All cases

Satanic Symbol Painted on Church Wall in Innsbruck

February 4, 2020, Austria

On the night between 3 and 4 February, the wall of the church Petrus Canisius in Innsbruck was smeared with graffiti by an unknown person, showing a symbol of the "Church of Satan". The police is asking the public for useful information to identify the perpetrator.

A Church Defaced With Anti-Clerical Tags

February 3, 2020, France

On Monday February 3rd, the church of Saint-François de Paule in Toulouse, was defaced with anarchist and anti-clerical tags. The vandals smeared the façade of the church with graffiti that contained slogans such as "The only church that illuminates is the one that burns" and "ACAB." The police opened an investigation.

Christian Pharmacist Faces Court Case for Refusing to Sell the Morning-After Pill

February 3, 2020, Germany

The now retired German pharmacist, Andreas Kersten, faced court proceedings for refusing to stock or sell the morning after pill. His beliefs and conscience were the reason to not sell a drug that can prevent the implantation of an embryo in the uterus, which would cause the death of an unborn child. He was reported to the Berlin Pharmacists’ Chamber, which took the matter to the Professional Court at the Administrative Court of Berlin. The German court ruled on this issue and upheld the right to act in accordance with his conscience and therefore withdraw from selling the products. The Pharmacists' Chamber appealed against the decision. There are no further developments. (03.02.2020)

Graffiti on San Dominico Church in Bari

February 3, 2020, Italy

In Bari, vandals defaced the church of San Domenico with Grafitti, found on the 3 February. Among the graffities, the priests found vulgar phrases and symbols and blasphemies.

"We Will Burn the Churches" Sprayed on Trento Church

February 2, 2020, Italy

At least a dozen young people gathered around the back of the church of San Pietro in Trento late on February 1st, yelling and threatening to use spray paint against the church. After much commotion, the inscription "We will burn the churches" was painted on the wall of the church, along with other graffiti on a nearby building. Police will examine images from the security camera that was installed last year to identify the perpetrators.

Rare Relic of Saint John Henry Newman Stolen from Chapel in Birmingham

February 2, 2020, United Kingdom

The relic of British Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890), canonised only last October, was stolen from his chapel in Birmingham. “Sadly, the only piece of bone thought to have been St John Henry’s was stolen from its casket in the Newman Shrine,” read a notice in the Oratory’s February newsletter. The Fathers have appealed for anyone who had seen any suspicious activity to come forward.

Belgium More than 200 Churches and Chapels Attacked Per Year

February 1, 2020, Belgium

On the 30th of January 2020, La Libre reported that more than 275 churches and chapels in Belgium have been vandalized, according to the latest figures in 2017. There have been assumptions that the acts of vandalism can be higher compared to the neighbourhood country, France.

Every Year, More Than 200 Churches and Chapels Vandalized

January 31, 2020, Belgium

On December 21, a nativity scene in Saive was set on fire. On December 28, Watermael's Christmas crib was ablaze on the Eugène Keym square. This incident has been identified by the police as a ‘criminal act’.

Desecration Of Old Chapel And Third Millenium Cross In Poland

January 31, 2020, Poland

A 40-year-old man first profaned a 136-year-old chapel in the forest of Beskid Maly and then vandalized a Third Millennium Cross on the hill of Trzy Lipki. He was arrested on the following day.

Two Fires In A Row In The Church Of Nikolai

January 31, 2020, Germany

On January 31th, after there was a fire in the church the day before, a vacationer from Nord Rhein-Westfalen noticed again a fire in the Nikolaikirche in Plön, which damaged the bookcase and parts of the building. Both times two children at the age 10 to 11 years were seen fleeing from the church at the time of the outbreaks. The damage amounts to 5000 euros and it is suspected that the children started the two fires with placing candles at the bookcase, but the police is still investigating and looking for witnesses.