All cases

Arson and Vandalism in Sainte-Thérèse de Poitiers

May 14, 2024, France

On May 14, benches were gathered in heaps and set on fire in front of the choir in the church of Sainte-Thérèse in Poitiers. Furthermore, a statue of Mary was beheaded by the vandals.

Consecrated Hosts stolen from Czestochowa Church

April 28, 2024, Poland

Unknown perpetrators broke into the church of Our Lady of Czestochowa and stole the consecrated host, which is considered as an act of desecration by Catholics. Two ciboria with consecrated hosts disappeared from the secure tabernacle, as discovered by parish priest Father Stanislaw Mikos during Sunday Mass.

Passion Trail Vandalised

April 16, 2024, Germany

The Passion Trail set up by the Evangelical Lutheran parish in Hagen-Haspe has been demolished. The path, which was lined with crosses and prayer texts, led along the forest path at Tücking.

Grave of Late Patriarch Neophyte Desecrated

April 15, 2024, Bulgaria

The grave of the late Patriarch Neophyte was desecrated in Sofia, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church informed Tuesday morning, April 16.

Shouting Man Smashes Objects in Church

April 13, 2024, Italy

Shortly after 6 pm, a 41-year-old man started shouting complaining about an alleged theft of a backpack. According to the police, he then entered the church in Via Felice Bellotti, the San Benedetto Monastery, in Milan’s city centre and started to hit commemorative wreaths and a statue, which he threw to the ground. The police intervened against the intoxicated man, who was charged with a criminal offence.

Jesus Figure Stolen from Easter Crib

April 13, 2024, Italy

In the afternoon of April 13, a statue of Jesus was stolen from the Easter crib in the Consolation Parish in Via XX Settembre in Genoa. The first scene of the Easter crib displayed Jesus entering Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.

Church façade vandalised during mass

April 10, 2024, Germany

On April 10, a young man threw several bottles filled with alcohol against the façade of the Catholic Sacred Heart Church in Diez during the church service at around 6 p.m, causing heavy soiling and property damage.

Minors Set Altar on Fire

April 6, 2024, Austria

Two Children, one of them a 12-year-old boy, set a fire to the Serbian Orthodox Church of Our Lady in Feldkirch causing considerable damage. After searching the unlocked donation boxes for cash, they set the cloth at the altar in the back of the church on fire endangering liturgical objects.

Arson attack on French Church

April 4, 2024, France

A fire broke out in the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Agneaux on Thursday afternoon, April 4. According to police investigation's initial findings, the fire was intentional.

Desecration of Mission Cross

April 4, 2024, Poland

In the Church of St. Maksymilian Maria Kolbe in Bogatynia, a Mission Cross was chopped down over night.

Armenian Church Demolished in Nagorno-Karabakh

April 4, 2024, Other

Between December 28, 2023 and April 4, 2024, St. John the Baptist Church (S. Hovhannes Mkrtich) in Nagorno-Karabakh was destroyed, according to Caucasus Heritage Watch, referring to satellite pictures. The church was built in 1818 had been a landmark in Shusha/Shushi.

After Two Fires Church Temporarily Closed

April 3, 2024, France

Within 24 hours two fires hit the Saint-Serge Church in Angers. On April 2, the altar of the chapel of the Virgin Mary was set on fire. On the next day a fire broke out in front of the Saint-Ambroise statue. A suspect women was spotted and arrested by the police.

Vandalism at St John's Church Alresford

March 28, 2024, United Kingdom

In the night before Maundy Thursday, Easter crosses and the noticeboard of Baptist St John's Church in Alresford were vandalised.

Bust of Christ Vandalised at Rennes Church

March 20, 2024, France

A bust of Christ was vandalised and the church door damaged in Church of Saint-Germain in Rennes. The vandalism was discovered by the parish priest, Father Philippe Hebert, on March 20. The priest lodged a complaint the next day, investigations are ongoing.

Islamist graffiti on stone crosses

February 22, 2024, France

Islamist graffiti was discovered on roadside “calver” stone crosses saying "Tomorrow this will be the land of Islam". this is not the first time: on Christmas night, Islamist vandals wrote "Allah" on the cross, and the other day they found the inscription "Today is the land of infidels".

Cross of 7th Century Church of Vankasar Removed

February 5, 2024, Armenia

The cross of the 7th Century Vankasar Church has been found removed on pictures circulating online.

Man breaks statue in Saint Jean-Baptiste church "in the name of Allah"

February 2, 2024, France

A man entered Saint Jean-Baptiste church and violently attacked the statue of John the Baptist using a crucifix. The statue, made of plaster, was completely broken and the crucifix was badly damaged.

