All cases

Man Damages Church Altar and Votive Shrine

September 23, 2026, Italy

On 23 September, a man entered the historic Church of San Rocco in the Castellone district of Formia and allegedly caused extensive damage to the interior of the building. He reportedly used a chair to damage the altar and knock down statues of saints, before also damaging a Marian votive shrine nearby. During his arrest, several police officers were reportedly injured. While the parish priest was reportedly calm following the incident, it has nonetheless shaken the community of Castellone.

Christian influencer assaulted in Vienna

September 22, 2026, Austria

On 22 September, an 18-year-old Christian content creator was assaulted by two youths near an underground station in Vienna. According to his account, one attacker threatened him with a knife and he suffered injuries to his ribs, hips, and nose. The incident was reported to police, and the victim expressed the belief that the attack was related to his Christian social media content.

Cross and vestments vandalised in Grein church

September 22, 2026, Austria

On 22 September, unknown perpetrators vandalised the Stadtpfarrkirche in Grein, scattering items from the confessional, prayer books, devotional images of saints and seat cushions throughout the church. The baptismal font was damaged, while a broken cross and two of the priest’s stoles were placed in the holy-water basin.

Multiple Marian Shrines Vandalised in Radom

September 22, 2026, Poland

Between 1 and 22 September 2026, a 34-year-old man allegedly damaged numerous roadside shrines and religious figures in Radom by defacing them with paint and damaging the religious statues. Reportedly vandalising up to ten historic chapels with images of the Virgin Mary, the suspect, after confessing to the vandalism, had 12 charges brought against him for the destruction of the figures. The local parish priest described the acts of vandalism as a blasphemy against God and the local community of believers.

Church near Brussels closes due to slew of vandalism

September 19, 2026, Belgium

According to a report from 19 September, St. Anne's Church in Auderghem has decided to close its doors and cease services after repeated acts of vandalism. The church council made the decision due to the incessant attacks on the historic building over the spring and summer of 2026. The measure is very shocking to the community, who relied on the church as an accessible and open place of worship.

Tabernacle forcibly removed and consecrated hosts scattered outside church in Guitiriz

September 19, 2026, Spain

On 19 September, unknown individuals forcibly removed and opened the tabernacle of the parish church of Santa Maria de Lagostelle in Guitiriz, stealing the ciborium containing consecrated hosts. The hosts were subsequently scattered outside the church, while the silver ciborium remained missing. The incident constitutes desecration and sacrilegious theft and was condemned by the Diocese as a direct affront against the Eucharist and the centre of the Catholic faith.

ISIS Supporter Arrested over Planned Attack on Bremen Church

September 17, 2026, Germany

In Brandenburg, federal prosecutors have arrested a man on suspicion of planning a serious act of violence against a church in Bremen, allegedly acquiring a firearm for this purpose. The 24-year-old individual is believed to be a supporter of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organisation, and was arrested by the Federal Criminal Police Office and was brought before the investigating judge on 17 September under suspicion of attempting to establish a terrorist organisation, preparing a serious crime endangering the state, and violating weapons laws.

Attack on Catholic Clinic in Flensburg

September 17, 2026, Germany

According to a report from 17 September, a Catholic clinic in Flensburg has been targeted in an attack by unknown protesters who have smeared the entrance of the hospital with a pro-abortionist inscription, as well as vandalising an information board. The perpetrators also left hangers at the entrance, which is used as a political symbol by pro-abortionists. The report identifies all the actions as directly targeting the attitude of the Catholic hospital, since it no longer performed abortion procedures.

Lindenfels Catholic Church closed after repeated vandalism

September 15, 2026, Germany

In September, the Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Lindenfels was the target of repeated acts of vandalism, forcing it to close its doors outside of Mass and other services in order to protect the building. Consequently, the community's access to this place of worship a has been limited.

Crosses broken and Catholic graves targeted at Moselle cemetery

September 15, 2026, France

An unprecedented act of vandalism occurred on the night of 14 to 15 September, where a woman vandalised almost 100 gravestones in Maizières-lès-Metz Cemetery in Moselle. Gravestones were defaced, with countless crosses and crucifixes found broken and tossed onto the surrounding property. Police are investigating whether the gravestones of Catholics were specifically targeted on the basis of religion. The local community, officials, and diocese expressed deep sadness and outrage at what they believed to be a direct attack on the respect due to the dead, a religious site, and communal unity. On 25 September, the Diocese of Metz organised a time of prayer for all the deceased whose graves were desecrated.