All cases

Village Church Vandalized in Northern France

April 23, 2020, France

The village church of Saint-Remy in Marly-Gomont was found vandalized on April 23rd despite a coronavirus lockdown confining people to their homes.

Decapitation of Marian Statue in Sumène

April 23, 2020, France

Unknown perpetrators decapitated a Marian Statue in Sumène on June 23rd. The attack was allegedly made with a stone that was found next to the statue along with the cut off head. The mayor of the city, Ghislain Pallier, already filled a complaint.

Three Armed Policemen Burst Into a Parisian church to Stop a Mass

April 22, 2020, France

Bishop Aupetit strongly denounced the incident, recalling that the law prohibits "police officers from entering a church with weapons".

Several Acts of Thefts and Vandalism of Churches across Austria

April 20, 2020, Austria

Several acts of thefts and vandalism of churches have occurred across Austria

Armed Policemen Burst Into a Parisian Church And Stop a Mass

April 19, 2020, France

On Sunday 19th April, three armed policemen burst into the church and ordered the priest to stop the mass.The parish priest of Saint-Andre-de-l'Europe was celebrating a Holy Mass with an Online broadcast for his parishioners in confinement. Inside the Church there were seven people, all involved in the celebration. The parish priests recall that the police is not allowed to enter a church with weapons, according to the law. The police can only intervene in a sanctuary at the request of the parish priest or in case of an emergency. One of the parishioners was also a policeman, who talked to the officers. It seems that a neighbour had alerted the police.

The Police Ordered the Closure of the Church and the end to Perpetual Adoration

April 19, 2020, Spain

On the 19th April, the police ordered the closure of the Church and the end of worship in the parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Sabadell. There were only one or two people present during each adoration, which did not go against the Covid-19 regulations. The bishops started doing arrangements for a reopening of the church.

Desecration of a Church in Mümling-Grümbach

April 18, 2020, Germany

On 18th April, "Echo Online" reported that the protestant church in Mümling-Grumbach closed its doors after the discovery of a desecration and vandalism.

The Government Prohibits the Procession of the Santa Faz to Bless the City.

April 17, 2020, Spain

The Subdelegation of the Government prohibited on the 17th April the Procession of the Santa Faz relic to bless the city, which would have taken place on the 23rd April. The reason was that the act was not covered by the regulations on the state of alarm for the Covid-19 pandemic. The mayor and priests proposed alternatives for celebrating the procession without danger of contagion. However, the Council has not approved it. In other historical pandemics, the celebration had taken place.

Vandalism on Parish House And Urination on the Church of Omegna

April 17, 2020, Italy

On the 17th April, an 22-year-old vandal smeared the walls of the parish house in Omegna. On April 18th, the parishioners found urine in the confessional of the parish church, where a man was seen entering by witnesses. The police started investigating both cases, and identified the man through the surveillance cameras. He was responsible for both acts.

Arson In St. James Church in Southhampton

April 16, 2020, United Kingdom

Arson attack took place in the St. James’ Church in Southhampton. The fire is believed to have started in a toilet area inside the church between 9pm and 8am between the 15th and the 16th of April. After smoke was seen out of a window at around 10.37 o’clock, the firefighters came and put the fire down. The foyer was also full of smoke.

Attack on Church in Lesvos

April 14, 2020, Greece

The small church of Agia Aikaterini, which is located on the road leading to the Moria refugee camp in Lesvos, was the target of unknown vandals who caused extensive damage in early April.

Religious Freedom Observatory Denounces Cancellation of Masses

April 13, 2020, Spain

The president of the Observatory for Religious Freedom and Conscience (OLRC) sent a letter to the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, asking for "explanations" and showing her "discomfort" about the suspension of Masses in the course of their celebration that has taken place in different parts of Spain during Lent and Holy Week.

Vandalism in Church St. Nicholas

April 13, 2020, Italy

On 14th April, the Church St. Nicholas and the Children's playground were found vandalized. The religious newspapers were thrown were thrown away and the slide of the playground was smashed. Mayor asked for witnesses to contact the police and expressed his rejection to this act. The police are investigating.

Arson Attack at Christ the King Church in Backnang

April 13, 2020, Germany

On Easter Monday in the Christkönigskirche in Backnang, unknown perpetrators entered the church and set it on fire. This happened between 8 and 11 o'clock. They lit the Easter display on a high table and set fire to cloths and a pinboard. A witness was able to extinguish the fire and to prevent a greater damage, according to the police report.

Thieves Broke Into The Sanctuary of Mercy and Attacked Two Parish Priests And Personnel

April 12, 2020, Spain

In the early morning of Sunday 12th April, three individuals with covered faces assaulted the parish house of the Santuari de la Misericòrdia in Canet de Mar. The perpetrators entered to a whole on the fence that protects the rectory, trying to enter the ecclesiastical premises through a window. They went then to the quarters and attacked the parish priests Pere and Joan Travessa and the stewardess, who were beaten and thrown to the ground. The attackers asked where the money was stored but didn't get the information and attacked the custodian of the sanctuary and his assistant. This was the second time in less than a year, that catholic temples are attacked in Maresme.

Offensive Graffiti on The Square in Front of Saint Peter Church

April 12, 2020, France

On Sunday 12th April, an Inscription was found on the square in front of the Church in Osseja. This happened during Easter night, when Christians celebrated the Resurrection of Christ. The inscription says "The Church is not the House of God". The Father Christian Burillo reacted very saddened and said this gesture shows the suffering of the people in the city.

Police Suspended an Open-Air Mass Without the Participation of the Faithful

April 12, 2020, Spain

On the 12th of April, the police suspended a Mass being celebrated on the parish courtyard of San Jenaro de Madrid. Although the Mass was being held without the participation of the faithful, it was interrupted by the police and the priests had to be identified. The Madrid City Council stated that the parish had installed without authorization a megaphone outside the building, which had raised "complaints from neighbors".

The Police Evacuated a Holy Mass in San Fernando de Henares

April 12, 2020, Spain

On Easter Sunday, the Police evacuated the parish of San Isidoro in Valencia, were nine people and the priest were gathered. They also interrupted the prayer of the Rosary in an act of Eucharistic adoration. The temple had space for 700 people, so the ten people could sit with plenty of space between them, using masks and gloves. The police allowed them to finish the Mass and warned them that if they did not suspend the church services and activities from now on, they would be sanctioned.

Vejleå Church in Ishøj Vandalized with Islamist Graffiti

April 12, 2020, Denmark

On April 12th, the Vejleå Church in Ishøj was vandalized with phrases such as, "We conquer Denmark," and, in Arabic, "There is no God but Allah."

Vandalism in Bizantine Church

April 12, 2020, Greece

Vandals spray-painted anarchist slogans on the walls of the Byzantine-era Church of Prophet Elias in Thessaloniki.