Vandalism and Desecration of Eucharist in Church

January 31, 2024, Italy

Thieves broke into the Church of Saint Mary of the Carmine in Lecce and stole money, desecrated the Eucharist kept in the tabernacle, and turned various sacred furnishings into corpses.

Thieves Steal Cross and Statutes from Salford Church

January 22, 2024, United Kingdom

A statue of Jesus on a crucifix was stolen from outside a church using an electric saw. Along with a kneeling angel and a kneeling figure of St Bernadette.

Nativity scene in Turin destroyed

January 4, 2024, Italy

On January 4, the nativity scene and Christmas tree were destroyed in an act of vandalism in the 5th district of Turin. The president of the district, Enrico Crescimanno, announced that an investigation would be launched to identify the vandals. He also described the act as "a disgraceful gesture against the representation of the Nativity".

Cologne Cathedral Terrorist Attack Plot uncovered

January 2, 2024, Germany

A plot to bomb Cologne's Catholic cathedral has been uncovered by police. "The attack was to have been carried out with a car packed with explosives," the local media announced. As a result of the plot, five men were arrested between 26 and 31 December, all of them allegedly linked to Islamic extremists. The Cologne police spokesman said that the police would maintain security at the cathedral.

Nativity scene Figures beheaded in Florence

January 2, 2024, Italy

Every year dozens of nativity scenes are set up along the Via dei Presepi. This Christmas, one of them was found with eight out of ten human figures decapitated, as it was reported by the police on January 2nd. The figures of the animals were also damaged. The incident has been described as a "sacrilegious surgical act". This event was also communicated on social media by the councillor, Susi Giglioli.

Statue of Jesus from Nativity Scene Beheaded

January 1, 2024, Italy

On January 1st, unknown vandals smashed the statue of the Child Jesus in Gorla Maggiore, Italy, in broad daylight. Mayor Pietro Zappamiglio expressed "great sadness and bitterness at what has happened." It is hoped that the vandals were caught on church cameras.

The statue of the Infant Jesus was decapitated in Alliste

December 31, 2023, Italy

It was reported that on New Year's Eve, unknown perpetrators vandalised the nativity scene of the parish church of San Quintino in Alliste, targeting the statue of the infant Jesus. The parish priest commented: "An outburst by our children that should make us reflect".

Nativity Scene Vandalised with Blue Paint

December 31, 2023, Germany

On January 4, a nativity scene was vandalised with blue paint outside the parish church of Großenbach-Hünfeld, Germany. The local community is shocked about the incident.

Statue of Mary Vandalised for the Second Time

December 31, 2023, Hungary

On New Year's Eve a newly restored statue of Mary has been vandalised for the second time in Dunavecse, Hungary. Unknown perpetrators smashed the head of the statue and trampled its pieces.

Another Nativity scene vandalised in Italy

December 31, 2023, Italy

On New Year's Eve, vandals destroyed the nativity scene in Campogalliano, Italy. The crib was built by local volunteers. Unknown vandals destroyed the figures and also damaged a nearby bus station.

Nativity Scene Vandalism: Statue of Infant Jesus destroyed

December 31, 2023, Italy

A statue of the infant Jesus of the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie was found destroyed on New Year's Eve. The figure was found with its arm and head cut off. The head is still missing. The village, which has only 198 inhabitants, is wondering who could have done such a thing.

Baby Jesus Figure Beheaded and torn into pieces

December 31, 2023, Italy

As it was reported at the end of December 2023, the nativity scene in Piazza della Repubblica in Monfalcone, Italy, has been attacked. The statuette of baby Jesus was found decapitated and smashed to pieces. The police are investigating. The mayor, Anna Maria Christi, said that everything is being done to find those responsible.

Nativity scene destroyed in Rome

December 30, 2023, Italy

On December 30, a nativity scene was destroyed in the Setticamini area of Rome, Italy. The crib was built by the citizens. The vandals "destroyed the face of Mary, they broke the hand of Saint Joseph, they tore down all the decorations and scattered them everywhere".

Jesus figure stolen from nativity scene

December 30, 2023, Spain

On December 30, the statue of the child Jesus was stolen from the nativity scene on Plaza dela Hispanidad in Cuenca. In a statement, the Consistory lamented that once again this year these acts of vandalism have targeted a heritage "that belongs to everyone".

Figure of Infant Jesus stolen from Church

December 29, 2023, Italy

On January 29, Don Severino Bernardini, the parish priest of Sant'Agnese, noticed that the crib was empty: the baby Jesus had been stolen. This is not the first time that this has happened in the parish. Hopefully the priest, who is a man of vision, had another baby figurine in stock. However, Don Severino left a note in the cradle to try and move the thief's heart: "Please take me back to my crib". Although the missing figurine has been replaced, the parish priest hopes that the thief will return the stolen baby Jesus.

