All cases
15.000 Euros Stolen from Church in Guidonia Montecelio
June 3, 2021, ItalyUnknown perpetrators broke into the church of San Luigi Gonzaga and stole 15.000 Euros and a collection of Swarovski crystals. The theft took place in the afternoon of 3 June. The church is located in Guidonia Montecelio in Italy. The parish priest discovered the theft and reported it to the local police. It was discovered that the thieves broke into the rectory of the church located in the priests' flat. The investigators found a block of cement on the spot, which was used to break a French window to get access to the premises. The value of the stolen crystals has not yet been revealed. Charges have been filed by the priest.
Christian Medical Practitioner Facing 'Fitness to Practice' Hearing over Abortion Reversal Treatment
June 2, 2021, United KingdomExperienced medical consultant Dr Dermot Kearney has now been blocked from providing medical assistance in an abortion reversal treatment while an investigation takes place. Dr Kearney offered his emergency abortion rescue service to numerous woman during the pandemic, who regretted taking the first of the Mifepristone pills. By prescribing the natural hormone progesterone which inhabits the effects of Mifepristone, he helped several women to carry healthy babies. The former President of the Catholic Medical Association in the UK is forced to stop offering the treatment for up to 18 months. Dr Kearney, who is a cardiologist and emergency physician has been told to stop offering the treatment by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS). They urged him to stop after the General Medical Council received a complaint about the treatment, which is not approved by health officials. The investigation against him is ongoing.
Church in Albig Vandalised
June 2, 2021, GermanyUnknown perpetrators have vandalized the evangelical Church in Albig. The incident happened during the night from 1 to 2 June. The perpetrators have broken the churches' door lock and some trees. Community members and the parish priest can not understand how someone could do this. The police are investigating.
Severe Act of Vandalism in Historic Church of Tasque
June 2, 2021, FranceThe old church in Tasque has been severely vandalised. The historical Church dates back to the 13th century and was attacked during the Ascension Weekend. The perpetrators broke the chandelier, several sculptures and vases. Police are investigating the case.
European Parliament to Vote on Establishing Abortion as a 'Human Right'
June 2, 2021, FranceThe European Parliament, the EU's law-making body, is to vote on a new report that seeks to manifest abortion as a human right and degrades conscientious objection as "denial of medical care". The report forwarded by Croatian politician Matić is to be voted on at the next plenary session due to take place from 7 to 10 June in Strasbourg. Pro-Life groups see a violation of the established principle of abortion lying in the competence of the member states and not the EU. The European Centre for Law and Justice fear that this could lead member states to put the new report into national legal practice.
Complaint against Ringing of Church Bells in Devon
June 1, 2021, United KingdomThe All Saints Church in Kenton, Devon, could have its chimes silenced. The reason is a complaint from a member of the public. Build in the 14th century the Church's clock currently chimes every quarter of an hour. One new resident in the area has now complained to silence the same. All Saints Church vicar Rev John Williams admitted to 'The Telegraph' that he is aware that the noise measured by Environmental Health is higher than the current permitted. He added: "While some residents don't mind hearing the clock at night and find it comforting, we are nonetheless required to oblige with the law". The church council is now looking for sponsors to buy a £2,000 mechanism to silence the clock chimes at night. Kenton parish council is now worried that by the time they managed to raise the money the local council could have already silenced the clock.
New Northern Irish Conversion Therapy Ban Could Criminalise Prayer
June 1, 2021, United KingdomLGBT+ activists are pushing for a nationwide ban of conversion therapies, which would criminalize prayer, preaching, pastoral support and even parenting which opposes the LGBT+ assumptions. Human rights lawyer Jason Coppel urges that this action "would criminalise the legitimate expression of religious beliefs". The Christian Institute "will not hesitate" to take legal action if Northern Ireland's executives introduce "a badly drafted CT ban" which criminalizes "ordinary everyday practices of the church".
Historical Church vandalised in Lützenkirchen
June 1, 2021, GermanyUnknown perpetrators defaced an over 300-year-old church in Leverkusen in Germany. The culprits are responsible for graffiti sprayed on the chapel's walls, signs scratched into the bricks, holes drilled into the copper downpipes and traces of fire found on the massive oak door at the chapel's side entrance. Additionally, the vandals have damaged a monument at the Anna Chapel. Karl Georg Emmels, former church council estimates the damage to be several thousand Euros. A reward of 500 Euros for information leading to the culprit has been offered and the police are investigating.
Vandalism and Attempted Robbery in a Church in Nicotea
June 1, 2021, ItalyThe little church of Santa Chiara in Nicotera has been vandalized by unknown persons. A hole was found in the wall of the sacristy although the intentions behind these attempts are unclear. As the neighbors explained, "there is nothing to steal here, nothing of particular value". The incident actually took place at the beginning of the summer but it was discovered much later given that the church remains closed most part of the year. The police are carrying on an investigation to track down the perpetrators.
Italy: Teenagers desecrated church, later apologize to avoid police charges
May 31, 2021, ItalyFour teenage girls were caught by the church's CCTV cameras while entering and desecrating the place. The sanctuary Porto di Legnago in Verona, Italy did not press any charges against the perpetrators. The camera caught them entering the church at around 1 p.m., they are seen tearing off the rosary beads from a statue and defacing a board near the entrance of the church. The parish priest, Don Moreno Roncoletta, used his Facebook page to invite the perpetrators to apologise to the church unless they wanted the video footage to be handed over to the police. After being shared more than 1,700 times the perpetrators came forward and apologised to the sanctuary. Father Moreno considers the case closed and is not pressing any charges.