All cases
UPDATE: £7,500 PROSECUTION COSTS FOR HOLDING BIBLE VERSE SIGN
January 15, 2025, United KingdomOn 15 January 2025, the Crown Court rejected Stephen Green's appeals and confirmed his guilty verdict. The Christian preacher will now have to pay more than £7,500 in fines and prosecution costs for silently holding a Bible verse.
Second attack on Rennes Basilica within days
January 13, 2025, FranceFollowing the destruction of a statue of the Virgin Mary a few days ago, unknown perpetrators have again vandalised the Saint-Aubin Basilica in Rennes. This time, a statue of the baby Jesus was found decapitated. The city of Rennes is facing a serious wave of hate crimes against Christians.
Nativity scene destroyed in Persico Dosimo
January 12, 2025, ItalyOn the night of 11 January, unknown perpetrators seriously damaged a nativity scene in the churchyard of the Dosimo parish church. Several figures were smashed to pieces, a gesture that caused great indignation among the local population.
Church vandalised and statue destroyed in Rennes Basilica
January 12, 2025, FranceUnknown perpetrators have destroyed a statue of Mary in the Saint-Aubin Basilica in Rennes. Attacks on religious symbols are a growing concern in the region.
Unknown perpetrators vandalise religious figures
January 7, 2025, GermanyOn the afternoon of 7 January, unknown perpetrators broke into the church of St. Francis Hochdahl in Erkhart. A leg of a religious figure, one of the Three Magi, disappeared and the burglars knocked over several other figures. Police are now investigating and looking for suspects.
Figure of the Infant Jesus stolen from nativity scene in Aprilia
January 4, 2025, ItalyOn 4 January, a figure of the Infant Jesus disappeared from the nativity scene set up by the Agroverde Neighbourhood Committee in a public park. "A gesture that deeply offends the sense of community and the faith of many people," said the committee and further stated: "It is an act of vandalism that demonstrates a total lack of respect for the traditions, symbols and religious feelings of many people."
Nativity scene in front of Roncoferraro church vandalised
December 31, 2024, ItalyOn the night of New Year's Eve, unknown people destroyed the nativity scene on the square of the Roncoferraro church. The vandals tore to pieces almost all of the particular figures depicting the nativity and scattered the fragments in the surrounding garden. This is not the first time that similar episodes have occurred.
Two nativity scenes vandalised in Ostiano
December 30, 2024, ItalyDuring the night of 30 to 31 December, someone destroyed two nativity scenes in the town centre of Ostiano and in the churchyard. The statues of the infant Jesus, the sheep and Mary were overturned and the statue of Saint Joseph was destroyed.
Religious image attacked
December 28, 2024, SpainSomeone smashed the protective glass of the Cristo del Puente image in Ceuta with a rock in a niche in the church on 28 December, and the image had to be moved to another parish.
Statue of Infant Jesus stolen from the nativity scene
December 28, 2024, ItalyA figure of the Infant Jesus from the nativity scene on the steps of the church in Levico Terme has been stolen during the night during the night.
Man riots in church
December 28, 2024, GermanyIn Cologne-Ehrenfeld, a man caused extensive damage to St Joseph's Church, destroying nativity figures and throwing burning candles around the church.
Nativity scene in Roque-Gageac set on fire
December 28, 2024, FranceA nativity scene set up by the local council in the village of Dordogne burnt down on the night of Friday 27 to Saturday 28 December. Although investigations are still underway, the mayor strongly suspects that the fire was deliberately set.
Cross in Gdańsk set on fire
December 27, 2024, PolandGdańsk police have arrested a 45-year-old man suspected of setting fire to a wooden cross. As a result of the incident, the painting of Mary hanging on the cross was burnt and the perpetrator also broke the fence surrounding the cross. The total damage was estimated at 10,000 zloty.
Repeated vandalism: Marian statue desecrated in Mrągowo
December 25, 2024, PolandThe desecration of the parish of St Raphael Kalinowski in Mrągowo took place on the night of 25-26 December. An unknown perpetrator entered the church premises and destroyed the statue of Mary in the church chapel. The situation was recorded by the parish camera.
Theft of nativity scene figures
December 20, 2024, United KingdomOn 20 December, it was reported that all the figures - Mary, Joseph, animals and the Infant Jesus - were missing from the nativity scene next to the church in Tunbridge, Wales.
Church walls and a statue of the Virgin Mary vandalised in Moissac
December 7, 2024, FranceOn the night of 7 January, unknown persons vandalised the walls of the Catholic church of La Mégère and a public statue of the Virgin Mary. The vandals sprayed several offensive inscriptions on both sites. The police are now investigating.
Cross demolished at Sehnde church
November 24, 2024, GermanyIn the night of November 24, a grave cross at the Cross Church in Sehnde was desecrated and the lighting of the church was demolished
Statue of Mary destroyed
November 10, 2024, ItalyA statue of Mary outside the local cemetery in Pievesestina, Cesena, has been smashed to pieces.
Nativity scene set on fire at the Baptist church in Lechlade
October 22, 2024, United KingdomBetween 10pm and 10.30pm on Tuesday 22 October, a shed at Lechlade Baptist Church in Sherbourne Street was set alight. The fire destroyed a Christmas display and caused damage to nearby benches and plants. Police are investigating.
Teacher Sanctioned for Using Religious Text in Local Heritage Class
September 27, 2024, FranceA French teacher in Carcassonne was reprimanded for using materials on St. Bernadette Soubirous and Lourdes in an Occitan class, allegedly in breach of neutrality laws. Despite arguing that the content reflected regional heritage, a court upheld the sanction in September 2024, ruling that it violated the principles of secularism in public education.