All cases
UPDATE: Councillor Supporting Christian Councillor's Freedom of Speech Now Faces Criminal Investigation
August 8, 2023, United KingdomOn August 8, Wellingborough Town Councillor Anthony Stevens, 50, was searched in his house in front of his wife and children, taken to the Kettering police station, and heavily questioned, for posting tweets from his personal account supporting the case of Christian Councillor King Lawal. King Lawal faced suspension as a Councillor, investigations and other forms of cancelling and discriminatory treatment for tweeting that "Pride" is a sin in June 2023. Mr Lawal launched a petition, which has been signed by over 26,000 people, calling on the Chairman of the Conservative Party, Greg Hands, to intervene in his behalf. Cllr Stevens shared the petition and tweeted in support of Cllr Lawal saying: ‘If you value free speech please sign and share’. Officers showed Cllr Stevens his tweets and asked him why he supported the petition. Cllr Stevens stated that he is a free speech absolutist and that even if he does not agree with someone, he believes in their right to express their beliefs. Cllr Stevens was released on bail, his mobile phone was seized to be searched for further evidence. He is required to surrender himself at Kettering police station on November 1. He has made a complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct regarding his treatment.
Vandals wreak havoc in Milan church
August 8, 2023, ItalyBetween 7th and 8th August, the church of Santa Maria Liberatrice in Milan was vandalized. The premises were also used as the headquarters of a charity organisation Milano Sospesa. Some of the clothing and blankets they had collected for charity had become unusable.
Destruction of the shrine of the Sorrowful Christ
August 8, 2023, PolandOn the night of August 7-8, 2023, unknown perpetrators destroyed the chapel of the Sorrowful Christ in Karczew. The vandals used an axe to destroy the hands and part of the head of the wooden figure of Christ.
Church vandalised with Red paint in Lucca
August 7, 2023, ItalyUnknown perpetrators targeted the side entrance of the Basilica of San Paolino in Lucca with red paint. The parish priest Don Lucio Malanca told the newspaper "La Nazione" that they have experienced of repeated acts of vandalism. He said: "Unfortunately, this is not even the most serious act of vandalism suffered by our Lucchese churches and monuments in the historic centre".
Serbian Orthodox church vandalised in Kosovo the night before its commemoration
August 7, 2023, KosovoThe Office for Kosovo and Metohija of the Government of the Republic of Serbia reported and shared pictures of a vandalic attack that the church of Saint Petka suffered on 7 August. The church is located in the settlement of Suvi Do, close to Mitrovica, and belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church. The church was attacked the night before its dedication day (temple's glory day).
Vandalism at Angoulême cathedral
August 7, 2023, FranceOn 7 August, the cathedral of Angoulême was vandalised: Chests were broken into, looted and even deformed with tools. Candles were thrown to the floor and their burners damaged. Liturgical equipment, such as lecterns, was also damaged.
"World Youth Day" monument in Leiria vandalised with anti-Church inscription
August 6, 2023, PortugalOn the night of August 6-7, the monument with the letters "Leiria" in the city of the same name in Portugal was vandalized with an anti-Church slogan. The letters were put in commemoration of World Youth Day 2023 in Portugal painted with the colors and the logo of WYD.
"Are you a Christian?" Three Christians assaulted and robbed by gang
August 6, 2023, FranceOn Sunday 6 August, a group of friends were attacked by six people in the Vieux-Port, in the 1st arrondissement of Marseille. The attackers asked them if they were Christians and stole their crosses.
Recently inaugurated St Anthony statue decapitated and vandalized in Portugal
August 5, 2023, PortugalThe statue of St Anthony recently inaugurated in Torres Novas was vandalised on August 5. It was found the next morning with the head cut off, the statue of the Infant Jesus destroyed and a carton banner written "God is dead" and "You paedophiles." The damage was valued at €13,000.
"God is Trans" tagged on Religious Panel during World Youth Day
August 5, 2023, PortugalOn 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.