All cases
Golfo Aranci Church Vandalised
January 16, 2026, ItalyVandals targeted the Nostra Signora del Monte church in Golfo Aranci, causing damage to the outdoor altar and destroying surveillance equipment.
Call to Remove Religious Symbols Hits European Court
January 16, 2026, FranceIn July 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) communicated Union of Atheists v. Greece (Application No. 001-244533), a case seeking the removal of Christian icons from Greek courtrooms. The application reflects a broader attempt to eliminate longstanding religious symbols from public institutions across Europe, raising concerns about whether state neutrality is increasingly interpreted as requiring the erasure of religious heritage from public life.
Allershausen Church Targeted in Arson Incident
January 15, 2026, GermanyA deliberate fire was set inside St. Josef church in Allershausen, Bavaria, causing damage to the interior.
Inverted Cross, Scattered Ash and Property Damage in Lutheran Church
January 14, 2026, GermanyVandals targeted the Lutheran Church in Bad Marienberg, Westerwald, Germany, overturning furniture, scattering ash, and inverting a wooden cross, causing damage to both property and religious symbols.
Woman Stole and Burned Church Gospel Book
January 14, 2026, PolandPolice identified and detained a 41‑year‑old woman who stole a Gospel book from a church in Nowy Tomyśl and later burned it, with residents assisting in her identification.
Fifteen Nativity Figures Taken from Church in Doganella di Ninfa
January 12, 2026, ItalyAt a church in Doganella di Ninfa, 15 nativity scene statues, each measuring about 30 centimetres in height, were stolen.
Church in Metz Vandalised Again
January 12, 2026, FranceOn 12 January, a church in Metz was vandalised, marking a repeated attack on the Église de la Sainte-Famille.
Granzette Church Desecrated with Human Waste Near Altar
January 11, 2026, ItalyA small church in the Granzette cemetery was vandalised over the weekend, with human waste found near the altar.
Nativity Display Destroyed in Cordovado
January 11, 2026, ItalyVandals destroyed a nativity scene displayed on the church forecourt in Cordovado, in the province of Pordenone, during the night of 10–11 January 2026, prompting condemnation from local authorities.
Historic Zamora Church Vandalised
January 10, 2026, SpainVandals defaced Zamora’s Church of Santa María la Nueva with slogans accusing the church of being "accomplice" of Franco and anarchist graffiti.
Vandals Damage Agropoli Church
January 10, 2026, ItalyA church in Agropoli was vandalised in a late‑evening incident that left sacred furnishings and a religious statue damaged.
Infant Jesus Statue Decapitated in Church Vandalism
January 8, 2026, FranceA Nativity scene inside a church in Le Passage, France, was vandalised in early January 2026, with the statue of the infant Jesus decapitated and dismembered and other figures broken.
Suspected Arson Targets Catholic Church in Novi Sad
January 7, 2026, SerbiaA suspected arson attack occurred at a Catholic church in Novi Sad, northern Serbia, on Wednesday night.
Altar and Prayer Books Defaced at Catholic Church in Gersfeld
January 7, 2026, GermanyVandals targeted the Catholic church of Mariä Himmelfahrt in Gersfeld between 5 and 6 January, defacing prayer and altar books, in an incident possibly linked to vandalism at the evangelical‑lutheran Baroque church the day before.
Nativity-Scene Float Vandalised in Alcalá Parade
January 7, 2026, SpainA pro-life community group in Alcalá de Henares reported that its nativity-scene parade float was vandalised at the end of the Three Kings Parade and filed an official complaint.
Series of Church Vandalisms in Steyr
January 6, 2026, AustriaAccording to recent reports, several churches in Steyr have been repeatedly vandalised since December, including a confessional set on fire.
Vandals Damage Protestant Baroque Church in Gersfeld
January 5, 2026, GermanyOn January 5, vandals entered the Lutheran Baroque church in Gersfeld on 5 January and caused deliberate damage to the building.
Utrecht Evangelist Assaulted; Video Circulates Online
January 4, 2026, NetherlandsA street preacher in Utrecht was assaulted during an evangelising activity over the weekend, according to a report.
