All cases
Man attacks and insults priest in Wrocław
May 28, 2023, PolandOn 28 May 2023, a man of about 30 years of age physically attacked and insulted a priest in Wroclaw. The attack took place in the morning as the priest was returning to the vicarage from the convent of the Albertine Sisters, located near the parish church of St Maurice in Wroclaw.
Church walls smeared during "Equality March"
May 27, 2023, PolandOn May 27, 2023, participants of a local "Equality March" taking place in Gdańsk spray-painted inscriptions on the facade of the historic St. Elizabeth Church in Gdańsk.
Free speech and rule of law under threat in Ireland’s new "hate offences" bill
May 26, 2023, IrelandOn April 26, the lower house of the Irish Parliament passed what could be the most extreme hate speech law in Europe, with critics saying that it is in fact a 'thought crime' bill. The text of the bill makes the possession of material considered 'hateful' against certain groups a crime punishable with jail, and the burden of proof is shifted to the accused, who is expected to prove they didn't intend to use the material to "spread hate".
Attempted Theft and Assaults on three Christians
May 26, 2023, SpainOn 26 May 2023, a man was arrested after attempting to steal a chalice, and assaulting three parishioners in the Church of San James Apostle, in the city of Orihuela.
Graveyard and Church Defaced in Blackfairs Walk
May 25, 2023, United KingdomVandals targeted the Auld Kirk of Ayr in Blackfriars Walk on the evening of May 25. Grave stones were painted, rude imagery was drawn over stained glass windows and profanity was written on an iron gate. Historic stonework, as well as a welcome sign featuring a picture of King Charles III was vandalized with red spray paint. The incident is being investigated by Ayr Police.
Church Painting Damaged through vandalism
May 25, 2023, GermanyAn oil painting inside the St Gerhard's Church in Heiligenstadt was damaged by unknown perpetrators. According to the Nordhausen police, the crime took place on the 25th of May. The vandals poured the liquid wax of a burning candle from the offering box onto the painting.
Four churches targeted by vandals and thieves and one cemetery vandalised
May 24, 2023, FranceIn May 2023, four churches and a cemetery were targeted by vandals and thieves in France.
Update: Landmark Case Bans Christian Teacher for Misgendering a Transgender Pupil
May 23, 2023, United KingdomOn May 23rd, a ruling by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) in the UK banned Christian Joshua Sutcliffe from teaching altogether, after he failed to treat his pupils "with dignity and respect" by misgendering a transgender boy. This case is the first of its kind in the UK and has become international news. It goes back to 2017, when the former maths teacher at the Cherwell School in Oxford, said "well done girls" to a group of girls, where one was a transgender boy - and he later apologized. Sutcliffe was later also accused of inappropriately sharing his Christian beliefs.
Vandals locked out Priest and Vandalize his Church
May 23, 2023, PolandIn 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.
Vandalism and Physical Violence in Wolgast Church
May 22, 2023, GermanyOn May 22, a heavily intoxicated couple caused vandalism and violence in the St. Peter's Church in Wolgast. They couple forcibly cleared the book table and injured a visitor.