All cases
Former auxiliary bishop assaulted and seriously injured
December 16, 2023, GermanyThe former Auxiliary Bishop of Hildesheim, Nikolaus Schwerdtfeger, has been the victim of an attack in his home and is being treated in intensive care.
St. Mary's Church Vandalized with anti-Christian Graffiti in Cologne
December 5, 2023, GermanyAt the beginning of December, for example, the pilgrimage church of St Mary in Kupfergasse in Cologne was the victim of an attack in which the perpetrators left eclectic messages on the walls of the chapel. The smearing included writings such as "666" and "Allah Akbar", most probably non of these related to genuine Satanism or Islamism. However, the use of these slogans and the fact that the perpetrators defaced the chapel walls point to a strong anti-Christian motive.
Priest's car set on fire in Carapelle
December 2, 2023, ItalyThe car of Don Claudio Barboni, the parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Mary Virgin of the Rosary in Carapelle, was demolished in a fire the night of December 2. The priest said he noticed the fire from his window at 2 in the morning. The car was parked in front of the rectory in Vico Capua.
Statue of Infant Jesus Beheaded in St. Johann Church in Saarbrücken
November 27, 2023, GermanyOn 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.
Threats and Disturbance inside Vienna's Cathedral
November 26, 2023, AustriaOn November 26, a 29-year-old man from Syria disrupted the Sunday Mass in Vienna's St. Stephan Cathedral. According to media reports, he repeatedly disturbed the liturgy, jumped over the fence around the main alter and screamed loudly.
Statue of Mary Damaged and Cross Stolen from Church in Vienna
November 24, 2023, AustriaOn 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).
Ballymoney Church Subject of Arson Attack
November 19, 2023, IrelandThe door to Our Lady and St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Ballymoney was set on fire on the night of November 19. Police were notified shortly after 9:45 pm that the side door of the church was on fire. Officers attended to the fire and were able to extinguish it before significant damage was caused. The police are investigating the incident as a deliberate arson attack.
Basilica in Rouen Vandalised and Robbed
November 15, 2023, FranceThe Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur in Rouen was broken into on November 15. The parish priest, Father Geoffroy de la Tousche, said that a statue was broken, sacred vases were stolen, and the altar was severely damaged. This is not the first case of vandalism in Rouen, as gargoyles had been damaged last year. The priest said that the damage will cost tens of thousands of euros. The police are investigating but the perpetrator has not been found.
Man threatens priest to burn church
November 15, 2023, SpainNovember 15, a 45-year-old man threatened a parish priest and two other persons with assaulting them and burning down the church in Burgos. In addition, the individual made use of a wooden rod in a threatening way.
Sacred Objects Damaged and Stolen at Cathedral in Königslutter
November 14, 2023, GermanyUnknown perpetrators damaged an altar crucifix and stole a Jesus figure from the Imperial Cathedral in Königslutter on November 14. The individuals entered the cathedral via the main entrance, which was open, and went to the altar area. They removed the crucifix, moved it to a less visible area in the church, and severely damaged it. They also stole a figure of Jesus that was attached to it. The police are investigating the situation, and the perpetrators have not been caught.
Convert beaten up for 'frequenting the church of Christians'
November 12, 2023, ItalyA 28-year-old Tunisian Christian convert was beaten and robbed for 'attending Christian church'. According to media reports, the man was attacked on the evening of November 12, 2023, in the Ponte San Giovanni district of Perugia by some fellow countrymen, while he was walking with a friend. Now the police have issued three pre-trial detention orders for crimes committed with the aggravating circumstance of religious discrimination.
Arson Attack on Church in Vado
November 4, 2023, ItalyA fire was started at the church of Santa Maria in Vado on November 4 at around 8:45 AM. It was reported that the perpetrator set fire to a tent set up in the churchyard. From there, the fire then spread to the front door of the church. People in the church noticed and notified the fire department, then used water to start putting out the fire. The firefighters arrived and finished putting out the fire. Smoke filled the interior of the church and an old notice board was destroyed. Police investigated the scene, and the vandal was reportedly caught on surveillance cameras and already identified.
Man Attacks People Praying outside Abortion Clinic
October 28, 2023, AustriaDuring the prayer initative "40 Days for Life" a man and a woman holding signs and praying outside an abortion clinic in Vienna were attacked by a man. The man snatched the signs, which displayed the picture of a baby, from them and violently broke the signs into pieces. He also took one of the signs and ran away with it.
Churches in Alessandria Desecrated
October 28, 2023, ItalyIn the afternoon of October 28, the Church of San Giovannino was desecrated. A young man entered the presbytery, climbed onto the alter to reach for the crucifix and threw it on the floor, breaking it into several pieces. After that, he removed a crucifix from the wall at the front of the church and broke it. The incident was filmed by security cameras, though the man had put out the candles in the church as to not be recognized.
Tablecloth on the altar of Saint-Symphorien Church
October 24, 2023, FranceOn October 24, the tablecloth on the altar of the Saint-Symphorien Church of Loué, Sarthe, was set on fire. As the alert was given very quickly the local priests were able to extinguish the fire and prevent further damages. Local authorities, however, expressed concern about the symbolism of this incident.
Historical 16th century crucifix destroyed in Seville
October 22, 2023, SpainThe 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.
Islamist tried to murder Christian convert he considered an 'apostate' who 'deserves to die'
October 15, 2023, United KingdomOn April 11, Ahmed Alid, an Islamist extremist, stood trial at Teesside Crown Court, Middlesbrough, for murder of a pensioner and attempted murder of his housemate Javed Nouri, a convert to Christianity. According to the prosecutor, Alid considered Nouri an apostate and “therefore somebody who deserved to die”. The incident happened last October.
Eucharist Stolen from Hospital Chapel in Avola
October 11, 2023, ItalyThe Eucharist kept in the tabernacle of the chapel of Di Maria Hospital in Avola in the province of Syracuse was stolen on October 11. The Bishop of Noto, Monsignor Salvatore Rumeo, stated, "I learn with deep sorrow and infinite bitterness that a sacrilegious theft was perpetrated today." On October 15 a Mass of Reparation was held, with the consecration of the new particles to be placed in the tabernacle.
Graveyard Vandalized at Peterborough Cathedral
October 9, 2023, United KingdomVandals targeted a burial ground at Peterborough Cathedral on October 9 between 6 PM and 7 PM. A metal obelisk was kicked over, grave markers were turned upside down and labels identifying various types of flowers were ripped off. The Cathedral gardening team is attempting to repair the damage, and police have launched an investigation.
Arabic Graffiti on Church Bell Tower in Sacile
October 6, 2023, ItalyOn the morning of October 6, Don Boris Bandiera, the priest at the Parish of San Odorico in Sacile, found graffiti on the front wall of the church bell tower. He immediately notified the police, who helped him translate the Arabic graffiti writing: "There is no God but Allah." Don Boris stated that this is not the first attack on his church that he has witnessed, but the message of this vandalism left him stunned.