Nativity Statuette Stolen and Damaged in Lerici
January 3, 2026, ItalyA statuette from a Nativity scene was stolen and damaged during an overnight incident outside the church of San Francesco in Lerici on New Year’s Eve.
Suspected Arson at Neunkirchen Church
January 2, 2026, GermanyOn the morning of 2 January 2026, a fire broke out at the Protestant Christuskirche in the centre of Neunkirchen, Saarland. Due to the significant amount of smoke caused by the fire, it took the fire brigade several hours to ventilate the building.
Jeanne d’Arc Statue Vandalised in Paris
January 2, 2026, FranceIn Paris on 2 January, the statue of Jeanne d’Arc on the Place Saint‑Augustin, located in front of the Église Saint‑Augustin, was vandalised in full daylight. An individual climbed the monument and forcibly removed the blade of the saint’s sword in the presence of passers‑by.
Holy Family Statuettes Stolen from Montoro Church
January 1, 2026, ItalyThe Holy Family statuettes were stolen from a Nativity scene at a church in Montoro.
Nativity Scene Burned in Algarrobo Vandalism
December 31, 2025, SpainOn New Year’s Eve in Algarrobo, vandals targeted public festive displays, burning Christian‑themed Christmas decorations, including a nativity scene in Plaza de España.
Vienna Church Repeatedly Targeted by Graffiti Vandalism
December 30, 2025, AustriaSt. Johann Evangelist Church in Vienna was defaced with graffiti on December 30, 2025, including Arabic writing and an Antifa symbol. Police launched an investigation amid political condemnation and reports of repeated targeting of the site.
Nativity Scene Stolen from Brandara Parish Church
December 30, 2025, PortugalThe nativity scene at the Parish Church of Brandara, in Ponte de Lima, was stolen during the night from Monday into Tuesday.
Cuenca Church Vandalised After Restoration
December 30, 2025, SpainVandals targeted the recently restored Church of La Virgen de la Luz in Cuenca, Spain, defacing its walls with graffiti and damaging the historic site.
Theft of Jesus Figurine from Nativity Scene in Sopot
December 29, 2025, PolandPolice released surveillance footage after a figurine depicting Jesus was stolen from a public nativity scene in front of the Church of St George in Sopot on the night of 29 December.
Gunfire and Explosive Device Damaged Church Entrance
December 28, 2025, ItalyUnknown individuals fired gunshots and detonated an explosive device at the secondary entrance of the San Filippo Neri church in Palermo’s Zen neighborhood.
Consecrated Hosts Stolen from a Spanish Church
December 28, 2025, SpainThe tabernacle of a church in Valladolid was forced and consecrated Hosts were stolen. This was the second such incident in the diocese this year, and Archbishop Luis Argüello has announced a public act of reparation.
Arson Damages Crypt of Lourdes Parish Church
December 26, 2025, FranceFirefighters in Lourdes contained a crypt fire at the Sacré‑Cœur parish church after smoke was seen escaping the building, with investigators reporting debris used as ignition material and clear signs of unauthorised entry.
Arson Attempt Inside German Church on Christmas
December 25, 2025, GermanyUnknown individuals ignited torn pages from prayer books on the church gallery in St. Maria, Haßlach, causing scorch marks and wax damage to the pews below. Thankfully, the fire did not spread, but the church suffered property damage.
Statue of Baby Jesus Smashed on Christmas Eve
December 24, 2025, United KingdomOn Christmas Eve vandals smashed a statue of the Infant Jesus and relics in the Lady Chapel desecrated at St. Patrick’s Church in Edinburgh. There was blood left in multiple areas of the sanctuary, and the figure was thrown into a bin during a confrontation between two distressed visitors.
Firecrackers Thrown at Church Nativity Scene
December 24, 2025, ItalyA passing vehicle launched firecrackers at the San Carlo parish nativity in Sezze, damaging the Christian display minutes before midnight Mass.
Masked Intruder Disrupted Christmas Vespers in Cologne Cathedral
December 24, 2025, GermanyA masked man in a black cloak, gold mask, and plush ears disrupted the Christmas Vespers and approached the front of Cologne Cathedral before being escorted out by church security.