Thieves stole 30 crucifixes from cemeteries

December 27, 2023, Spain

Through the theft of up to 30 copper or brass crucifixes severe damage was caused in the cemeteries of Pantoja, Seseña and Borox, in the province of Toledo. Three thieves broke into the municipal cemeteries and tore the crucifixes off the tombstones, causing damage amounting to 20,000 euros in the Pantoja cemetery alone.

Nativity scene violently destroyed

December 24, 2023, Italy

On Christmas Eve, street cameras caught a group of people damaging the nativity scene on the sqaure of Uboldo. The figures were "furiously kicked, punched and beaten". Someone also sat on the cradle and damaged it. The Major has announced that appropriate action will be taken.

Repeated Thefts of Nativity Figures in Ancenis

December 24, 2023, France

Repeated thefts of figures from nativity scenes have been reported at Ancenis church.

Repeated theft of Jesus figure from nativity scene

December 19, 2023, Spain

On December 19, the Jesus figure from the nativity scene in Benimaclet, Valencia, was stolen again, only ten days after it had previously been stolen and replaced by a caricature. This time, the vandals did not only steal the Jesus figure, but have also painted the word "eviction" on the wooden planks protecting the crib.

Cumbrae Church's Nativity Scence Vandalised

December 16, 2023, United Kingdom

A Christmas nativity scene at Cumbrae Parish Church was vandalised in Millport. Among other damages, the figure of Mary had been beheaded. The church community is shocked about the incident.

Graffiti on Church in Bareggio, Nativity scene vandalised

December 11, 2023, Italy

In Bareggio, the church of the Brughiera has been vandalised by graffiti on the outside walls. The incident came right after a nativity scene on the square of Bareggio was attacked. One figure was destroyed, another broken.

Figure of Jesus stolen from Nativity Scene and replaced with caricature

December 9, 2023, Spain

On December 12, a figure of the Child Jesus was stolen from a life-sized nativity scene at Benimaclet square, Valencia, just a few hours after the nativity scene was placed there. The unknown perpetrators furthermore replaced the figure with a caricature of Jesus.

ECJ rules Public Administrations can ban Religious Symbols at work

November 28, 2023, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)

A judgment by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from November 28 ruled that a public administration's imposition of strict neutrality to establish a 'neutral administrative environment' by forbidding the use of visible religious symbols can be justified. The Court states that Member States have discretion in designing neutrality policies but must pursue these objectives consistently and reasonably. This concept of 'strict neutrality', which is seen as opposed to visible religious symbols, raises religious freedom concerns.

Statue of Infant Jesus Beheaded in St. Johann Church in Saarbrücken

November 27, 2023, Germany

On November 27, unknown perpetrators vandalized the Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Saarbrücken. A statue of Infant Jesus has been beheaded and the statute of Mary, holding the infant, was also damaged. Later on, a 44-year-old woman was identified as the perpetrator.

Statue of Mary Damaged and Cross Stolen from Church in Vienna

November 24, 2023, Austria

On November 23, Keplerkirche St. Johann in Vienna was vandalized. Witnesses had seen a man who had allegedly tore a statue of the Madonna from an anchorage in the church and stole a wooden cross. Based on the witness statements and video surveillance footage, the police were able to identify the perpetrator. The 29-year-old Syrian man was found near the church and arrested. He will be charged with aggravated damage to property and theft. The stolen cross was returned to the church. The same perpetrator attacked the Viennese St. Stephan cathedral a few days later (see case from November 26, 2023).

Historical 16th century crucifix destroyed in Seville

October 22, 2023, Spain

The historic crucifix located in the Santa Marta square in Seville was destroyed on the night of October 22nd by unknown perpetrators. It dated to the 16th century and had a carving of a crucifix on one side and a pietà on the other.

Metal cross blown up in Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijani troops

September 27, 2023, Armenia

The second tallest metal cross in Europe, a 50-meter cross overlooking Stepanakert, the capital of the ethnic-Armenian Republic of Artsakh, was destroyed during the Azerbaijani military offensive that began on 19 September. This is only one of many attacks on the Christian religion of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, who are suffering an ethnic cleansing from their native land since the Azerbaijani military offensive.

Vandals set fire to a cross on the summit of Nagy-Szénás mountain

August 20, 2023, Hungary

Vandals set fire to a wooden cross erected a few years ago in the Nagy-Szénás mountain, near the village of Nagykovácsi. This happened on August 20, when Hungary celebrates its first king St. Stephen I and the State Foundation Day. The burning of the cross, erected on the 550-metre-high peak, has provoked strong anger among the villagers who have already started a fundraising campaign to replace the cross as soon as possible. The perpetrators have not been identified.

