All cases

UPDATE: Maltese court clears Matthew Grech of all charges

March 4, 2026, Malta

Matthew Grech, a Maltese Christian, has been cleared by a Maltese court following charges related to his participation in a TV show in April 2022. During the interview, Grech shared his personal testimony of leaving a homosexual lifestyle after finding the Christian faith. The case was brought under Malta’s ban on “conversion practices,” but the court concluded that the programme constituted a public discussion and that Grech had merely shared his personal experience about sexual morality.

Christian Church Targeted in Cyberattack Showing Degrading Images of Pastors

March 4, 2026, United Kingdom

A Baptist church in the UK was targeted in a cyberattack in which hackers hijacked its online identity, used it to promote gambling, and posted degrading images of pastors. The hackers used a similar domain name and imagery from the church’s website to confuse users

Medieval Holy Water Stela Deliberately Damaged at Altenberg Cathedral

March 3, 2026, Germany

A medieval holy water stela was deliberately toppled and severely damaged inside Altenberg Cathedral in North Rhine-Westphalia. Parish officials ruled out an accident due to the size and weight of the object and are planning restoration.

Paper Bomb Causes Damage to Church in Lusia

March 1, 2026, Italy

A paper bomb struck the Church of Saints Vito and Modesto (Lusia), in an act of vandalism similar to a previous incident near the Church of San Biagio in Lendinara.

Desecration of Valencia Church in Sacrilegious Theft

March 1, 2026, Spain

The parish of San Francisco de Asís in Manises, Valencia, was targeted in a burglary in which the tabernacle containing the consecrated hosts, along with liturgical items, was stolen. The deliberate targeting of the Eucharist constitutes a serious act of desecration in the Catholic context.

Cemetery Thefts: Crosses Broken Off the Graves

March 1, 2026, Belgium

Approximately 50 graves were targeted in a cemetery in Sombreffe, with crucifixes and religious items stolen. Images indicate that crosses were deliberately broken off graves, affecting objects of religious and commemorative significance.

Holy Altar Destroyed in Gardiki Church

February 27, 2026, Greece

Vandals broke into the cemetery Church of All Saints in Gardiki, Fthiotida, Greece, and demolished the Holy Altar during the night of 26–27 February 2026. The destruction was reportedly carried out while the perpetrators searched for gold sovereigns believed to be hidden inside the altar.

Repeated Burglary Targets Sacred Objects in Quarrata Church

February 27, 2026, Italy

In Quarrata, three ancient chalices and some sacred furnishings were stolen from the Church of Catena but later recovered. Similar incidents have occurred in nearby parishes, pointing to a rising pattern of local church thefts.

Arson Attacks on Three Churches in Eden in One Week

February 25, 2026, Netherlands

A series of deliberate fires damaged three churches in Ede within five days, leading to increased security and an arrest.

Repeated church thefts in Rouen target sacred Christian objects

February 24, 2026, France

Two men have been arrested for a series of four church burglaries in Rouen, during which sacred objects of spiritual importance were stolen. The thefts targeted items essential to Christian worship, including consecrated hosts and liturgical vessels, from the churches of Val-de-la-Haye and Hautot-sur-Seine. The crimes were deliberate, and the stolen objects have not yet been recovered.