All cases
Statue of Mary Beheaded Close to Lyon
May 3, 2026, FranceA statue of Mary holding the infant Jesus was decapitated in Poleymieux-au-Mont-d’Or, close to Lyon. The heads of both figures were destroyed and found at the base of the monument.
Satanic Graffiti Found at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Sanctuary
May 2, 2026, PolandSeveral chapels in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska were vandalised with physical damage and satanic inscriptions discovered on multiple religious structures.
Church Appeals Public Order Notice Restricting Street Outreach in Colchester
May 1, 2026, United KingdomBread of Life Community Church in Colchester, Essex, is appealing against a Community Protection Notice (CPN) restricting its street outreach. The notice is believed to be an unprecedented use of public-order legislation against an entire church, rather than individual street preachers, and raises concerns as it addresses not only the manner of preaching but also the content of religious messaging.
Eppingen Church Suffered Arson Attack and Extensive Vandalism Targeting Sacred Objects
May 1, 2026, GermanyA Catholic church in Eppingen, Germany, was severely vandalised in an incident involving fire-setting, widespread damage to church property, and destruction of sacred religious objects, including the Easter candle and altar. A suspect, reported to be a teenager, has been arrested and police investigations are ongoing.
Lib Dems Admit Religious Discrimination Against Former Candidate
April 29, 2026, United KingdomThe Liberal Democrat party has admitted religious discrimination against journalist David Campanale following a four-year legal dispute over his deselection as a parliamentary candidate. Campanale had been removed after expressing Christian views on issues such as abortion and assisted suicide. The case has raised serious concerns about the treatment of individuals holding religious convictions within political parties and the potential impact on participation in public life.
Statue of Mary Desecrated with Red Paint in Zhovkva
April 28, 2026, UkraineIn Zhovkva, Lviv region, a statue of the Mary has been desecrated in the city’s central square with red liquid poured over the statue. A man has been identified and arrested.
Crucifix destroyed in Santarcangelo church vandalism
April 28, 2026, ItalyThe stone crucifix outside the Church of San Martino dei Mulini in Santarcangelo di Romagna was destroyed overnight in what authorities describe as a deliberate act of sacrilege. The incident is part of a series of attacks on religious symbols in the area.
Man storms altar area and devastates St. Antonius Church in Düsseldorf
April 28, 2026, GermanyA man entered St. Antonius Church in Düsseldorf, forced his way into the altar area and damaged liturgical objects before being detained by police shortly afterwards. Parishioners reacted with shock at the destruction of objects central to worship.
Charges Dropped Against Christian Woman for Holding Sign in "Buffer Zone" Case
April 27, 2026, United KingdomOn 27 April, Glasgow Sheriff Court dismissed criminal charges against a Christian woman, Rose Docherty, who had been arrested for peacefully offering consensual conversation within a designated “buffer zone”, finding that the prosecution had failed to disclose an offence. However, the case may be reopened if prosecutors present further evidence. Docherty was the first person charged under Scotland’s 2024 “buffer zone” law after standing near a Glasgow hospital with a sign reading: “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.”
Valenciennes church vandalised with destruction of religious statues and objects
April 26, 2026, FranceThe Saint-Géry church in Valenciennes was targeted in an act of vandalism, with several religious objects and artworks damaged, including a station of the cross and a statue titled Le Silence. The incident follows a previous episode at the same church, and a man was arrested in connection with the latest case.