"God is Trans" tagged on Religious Panel during World Youth Day

August 5, 2023, Portugal

On August 5, a tile panel depicting the Ecce Homo (an image of Jesus Christ), the 5th station of the ancient procession of "Nosso Senhor dos Passos," was vandalized with the graffiti "God is trans" in the city of Torres Novas. This panel had recently been restored and blessed.

Statue of Mary Damaged in L'Aquila Church

August 1, 2023, Italy

In L'Aquila a young man damaged a statue of Mary in the church of San Pio X. According to initial police reports, the young man defaced the statue with a Hebrew tetragram after waiting for the departure of worshippers. He then forcibly pulled the statue from its pedestal, causing damage to its arm and legs.

Vandals Damage Statues in Chapel in Żuklin

July 31, 2023, Poland

In Żuklin, in Kańczuga commune, two religious figures were vandalised by unknown perpetrators. The damage caused to the chapel was noticed by residents who were shocked upon discovering the act of vandalism. The eyes of a statue of Mary and a statue of Jesus were defaced.

63-Year-Old Sets two Bibles on Fire on Church Altar

July 30, 2023, Germany

On the 30th of July, a 63-year-old man set fire to two Bibles on the altar of a church in the Ravensburg district. Firefighters intervened to restrain the man before the police arrived and arrested him. Due to the firefighter's prompt intervention, the fire did not spread to the church or its furniture.

Russian Missile Strikes Holy Transfiguration Cathedral

July 23, 2023, Ukraine

In the early hours of the July 23, a Russian missile struck the central altar of the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, reducing a large part of it to rubble. The building and the three lower floors were partially destroyed, while the interior and icons were significantly damaged. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church called for an immediate, final break of ties with the Russian Orthodox Church.

Statue vandalised in Rabastens Church

July 5, 2023, France

On July 5, a statue of Mary was found vandalised in the Notre-Dame-du-Bourg Church in Rabastens. The statue has been sprayed with red paint. According to France 3, a local resident criticised the lack of reaction from the town's mayor.

Statues of Jesus and Mary decapitated in Viennese Park

July 3, 2023, Austria

Images of Jesus and Mary were beheaded and vandalized in a prayer garden in a district of Vienna, Austria. The prayer garden is considered a spiritual oasis for visitors. The alarm was raised by two bypassers who discovered the devastated prayer garden. The police have been notified and they are conducting investigations to identify the motives and the perpetrators. A video by "Project Telos" shows the devastation of several objects in the garden, and the direct targeting of the statues of Mary and Jesus.

Statue of Mary destroyed in Church in Fonzaso

June 30, 2023, Italy

On June 1, the statue of Mary was found destroyed in a church in Fonzaso. Perpetrators put the broken statue on the altar of the church. The statue was an important symbol for the church, which is named after the Nativity of Mary and the community is shocked about the incident.

Case opened over the the Burning of a Cross in La Coruña

June 1, 2023, Spain

On June 1st, the provincial prosecutor's office of La Coruña opened a case over the burning of a cross in La Toleira of Neda, following a complaint by the organisation of Christian Lawyers. The lawyers' organization indicates that BNG (Galician nationalist party) members were responsible for the incident. They are being charged with possible hate crimes, offending religious feelings, offending historical heritage and illegal demonstrations. The Prosecutor's Office is asking the police to identify those involved in the reported act and the person(s) responsible for the fire.

Mayor tears down memorial cross two days after losing elections

May 31, 2023, Spain

The mayor of Barrado, a town in the province of Caceres, tore down the cross dedicated to the 'fallen' of the Spanish Civil War on May 31, after having lost the municipal elections two days before. The politician, a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), justifies his decision on the 'Democratic Memory Law' but the foundation Abogados Cristianos considers it an attack on Christians and is considering legal action.

French Church Desecrated in Cugnaux Village

May 28, 2023, France

On Sunday May 28, individuals broke into the church and carried out various acts of vandalism and damage to the place of worship. They tried to set fire to the church, also all the candles were knocked over, a crucifix was damaged and paintings were broken. The mayor, Albert Sanchez, strongly condemned this act of violence. In this context, local representatives called for a peaceful gathering in front of Cugnaux town hall (near the church), on May 31 at 6:30 pm to condemn all acts of violence against places of worship.

Vandals locked out Priest and Vandalize his Church

May 23, 2023, Poland

In Malnia, near Gogolin on May 23rd, unknown perpetrators blocked the door to the rectory to prevent the parish priest from intervening and destroyed a statue of Mary, a statue of St. Anthony, and damaged the interior of the church. The losses made by the perpetrators were estimated at several thousand zlotys.

