All cases

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.

Altars and confessional curtains set on fire in church

March 9, 2023, France

In the late afternoon of Thursday 9 March, deliberately set fires were discovered in the Saints-Pierre-et-Paul church in Eguisheim, Haut Rhin, France. A volunteer noticed the fires on the tablecloths of two altars near the choir and on a confessional curtain. A book of intentions was also burned.

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.

Bells Worth £8,000 Stolen from Wragby Church

March 8, 2023, United Kingdom

Unkown offenders entered All Saints Church in Wragby and stole eight brass handheld bells, worth around £8,000 in total. The theft occurred between March 1 and March 8. The police are investigating the situation.

Vandals Desecrate and Vandalize church and Leave Satanic books on the ground

March 7, 2023, Italy

According to Italian news reports, vandals have caused severe damage to the church of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in the city of La Spezia. The damage involved removing and stealing 15 painted ceramic tiles, vandalizing the baptistery, and stealing the offertory boxes, among other things. It was also reported that pages of sacred texts were scattered on the floor of the sacristy. The perpetrators also left behind satanic books. The police are investigating, but the perpetrators remain unknown.

"Buffer Zones" Clause in England and Wales Criminalize Silent Prayer or "Influence" Around Abortion Clinics

March 7, 2023, United Kingdom

On March 7, the House of Commons voted to comprehensively introduce buffer zones around abortion clinics to the Public Order Bill for the final time. The clause to the bill was approved by a majority of 299 MPs in favor to 116 against. Now that the Public Order Bill is set to become law, any form of "influence" around abortion clinics will be criminalised, including silent prayer or consensual conversations, de facto making "thought crime" a reality in the UK. Experts have commented that while harassment and intimidation are already illegal, this law would be a serious attack on freedom of speech and freedom of thought.

Vandalism of religious memorial plaque

March 7, 2023, Poland

On the night of March 7, 2023, an unknown perpetrator vandalised a commemorative plaque with the image of St. John Paul II located on the wall of the City and Commune Office in Skała. The vandal painted the commemorative plaque with green spray or paint.

German Minister wants buffer zones around abortion clinics

March 6, 2023, Germany

Germany prohibits abortion, but under the condition that women receive mandatory counseling, it is not punishable during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. It is also not punished in cases of danger for the woman's health or rape. As many politicians ask for its legalization, Lisa Paus, Federal Minister for Family Affairs, expressed her intentions to create buffer zones around abortion clinics, which poses a real thread on freedom of speech and thought if, as in the UK or Spain, they include the prohibition of prayer, for example.

Teenagers Vandalize Church and Steal Offertory Money

March 5, 2023, France

On the 5th of March, three teenagers broke into a church, severely damaged the organ, vandalized the church, and robbed the money in the offertory box. They are to be judged in April. According to the report, the perpetrators climbed through the balcony, stealing the key to the organ and bending several pipes, they also sprayed the church with a fire extinguisher and unsealed a railing.

LGBT-activists disrupt church service

March 5, 2023, Poland

On March 5, 2023, a mass in the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Warsaw was interrupted. LGBT-activists dressed in coats in the colours symbolising the LGBT movement, demonstratively prostrated themselves in front of the rails during the liturgy. They lay down on the floor, claiming to symbolise that they were "victims of the Church".