All cases

Exhibition On John Paul II Vandalised

February 5, 2021, Germany

On February 5th, unknown perpetrators destroyed the panels of the exhibition "John Paul II - Pope of Dialogue", prepared by the John Paul II Memorial Centre in Warsaw in cooperation with the Polish Embassy at the Basilica of St John the Baptist in Berlin. John Paul II's face was painted over with red paint. A red lightning bolt - the symbol of the so-called women's strike - was painted on the fence of the neighbouring headquarters of the papal nunciature. The police is investigating.

ADF International and Pro-Life Prayer Group Challenge Public Prayer Prohibition at Court

February 3, 2021, Germany

In 2019, the local authority of Pforzheim, Germany, prohibited the assemblies of the "40 Days for Life" group that was peacefully and silently praying in front of an abortion advisory center. The group's concern is to pray for women struggling with abortion and for their unborn children and to offer them support. The legal human rights organization ADF International is now challenging the prohibition in court, in order to ensure that the group's fundamental rights to freedom of religion, assembly, and speech will be reinstalled.

Devastation Of Church In Oborniki

February 2, 2021, Poland

On February 2nd vandals smeared the walls of the church in Oborniki. The graffiti contained slogans like "Blood on my hands" and accusations against the priest of the parish Father Rydzyk. The local police is investigating and trying to identify the perpetrator(s) by analyzing the surveillance recordings.

Unknown Perpetrators Set Fire in Church in Bischofsreut Twice

February 2, 2021, Germany

The first arson attack was on February 2nd, as unknown persons tried start a fire in the gallery of the church in Bischofsreut using paper. This was discovered 3 days later, on February 5th, when unknown perpetrators attacked a second time, this time setting fire to the same place. This resulted in a damage of around 100 Euros. According to the police, between 2.15 and 3.15 p.m., the arsonist(s) were in the church and set fire to a sheet on the floor and several pieces of paper they had found in the building. Before any major damage was done, the perpetrators put out the fire with disinfectant.

Church Closed After Vandals Set Fire to the Pedestal of the Statue of San Vincenzo Next to the Church

February 2, 2021, Italy

On February 2nd, unknown persons set fire to the pedestal of the statue of San Vincenzo next to the San Vincenzo Church. San Vincenzo is the patron saint of the San Vincenzo Church in Cremnago. Some of the parish members saw the flames and other witnesses say they saw some boys running away from the church at the time of the crime. The damage to the statue, which was immediately taken to the sacristy, is fortunately not severe. After the incident the church decided to close its doors for a couple of days and only reopen during liturgical celebrations.

Christian Conservative Institution in Slovenia Vandalised

February 2, 2021, Slovenia

Vandals graffitied the facade of the Christian conservative institution Zavod Iskreni in Slovenia on the night of 2 February. The perpetrators broke the windows and smeared the entrance door of the institute with swastikas and wrote the word "corruption" on it. Minister of Defence Matej Tonin condemns this vandalism as a "systematic attack on Christian values". The police are investigating.

Parish Office in Bochum devastated by Vandals

February 2, 2021, Germany

In February, the parish office behind the church of St. Mary was devastated in Bochum-Langendreer. The Catholic community has been target from vandals repeatedly during 2021.

Church Window Damaged in Schweinheim

February 1, 2021, Germany

On February 1st, unknown perpetrators damaged a church window in Schweinheim. Several thousands of Euros of damage are expected. Police is investigating.

Burglary Leaves Church Unable To Play Music At Funerals

January 31, 2021, United Kingdom

On January 31st, a break-in at the St Thomas's Church in Dudley in the Black Country has left the church unable to play music at funerals. There were no historical items taken from the church, but a computer tablet was stolen that implied that the church would no be able to amplify voices or play recorded music at funerals. The police is investigating.

Suspect Arrested After Investigation for Vandalism in Church

January 31, 2021, United Kingdom

January 31st , a church in the Derry County was vandalised and the police started an investigation. Sectarian slogans and initials of loyalist paramilitary organisations were written on the walls of St Mary's Church in Limavady. According to details provided by the police they were looking for a man during the week of February 7th, when they finally arrested him on that date.