Vandals Pour Red Paint Inside the Walls of a French Church

May 19, 2023, France

On May 19, between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m., unknown perpetrators entered the church Notre-Dame des Grâces in Revel without being detected. Once inside, they poured red paint on the walls. A depiction of Christ on the cross, a pyrographed painting of the Virgin and Child, candles and the altar were also vandalized with paint. On a wall, the word "proteste" (unclear form in French) was also written in red. The mayor considers closing the church outside worship hours due to this incident. The same happening had already taken place on May 1st, with the same acts and the word "protest" written on a wall with red paint. Back in 2018, the church in Revel had been attacked with arson.

Perpetrator Tags Church with Graffiti, Among other Vandalic acts

May 5, 2023, France

On May 5, 2013, graffiti was found on the Church of Lieusaint, in a suburb of Paris. The graffiti, which said: 'Vive l'Islam et la paix" (Long live Islam and Peace) was written in French and a Star of David was drawn. According to a local Muslim association, the scripture, full of mistakes, is unlikely to come from a Muslim. The Mayor strongly condemns this "proof of human stupidity". Last year, statues inside the church had been destroyed.

Street wall Displays insults and Hateful Messages Against Christians

May 2, 2023, Germany

A German man who was doing a bicycle tour around the Tollensee Sea in Germany, near Neubrandenburg, came across a wall displaying several hateful or disrespectful messages and insults almost entirely against Christians or Catholic Christians. He posted a picture of the display on his facebook page and informed the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians. Some of the posters on the wall say "F**k off Vatican", "Good that theologians are disappearing on their own", "Catholics are sh*t", among other things.

Three acts of Vandalism to Churches in a Belgian Village.

April 22, 2023, Belgium

On the 2nd of April, unknown people destroyed two statues and one vase in the Saint-Rémi Church, in the village of Profondeville. The day after, a small chapel nearby was burnt. A few days before, a Statue of the Virgin had been destroyed too. The police assume, that the same persons committed the three acts.

A Church severely vandalized in Angers - Suspect Arrested

April 12, 2023, France

On the April 12, 2023, the rector of the Sainte-Madeleine Church in Angers found his church devastated: seven statues had been beheaded or amputated, the altar was vandalized, and many crosses were too. Mr. Verchère, Mayor of the city, and Mr. Darmanin, Minister of the Interior condemned the degradation. On the 18. April, a 40-year-old with criminal records named Brahim was arrested by the police, he was also taken to a hospital for psychiatric examination.

TV-Channel Prohibits News Presenter from Wearing A Cross Pendant

March 24, 2023, Switzerland

The Swiss TV sender SRF has prohibited the moderator Wasiliki Goutziomitros to wear a cross necklace during the program. Ms. Goutziomitros is a presenter on the news program "10 vor 10", and was seen wearing a small cross pendant. Now, the SRF has decided that it violates journalistic guidelines. This has caused a great discussion in Switzerland regarding religious freedom. This news was reported around the 24th of March.

Man disturbs Mass and is suspected to have stolen a Crucifix in a Parisian Church

March 17, 2023, France

On March 17, a man loudly disturbed the Mass at the Saint-Hippolyte Church in Paris. He is also suspected to have stolen a Crucifix from a Parisian Church the day before. The crucifix, which was probably taken down during the theft, was found "broken into several pieces" on a nearby street corner, according to the police. The man is already flagged with a "fiche S", which means, the French State regards him as a danger to public safety. He has also been classified as a potential Islamist. He has also been sent to a psychiatric investigation.

Britain’s largest Scout girls’ organisation told to stop singing to God in new ‘inclusive’ campfire songs

March 10, 2023, United Kingdom

As reported by The Telegraph and the Christian Institute, Girlguiding, the UK's national guiding organisation for girls, has come under pressure and criticism after it published a blog post in which the organization argued that in order to make some of its traditional songs "inclusive for everyone," they need be changed to remove "references that have been hurtful to people." Using as an example a song in which references to God were removed.

Man Vandalizes statue and items in the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette Church

March 9, 2023, France

Limited details are available regarding a recent incident where an individual allegedly vandalized the Notre Dame-de-Lorette Catholic Church in Paris. According to reports from March 9, the perpetrator caused damage to a statue, chairs, and other items within the church and may have targeted other churches as well. An investigation into the matter is currently underway, and additional information is expected to emerge in due course.

A Spanish Senator Sued for Publicly Mocking and Discriminating Against Catholics

March 8, 2023, Spain

According to ifamnews, the Spanish Christian Lawyers Foundation has started legal proceedings against Senator Carles Mulet for engaging in acts of harassment against Christians and the affiliated organizations that publicly express their religious beliefs. The lawsuit also claims that Mulet has advocated for the removal of crosses by city councils, particularly in the Valley of the Fallen.

