extremist slogans by unknown perpetrators. The graffiti shows inciting symbols and slogans, as it was reported on the 11. December. The police of Bielefeld are investigating and trying to identify the perpetrators.
Church Robbed and Vandalised in Portugal
December 10, 2022, PortugalThe bells of the Church of Santa Marta, in the parish of Benfica do Ribatejo, were stolen and the facilities of the scouts were robbed. The alert for the theft was given this Saturday morning, December 10, but the robbery would have occurred on Thursday or Friday. The bells were stolen from the Church Tower and the robbers caused even more damage. They entered the Scouts' premises and destroyed various Scout materials and even stole several tents.
Arson to Church in Calais
December 10, 2022, FranceOn 10. December, rooms, doors, and objects at the Notre Dame des Armées Church in Calais were burned during an arson attack. One of the parish members commented that they perceived a"strong burning smell" when they entered the building on that day. Unknown perpetrators had burned the door leading to the sacristy, the room where the priest prepares the celebrations and the floor tile. The police have opened an investigation, they are treating the case as an intensional fire caused by the perpetrator. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and the fire did not affect "valuable objects".