All cases

Man Set Fire to Wooden Church Door

October 13, 2018, Spain

The National Police of Gran Canaria arrested a 52-year-old man who intentionally set fire to several points on the wooden door of the parish church of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The fire was discovered on the 13th of October at around 11:30 p.m. and the police were called. They were able to contain the flames until the arrival of the fire brigade.

Repeated Acts of Vandalism Forces Church to Limit Opening Hours

October 11, 2018, Ireland

Three incidents within two weeks hit the Church of Ireland Christchurch in Buncrana, County Donegal. As well as the burning of Mass leaflets, a Bible was written on, cigarettes were stubbed out on the carpet, eggs were thrown, and flowers were strewn on the floor. The church, which was open throughout the day, was used as a place of prayer by many people. However, the decision was made to close the church outside service times until security was reviewed.

Statues of Saints and the Virgin Mary Smashed, Decapitated, and Stolen in Ticino

October 10, 2018, Switzerland

Since Easter, there have been eight attacks against statues of female saints and the Virgin Mary in the southern canton of Ticino.

Rifle Fire Damaged Stained Glass Windows of Church

October 8, 2018, France

Mayor René Beausoleil announced at a city council meeting that he had filed a complaint with the gendarmerie after "23 impacts of rifle fire" damaged several stained glass windows in the church of Saint-Laurent in Montfaucon-d’Argonne. The damage was estimated at €16,700. The police are investigating.

Dog Excrement left at Church Altar

October 8, 2018, Germany

Sometime between 11 am and 6 pm on October 8th, unknown perpetrators entered a church in Eichendorf, opened a holy water container and moved several crosses from the wall onto the floor. In addition, dog waste was deposited on the altar carpet. The damage was estimated €300.

Cross Torn Down in Lesvos

October 7, 2018, Greece

A huge cement cross erected over a beach in honor of people who have drowned there was torn down by unknown perpetrators during the night of October 7th. The NGO "Coexistence and Communication in the Aegean" had previously called the cross "offensive" to non-Christian migrants, a symbol of "racism and intolerance," and claimed that it had been placed above the beach to prevent refugees and migrants from swimming there. Local residents reacted with dismay and discussed re-building it.

Huge Metal Cross Torn Down

October 7, 2018, Germany

Vandals tore down a huge 30 kilo metal memorial cross from the cemetery next to the pilgrimage church in Marienbaum. Father Jeremias Kehren, pastor of the church, expressed the shock of the community and called it an attack on the cemetery and those who mourn there: "The wickedness with which this memorial was desecrated leaves us speechless."

Bremen Cathedral Tagged with Hammer & Sickle; "Anti-Imperialism" Graffiti

October 4, 2018, Germany

During the night of October 4th, unknown vandals sprayed "Tot dem deutschen Imperialismus" (Death to German imperialism") and a hammer and sickle symbol in red paint on the Bremen Cathedral. The Otto von Bismarck monument was also hit with red tags. Bremen police began an investigation.

Man Sentenced for intended Theft in Sacristy

October 4, 2018, Italy

A man, who broke into the sacristy of the Sant'Amanzio church in Piazza SS, was sentenced to two months in prison on April 22nd. Two nuns had caught him in the act of trying to break open the room where the liturgical vestments are kept. Due to his suspicious actions, they followed him, alerted a police officer, and he was subsequently caught.

Anti-Abortion GPs Argue Against Being Forced to Refer Patients

October 3, 2018, Ireland

A draft of abortion legislation provided that doctors, nurses, and midwives who have a conscientious objection to abortion must refer their patients to another provider who will perform the abortion. The National Association of GPs (NAGP) voted to "advocate for conscientious objection, without obligation to refer" and for an "opt-in" system, where medical professionals register their willingness to perform the procedure, rather than an "opt-out system.