Saint-Martin d'Orly: Statue beheaded and hosts stolen

February 12, 2023, France

On February 12, the church of Saint-Martin d'Orly, on the border with Choisy-le-Roi was vandalised. A statue of Mary was beheaded and the consecrated hosts stolen from the tabernacle.

19-year-old Arrested after Video Showing him Burning an Image of the Virgin

February 8, 2023, Russia

A video on the internet have been circulating in Astrakhan of a 19-year-old burning a religious shrine, an image of the the Virgin Mary. Later that day, he was arrested and questioned by the police. The person filming behind the camera will also be questioned for the offensive crime.

Desecration of church in Koziegłowy. A man has been arrested.

January 27, 2023, Poland

On January 27 the church of Our Lady of Fatima in Koziegłowy near Poznań was desecrated. The perpetrator was a 41-year-old man who has been arrested. He knocked over a statue of the Virgin Mary, vandalized the manger, left the figure of Jesus in the baptismal font and damaged the church's sound system. The Metropolitan Curia of Poznań has called the faithful for acts of reparation.

Church of Norway asked to remove crosses from cemeteries and chapels as Human-Ethical Association finds them 'threatening'

December 19, 2022, Norway

In December 2022, the Church of Norway was asked by the local branch of the Human-Ethical Association (HEF) to remove the crosses on chapels and cemeteries as it finds them to be "threatening". The HEF advocates for more "neutrality" in public space.

Insults Tagged on Catholic Monument in Valladolid

December 9, 2022, Spain

On the night of the 9. December, unknown perpetrators spray-painted insults on the Monument to the Brotherhood of Valladolid in the city of Valladolid. The vandals painted the word "paedophile" on the statue of the brother and "little slut" on the statue of the girl. The monument represents the tradition of the Valladolid Holy Week. The incident has been reported by the police and the cleaning service has been notified. The police is looking for witnesses to identify the perpetrators.

Pew Research Study: Christians faced harassment in more countries than any other religion worldwide

November 29, 2022, International

In November 2022, the Pew Research Center published a new worldwide study on harassment and restrictions against religious groups in 2020. According to the findings, government authorities harassed religious groups in 178 countries in 2020 and social groups or individuals harassed religious groups in 164 countries. Both numbers show a slight decline in comparison to 2019. Christians and Muslims, the largest religions in the world, faced harassment in more countries than any other religious group, same as in previous years. The study documented that Christians were harassed in 155 countries, (2019: 153). Muslims were harassed in 145 countries (2019: 147) and Jews faced harassment in 94 countries (2019: 89).

Destruction of a cross at a forest in Poland

October 18, 2022, Poland

On October 18, 2022, local Polish media reported the destruction of a cross in the Rudki forest. An unknown perpetrator cut down a century-old wooden cross located in a forest complex on the edge of Lublin and Krężnica Jareja.

Vandal destroys statue of Pope John Paul II in Poland

October 17, 2022, Poland

On the 17. October, the police in Lubasz were notified that an unknown vandal had severely damaged the statue of John Paul II, which was estimated at a loss of PLN 1,500. The 20-year-old perpetrator has been caught by the police and now faces up to 5 years imprisonment for the crime he committed. However, the final punishment will be decided by the court.

ECHR acquits woman that desecrated a Paris Church simulating an abortion of Christ and Urinating on the Altar

October 13, 2022, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)

The European Court of Human Rights has recently concluded that Eloïse Bouton, a "Femen" member who performed a topless act simulating an abortion of Christ by the Virgin Mary in front of the altar and tabernacle of La Madeleine Church in Paris in 2013, has to be compensated. She had been sentenced by the French court to a one-month suspended prison and 2,000 euro fine for "sexual exhibition". She had also desecrated the altar of the church with urination and anti-Christian slogans and symbolism. With this ruling, a dangerous record of precedents is being created that will only encourage more blasphemous attacks on Christians.

Court of Justice of the EU rules Private companies can ban Religious Symbols at work

October 13, 2022, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)

In a Press Release on the 13. October, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) stated: “The internal rule of an undertaking prohibiting the visible wearing of religious, philosophical or spiritual signs does not constitute direct discrimination if it is applied to all workers in a general and undifferentiated way.” This means, now companies can prohibit workers to use religious symbols at work, including cross necklaces or headscarves. This will not be considered discrimination against religious groups, as long as it applies to all religions.

Repeated Vandalism to a church in Spain

October 10, 2022, Spain

The mayor of the municipality of Ponte Caldelas, Andrés Díaz, has denounced through his social networks several acts of vandalism committed in a Chapel of the town. In the photos he posted it can be noticed that the saints of the church have been painted black as well as signatures that the vandals left all over the building.