Parish Reports Repeated Vandalism in Local Churches
December 24, 2025, ItalyOn 24 December 2025, the parish priest of the church of the Sacro Cuore publicly reported repeated acts of vandalism, including repeated property damage and anti-Christian graffiti, affecting churches in Sant’Egidio.
Paint Attack On Christian Pregnancy Counseling Centre
December 24, 2025, GermanyThe KALEB Family Centre fell victim to politically charged graffiti and paint attacks on Christmas Eve.
Church Nativity Scene Targeted with Theft and Desecration
December 22, 2025, GermanyIn Kahla in the Saale-Holzland district, unknown individuals stole and damaged parts of a Christmas nativity scene displayed outside the Catholic church of St Nikolaus in December 2025.
Christ Child Figure Found Hanging by the Neck
December 21, 2025, PolandOn 21 December, a figure of the Christ Child was found hanging by the neck in a nativity scene in the market square of Bolesławiec. Surveillance footage showed hooded individuals entering the scene and tying the doll to a rope in the manner of a gallows.
Vienna Church Defaced with Arabic and Syrian Nationalist Graffiti
December 21, 2025, AustriaA church in Vienna was repeatedly defaced with Arabic slogans and Syrian nationalist clan codes in December 2025, prompting a police investigation.
Swastika and Cigarette Butts Found on Nativity Scenes in Lentate sul Seveso
December 20, 2025, ItalyChildren discovered cigarette butts placed on Nativity figurines and a swastika drawn on St. Joseph’s silhouette at parish and municipal displays in Lentate sul Seveso.
Court Hears Case of Glasgow Grandmother Arrested Again For Sign Offering Conversation
December 19, 2025, United Kingdom75-year-old grandmother and Christian prayer group leader Rose Docherty has been arrested a second time and criminally charged for holding a sign reading “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want” within 200 metres of an abortion facility in Glasgow.
Windows Smashed at 13th‑Century Church
December 19, 2025, GermanyUnknown perpetrators shattered six windowpanes at the historic St. Johann church, prompting a police investigation and public appeals for information.
Series of Thefts Target Outdoor Nativity Scenes in Solliès‑Ville
December 19, 2025, FranceMultiple Nativity displays in Solliès‑Ville were stolen or vandalised, prompting concerns among residents and volunteers who maintain the Christian installations.
Desecration at Les Sables‑d’Olonne Church: Reliquary Broken and Saint’s Skull Stolen
December 18, 2025, FranceA break‑in at Notre‑Dame‑de‑l’Assomption resulted in the theft of a revered relic, prompting condemnation from parish and city officials.
UPDATE: Woman criminally charged for silent prayer
December 17, 2025, United KingdomBritish charitable volunteer Isabel Vaughan-Spruce has been criminally charged in Birmingham under the UK’s new national abortion “buffer zone” law for silently praying near an abortion facility, with her trial scheduled for 29 January 2026. This is the first known prosecution under the Public Order Act 2023, highlighting tensions between public-order regulations and freedom of conscience.
Polish Student Linked to ISIS Arrested for Planning Attack on Christmas Market
December 16, 2025, PolandAuthorities detained a Polish university student accused of preparing an ISIS‑inspired explosive attack on a Christmas market.
Estonia’s Actions Threaten Religious Freedom, Warn UN Experts
December 15, 2025, EstoniaUN human rights experts have raised alarm over legislative and administrative measures in Estonia that target the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (EOCC). They warned that these actions—ranging from legal amendments to restrictive treatment of clergy—could disproportionately limit religious freedom.
Swastika Carved Into Evangelical Church Facade
December 14, 2025, GermanyPolice opened a criminal investigation after unknown perpetrators etched a Nazi symbol into the wall of a church in Lower Saxony.
Blood Found on Altar in Church Desecration
December 13, 2025, ItalyA desecration of the Church of the Angel in Camaiore involved blood traces on the altar, misuse of sacred objects, and prompted both police investigation and a call for reparation by the Archdiocese of Lucca.
Holy Water Font Desecrated with Urine
December 12, 2025, GermanyA holy water font at St. Fidelis Catholic Church in Burladingen was deliberately filled with urine in an act of targeted desecration shocking parishioners and clergy. The parish priest called the act "a slap in the face of a believer."