All cases

Virgin Mary Statue Desecrated in Attack in Porto-Vecchio

October 1, 2026, France

During the night of 30 September to 1 October, a statue of the Virgin Mary at a public street in Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, was deliberately pulled from its pedestal and destroyed while perpetrators filmed the incident. The statue, known as 'A Vergine Maria', is a place of devotion for local residents. The Catholic Church of Corsica has expressed support for the parish community and called on the faithful to pray for the conversion of those responsible.

Christ Figure Found Destroyed in Grainau

September 30, 2026, Germany

In late September 2026, an approximately 120-year-old wooden figure of Christ at the Baschner Cross near the Jägersteig in Grainau was found torn down from the cross and smashed into pieces. The incident has shocked local residents, as this was the second reported attack on the figure, and it will now be repaired for the second time. The parish priest has called for forgiveness in the matter, though still affirmed that such an incident affects the local community and not only Christians.

Felix Ngole Addresses Court of Appeal in Religious Discrimination Case

September 28, 2026, United Kingdom

On 28 September 2026, Christian social worker Felix Ngole returned to the Court of Appeal in his dispute with a mental health charity that withdrew his job offer after discovering his publicly expressed Christian beliefs. A tribunal has already ruled that the initial withdrawal was religious discrimination, and a further appeal found errors in how his remaining claims were decided. Ngole is now asking the court to rule on those claims without requiring him to repeat part of the case before the same tribunal.

Priest dead after stabbing at Polish Benedictine Convent

September 24, 2026, Poland

A Catholic priest has died following a stabbing at a Benedictine convent in Jarosław, Poland, on 24 September, and a total of five victims were stabbed in the attack. Government officials have responded in horror at the attack, and sympathy for the members of the community. Following the attack, Rzeszów Cathedral stated that the community was filled with "great sadness" at the attack.

Man Damages Church Altar and Votive Shrine

September 23, 2026, Italy

On 23 September, a man entered the historic Church of San Rocco in the Castellone district of Formia and allegedly caused extensive damage to the interior of the building. He reportedly used a chair to damage the altar and knock down statues of saints, before also damaging a Marian votive shrine nearby. During his arrest, several police officers were reportedly injured. While the parish priest was reportedly calm following the incident, it has nonetheless shaken the community of Castellone.

Christian influencer assaulted in Vienna

September 22, 2026, Austria

On 22 September, an 18-year-old Christian content creator was assaulted by two youths near an underground station in Vienna. According to his account, one attacker threatened him with a knife and he suffered injuries to his ribs, hips, and nose. The incident was reported to police, and the victim expressed the belief that the attack was related to his Christian social media content.

Cross and vestments vandalised in Grein church

September 22, 2026, Austria

On 22 September, unknown perpetrators vandalised the Stadtpfarrkirche in Grein, scattering items from the confessional, prayer books, devotional images of saints and seat cushions throughout the church. The baptismal font was damaged, while a broken cross and two of the priest’s stoles were placed in the holy-water basin.

Multiple Marian Shrines Vandalised in Radom

September 22, 2026, Poland

Between 1 and 22 September 2026, a 34-year-old man allegedly damaged numerous roadside shrines and religious figures in Radom by defacing them with paint and damaging the religious statues. Reportedly vandalising up to ten historic chapels with images of the Virgin Mary, the suspect, after confessing to the vandalism, had 12 charges brought against him for the destruction of the figures. The local parish priest described the acts of vandalism as a blasphemy against God and the local community of believers.

Church near Brussels closes due to slew of vandalism

September 19, 2026, Belgium

According to a report from 19 September, St. Anne's Church in Auderghem has decided to close its doors and cease services after repeated acts of vandalism. The church council made the decision due to the incessant attacks on the historic building over the spring and summer of 2026. The measure is very shocking to the community, who relied on the church as an accessible and open place of worship.

Tabernacle forcibly removed and consecrated hosts scattered outside church in Guitiriz

September 19, 2026, Spain

On 19 September, unknown individuals forcibly removed and opened the tabernacle of the parish church of Santa Maria de Lagostelle in Guitiriz, stealing the ciborium containing consecrated hosts. The hosts were subsequently scattered outside the church, while the silver ciborium remained missing. The incident constitutes desecration and sacrilegious theft and was condemned by the Diocese as a direct affront against the Eucharist and the centre of the Catholic faith.