Bleach thrown at an image of the Virgin of the Rosary during a procession in Spain

October 2, 2022, Spain

On the Sunday night of October the 2nd, an unidentified person threw bleach from a balcony at the image of the Virgin of the Rosary when the statue was in procession near the Cathedral. The Local Police were immediately informed and are trying to identify the perpetrator of this hate crime.

A Statue of the Virgin Mary torn down in Spain

October 2, 2022, Spain

A statue of the Virgin Mary was thrown into the garden of the parish of San Miguel Arcángel in Las Rozas, Madrid, on the night of the 1st to the 2nd of October. The parish priest, José Antonio Buceta Toro, denounced the act on Sunday morning and informed the police.

The Mantle of a Virgin Mary Statue of Sevilla Was Attacked with Bleach

September 10, 2022, Spain

The Virgen de la Hiniesta, from the parish of San Julian, in Sevilla, suffered an attack on the weekend of the 10th of September. The statue was sprayed with bleach, causing significant damage to the garment. This was reported by the Brotherhood of the Vera Cruz and Charity of Brenes, responsible for the parish, on their social media.

Statue of the Virgin Mary Vandalised in Pailhares

September 4, 2022, France

During the night of 4. September, the statue of the Virgin Mary in the village of Pailharès was vandalised. The statue was covered with paint and with, among other things, lipstick and underwear around her neck. The village is located between Annonay and Saint-Agreve in the north of the Ardèche. Mgr. Jean-Louis Balsa, bishop of the diocese of Viviers, wants to put the church back in the heart of the village: "It is inadmissible, we must accept the beliefs of all. It is a fundamental lack of respect for the faithful. He refuses that the Church suffers from acts of delinquency of this kind and drives the point home: "We should not be despised for our beliefs and victims of fools, we deserve to be respected in our faith."

Stolen Virgin Mary Statue Found Damaged at Demolition System

August 18, 2022, Germany

A statue of Mary had been stolen from the Lady Chapel in Beckum and was found on the 18th of August. Employees of the Wocklum quarry found the figure, which was badly damaged, in the conveyor system that is used to feed the stones to the sand production. It was a great coincidence that the statue could be rescued, according to the police press officer Wibke Honselmann. "It was supposed to be destroyed in the Wocklum quarry, but the corpus blocked the plant," Honselmann said. Before the unknown perpetrators threw the statue into the pit, the head, hands and feet had been cut off. Police are investigating

Vandalism of a Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima in Jablonowo Pomorskie

August 13, 2022, Poland

On the night of August 13-14, 2022, unknown perpetrators vandalised the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, located on the grounds of the parish of Christ the King in Jablonowo Pomorskie. The vandal coated the transparent casing of the statue of Our Lady with heated wax and smashed the candles standing in front of the shrine.

Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Perpignan Desecrated and Profaned

July 23, 2022, France

A "gang of young people" desecrated the church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Perpignan on 23 July, stealing the ciborium, throwing the consecrated hosts to the ground and attempting to set fire to a statue of the Virgin Mary. A "gang of young people" desecrated the church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Perpignan on 23 July, stealing the ciborium, throwing the consecrated hosts to the ground and attempting to set fire to a statue of the Virgin Mary. On the day of the crime, the church had remained open as usual, but now it is closed outside of services," says Marc Olivier, the parishioner who discovered the scene of desolation.

Evangelical Church Signs Targeted By Vandals

July 16, 2022, Germany

The Protestant Gethsemane Church in Berlin-Prenzlauer-Berg was vandalised (again) by unknown perpetrators. The police announced on Thursday that unknown persons graffitied the display case at the church in Stargarder Straße in the night from 15 to 16 July and damaged several posters on various political topics. The police is looking for witnesses for the investigation. In the past, the church has repeatedly been the target of attacks in which, among other things, posters with political content were destroyed.

Radical Left Group Attacks Procession of San Fermín

July 7, 2022, Spain

On July 7, during the procession of San Fermín in Pamplona, a group linked to the nationalist radical left, carrying slogans such as "hypocrites out" and "you will go to hell", attacked the procession that was already returning to church. They mainly targeted the politicians, spitting, booing, and using physical violence against the mayor and his entourage. Moreover, the attack also exhibited a Christianophobic character.

Unknown Perpetrator Destroyed a Shrine in Gogołów

June 26, 2022, Poland

On June 26th, an unknown perpetrator destroyed the chapel of Jesus Crucified in Gogołów. The perpetrator smashed the statue of Christ hanging on the cross and destroyed the fence of the shrine.

