All cases

UPDATE: Catholic Nurse Wins Discrimination and Harassment Case

January 5, 2022, United Kingdom

Mary Onuoha was constructively dismissed in 2020 from the Croydon NHS Trust Hospital in London for wearing a golden cross necklace. She now has won the case against her unfair dismissal for discrimination and harassment, with the help of the Christian Legal Center, as it was communicated on 5. January. The Hospital had said her necklace was "too visible" and posed a ‘risk of injury or infection’, but the ruling found out that other medical staff wore jewellery, religious attire and badges, and that this was "widely tolerated". The ruling declared the dismissal of Mrs Onuoha discriminatory and arbitrary, and recognized her right to religious freedom, such as wearing a cross necklace.

Saarburg Church Heavily Desecrated and Vandalised

January 5, 2022, Germany

Unknown vandals broke through the door of the Protestant church on the Schlossberg in Saarburg, Germany, on January 5th. The perpetrators urinated in the church and left vomit and cigarette ashes. This disrespectful act was the second crime in the church after candlesticks had been stolen the previous year.

Theft and Damage of Liturgical Objects in France

January 5, 2022, France

Sacred objects in the Saint-Symphorien church in Genouilly, were damaged and taken by unknown thieves. They stole the liturgical piece that displays the host, and after breaking through the tabernacle door, took two ciboriums that hold the host. Michel Legendre, the mayor of the commune, plans to file a complaint about this disrespectful act.

Arson: Molotov Cocktail Thrown at Church

January 5, 2022, Netherlands

On New Year's Eve, a Molotov cocktail was hurled at Arnhem's Saint Nicholas Church starting a fire. Jan van Schuylenburg, who is a church volunteer, was soon at the scene and put the fire out. There is footage of the cocktail being thrown, which will help with the prosecution, and Jan "think(s) it was an attack".

Repeated Vandalism and Damage at Church in Sint-Truiden

January 5, 2022, Belgium

The Saint Martin's Church in Sint-Truiden has been continuously targeted by vandalism and theft. Bundles of wipes were torn from the cross and set on fire and a few days earlier, the mass book was thrown and knocked around until it was broken. A few months back, the ribbons of the antique mass book were set on fire but luckily the book was not burnt. Sexton Etienne said: “A church is a public building and it should stay that way... People should be able to come here in complete safety to pray and relax.”

Three Statues Defaced and Basilica Vandalised by a Man in Saint-Denis

January 5, 2022, France

A man came to the basilica of Saint-Denis and used an iron bar to damage three statues on the 5th of January. The rector of the cathedral-basilica said he had filed a complaint on the same day and the vandal was quickly arrested. The 30-year-old man caused several material damages. At first, the man came to the Basilica and was refused access to a space behind the altar, prohibited to the public. He returned a little later, armed with an iron bar, with which he attacked the display cases in which religious objects (crucifixes, statuettes and other trinkets) were exhibited. Then, the man threw three plaster statues to the ground.

Arson to Chapel of the Madonna by Unknown Perpetrators

January 4, 2022, Italy

Unknown vandals broke into the chapel of the Madonna in Cima Sappada by breaking the lock, which was reported on the 4th of January. The perpetrators took the tablecloth off the altar and lit a fire inside the chapel by using wooden stacks and the tablecloth. Some passing hikers noticed that the door had been opened and reported the damage to managers of a nearby refuge. Fortunately, the damage was not extensive.

Vandals Tagged Two Churches in Arona

January 4, 2022, Italy

On the days prior to the 4th of January, there was a surge of vandalism in Arona. Unknown vandals damaged the main door of the San Rocco Church and the Sacro Cuore Church with graffiti. They painted crosses on the doors. Apart from that, vandals also defaced a sign of a high school.

Church installs Window Protection due to Recurrent Vandalism

January 4, 2022, Germany

Due to ongoing vandalism, there are now protective grids at the Luther Church in Fellbach. The damage is thought to have been caused by young people throwing stones.

Unknown Perpetrators Vandalise Church and Steal 2000 Euros

January 3, 2022, Italy

On the 3. January, the parish priest, Don Gianluigi Ganabano, found out that thieves had broken into the Church of Santa Maria Immacolata the night before. Around two thousand euros were stolen from the church. The parish priest found the premises ransacked and called the police. The thieves forced open a side door and took possession of some boxes containing offerings.