All cases

Abandoned Church Suffers Gross Desecration

June 6, 2018, Italy

A 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, Germany

When 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 Kingdom

The 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".

Arson Attempt in Sicilian Church

June 3, 2018, Italy

On June 3rd at 11 o'clock at night, a man poured gasoline at the entrance to the church of San Giuliano in the Sicilian city of Messina and tried to set fire to the building. Firefighters extinguished the flames that had been partially isolated. The structure of the church was not damaged. Police arrested the alleged perpetrator shortly after in the vicinity of the property.

Window Broken in Church of Hahnenbach

June 2, 2018, Germany

Unknown people broke a window of the Evangelical church in Hahnenbach during the early hours of June 2nd. Later, they forced the back door of the building. Apparently nothing was stolen.

British MPs Demand "Buffer Zones" Outside Abortion Facilities

June 1, 2018, United Kingdom

One hundred sixty-one members of the British Parliament are demanding that Home Secretary Sajid Javid act on a proposal to introduce exclusion or "buffer zones” around abortion facilities, which would ban pro-life prayer, protest, and counseling of women conflicted about abortion.

Windows Broken in Jena Church

May 29, 2018, Germany

The Stadtkirche Sankt Michael in the city of Jena was subjected to two vandalism attacks in two days. On the night of May 27th, someone threw stones and broke two of the church's stained glass windows. Two days later, on May 29th, someone broke another window in the back of the church. Witnesses observed two teenagers behind the church and police began an investigation.

Fire Inside Büdesheim Church

May 27, 2018, Germany

On May 27th, unidentified people entered the church of Büdesheim between 12:00 and 7:00 pm and set fire to a sign hanging in the building.

Arson in Parish's Sports Facilities; Graffiti Threatening Parish Priest

May 26, 2018, Italy

Around six o'clock in the morning of May 26th, unknown people set fire to the rooms of the secretariat in the sports center of the Maria Madre della Chiesa parish in Casazza, a Brescia neighborhood, completely destroying its interior. In addition, next to one of the rooms affected by the fire, curses and serious insults against the parish priest were written with a blue marker.

Constant Vandalism in Sicilian Church

May 25, 2018, Italy

On May 25th, unknown persons entered the Chiesa Gesù Amore Misericordioso church in Canicattì, causing damage, breaking furniture, and staining the building with paint. Reports called this the "umpteenth time" the church had been vandalized because of repeated incidents.

Two Men Arrested for Destruction of Historic Crucifix

May 21, 2018, Poland

Two men were arrested for chopping the arm off and damaging the torso of an 18th century crucified Christ figure with a machete in front of the St. Dominic church in Nysa.

Man disrupts homily at Pentecost mass in Nantes

May 20, 2018, France

A man approached the ambo and took the microphone a few minutes into the homily during Pentecost mass and spoke in a foreign language. A few witnesses have reported that the intruder said "Allahu Akbar", the vicar, however, denies it.

Cemetery Vandalized in Indre-et-Loire

May 19, 2018, France

Between thirty and forty graves in the cemetery of La Riche were vandalized early in the evening of May 19th. Damage included smashed crucifixes. The mayor of La Riche called the act "pure vandalism," as no tags or other signs were left by the perpetrators. Families visiting the cemetery on the Pentecost weekend were distressed upon learning of the damage to their loved ones' graves. The city announced its intention to file a complaint, and urged affected families to do the same.

Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes Vandalised

May 18, 2018, France

Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes situated in the Grotto in Sainte-Gemmes-d'Andigné was broken in half during the night of May 18th to 19th. An investigation was launched immediately and two 17-year-olds confessed to the act of throwing rocks at the statue until it was broken in two. On June 6th they will be heard in the court. Damages amounted to 1000 euros.

Arson at the Madonna dell'Aiuto Church

May 17, 2018, Italy

During the night of May 17th, unknown persons entered and set fire to the church of Madonna dell'Aiuto in Trecastagni.

Fire in a Lyon Chapel

May 16, 2018, France

A fire broke out in la Chapelle Saint-Croix in the 6th arrondissement of Lyon in the afternoon of May 16th. It appeared that a fire set in the chapel's confessional started the blaze and three fire trucks were deployed to extinguish the fire.

Desecration and Theft in the Church of San Giacomo di Monselice

May 14, 2018, Italy

On May 14th, witnesses discovered that the tabernacle had been desecrated and two ciboriums containing consecrated Hosts had been stolen from the church of San Giacomo de Monselice. This was the 3rd robbery in the Padua diocese in five months.

Saint André Church in Grenoble Looted

May 13, 2018, France

Four boxes use to collect donations for the poor and for upkeep of the church were discovered looted in the Saint André church in Grenoble on May 13th. According to the parish priest, the perpetrators emptied the donation boxes and forced the drawers. Losses are estimated at around 600 euros.

Bulgarian Catholics and Protestants Unite to Oppose Proposed Religious Law: Updated

May 13, 2018, Bulgaria

Catholic and Protestant communities in Bulgaria have unified their efforts to prevent the adoption of two legislative proposals put before the parliamentary assembly in May 2018. The first, sponsored by the conservative GERB, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms, would permit state subsidies only for major religious denominations. The second, tabled by the United Patriots, would require greater oversight of religious activities and financing.