Two Statues Vandalised in Warsaw with Blue Paint

June 5, 2022, Poland

An unknown perpetrator committed an act of vandalism against the St. Maximilian Kolbe parish in Warsaw. The vandal scrawled blue paint on the statue of St. Maximilian Kolbe and the Papal Cross (from Pope John Paul's II 1st Pilgrimage to Poland), standing on church grounds. The incident occurred on June 5.

Twitter Bans Spanish Deputy for Writing "Amen" in Support of the Holy Week

April 8, 2022, Spain

Twitter censored the deputy of the VOX party in Spain, Víctor Manuel Sánchez del Real, for writing "Amen" and the cry "Long live Christ the King", in support of the Holy Week. The social network considered that the deputy's publications did not comply with Twitter's rules, by "publishing private information" and demanded that he deleted it in order to unlock his account.

Russian Troops Commit Sacrilege at Chernihiv Cemetery in Ukraine

April 5, 2022, Ukraine

Russian troops vandalised a large cemetery near Mariupol on March 4th by repeatedly driving over crosses and tombstones with tanks. The necropolis is one of the largest in Europe and those who witnessed the event called it sacrilege. The cemetery was entirely destroyed in this unnecessary, sacrilegious, and inhumane destruction.

Arson at Church in Trinità

April 4, 2022, Italy

On April 4th, the Madonnina Church in Trinità was once again vandalised. This time, unknown perpetrators entered the church and set the prayer sheets and offering box alight. In the past, the church has been tagged with graffiti and a nearby bench was defaced. The mayor Ernesta Zucco said: “I wonder what they can have against this modest church. I have no more words but these facts cry out for justice. We really can't take it anymore."

Group of Young People Demolish A Cross in Baracaldo

March 23, 2022, Spain

A group of young people demolished the Cabo Quilates Cross in Baracaldo in the early morning of the 23rd of March and uploaded it to social media. Although the major had also decided to demolish the monument under the "Historical Memory Law", he rejected the illegal actions of the group. The Historical Memory Law has been used across Spain to demolish several religious symbols and Christian crosses that were created in the context of the Spanish Civil War.

Religious Statue Removal to be Decided in French Court

February 22, 2022, France

Back in 2020, a group called The National Federation for Free Thought requested that The statue of the Virgin Mary, in the village of La Flotte-en-Re France be removed. They claimed it was not in accordance with the separation of church and state. This case has now gone to court and will be decided on March 3rd. The statue was only targeted after it was hit by a car and was later rebuilt identically.

Consecrated Hosts and Candle Stolen from Church

February 18, 2022, Italy

An unknown thief stole a pyx filled with consecrated hosts and a candle from the San Giovanni Battista in Careggi. Don Marco Fantappiè called the police and an inspection was carried out but few conclusions were made. This was not the first attack against this church and Marco Fantappiè was quite distressed at how little help he has received to prevent sacrilegious acts such as this.

TikTok Influencers Desecrate French Church on Viral Video

February 16, 2022, France

Two TikTok influencers, Benjamin Ledig and "Queen Paul", filmed themselves wearing a crop-top and twerking (dancing sexually) in front of a crucifix at the Parisian church of Saint Paul on February 16th. They later posted this video on social media where it received some 20 million views despite it being repeatedly removed. Ledig claims he did it to protest the "homophobia" of the church while "Queen Paul" apologized for his behaviour.

Expensive Chalice Stolen from Church in Poland

January 22, 2022, Poland

A gold plated chalice worth several thousand zlotys was stolen from St. Martin's Church in Kepno, Poland on February 22nd. The chalice was later found in a dumpster and recovered. Investigators guess there were two thieves but they have not been found.

Municipality in Spain Takes Down Cross in Parish Church

January 21, 2022, Spain

The mayor of Villagarcía de Arosa began the demolition of the cross of the parish church, in late January 2022. The removal will be undertaken under the Historical Memory Law and will cost more than 1,000 euros, according to the PSOE government team. On social media, the political party VOX wrote: "infamy is being committed. A theft of our history and our faith. The local PSOE allows it with financial help from the Diputación".

Man Arrested for Dismembering Figures of Jesus

January 16, 2022, Germany

A 30 year old man was arrest for multiple accounts of property damage around the Märkischer Kreis region on January 16th. The cases included the dismembering of Jesus figurines, stolen statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, and damage to wayside crosses. The police suspected it was not a religiously motivated attack but this does not excuse the fact that the objects that were destroyed in a sacrilegious manner, were sacred to Christians.

Polish Court Rejects Appeal for LGBTQ Acquittal

January 12, 2022, Poland

The Plock court in Poland has finally rejected the prosecutions appeal after three pro-LGBTQ women were acquitted in March of 2021. They had been distributing posters of the Virgin May with a rainbow halo on her head and were prosecuted for "offending religious beliefs." The sentence would have been up to two years but the offence was not deemed severe enough.