All cases
Nun Assaulted for "Being a Nun"
June 23, 2017, SpainSister Rosario of the Congregación de las Esclavas de la Inmaculada Niña de Granada was attacked on June 23rd. The assailant hit Sister Rosario in the face and said “this is for being a nun” (“esto por ser monja”). The assault caused Sister Rosario a broken nose and swollen face. Sister Rosario was not wearing her habit at the time but was recognized as a religious by the medal she wore. She was returning to the residence after having dropped children off at their school.
Terror Attack on Church in Helsinki Foiled
June 18, 2017, FinlandOn June 18, 2017, Finnish police launched an operation in response to the threat of a terrorist attack on a church in Helsinki. The Temppeliaukio Church is located in the center of Helsinki less than a kilometer from the Finnish parliament and is a popular tourist attraction. The police sent several patrols to the church and the surrounding neighborhood to conduct raids. The following day, concrete barriers were erected to protect the church.
Cemetery Desecrated in Pondrôme
June 18, 2017, BelgiumDuring the afternoon on June 18, 2017, the cemetery of Pondrôme in Belgium was vandalized. Unknown vandals entered the cemetery and desecrated several graves, destroyed crosses, plaques and other memorial items on the burial sites. The reaction of the villagers of Pondrôme was one of anger and incomprehension. The Mayor Marc Lejeune filed a complaint with the police after being informed of the vandalism and said citizens should not be quick to assume the vandals came from the Fedasil refugee accommodation, which is next door to the cemetery.
Cathedral Saint-Jean of Besaçon Vandalized with Anarchist Graffiti
June 15, 2017, FranceDuring the night of June 14-15, 2017 the outer walls of the cathedral were tagged with slogans reading “our lives, our bodies belong to us” and “Down with charity, long live solidarity” (“Nos vies, nos corps nous appartiennent“ and “à bas la charité, vive la solidarité”) . The vandals also painted the anarchistic symbol “A” on front of the door twice.
Church Bulletin Board Set on Fire
June 15, 2017, FranceDuring the night of June 15th, the bulletin board of the Sacré Cœur church in Roubaix was set on fire. A neighbor of the church saw the flames and contacted the authorities.
Church in Tamworth Vandalized
June 14, 2017, United KingdomAnti-Christian messages were scrawled on three different areas of St. Edythe’s Church, the oldest church in Tamworth by unknown vandals. The ancient doors and walls were tagged with statements such as “Lucifer runs this capitalist ruin,” “God has failed,” and “deliver us to evil.” Reverend Alan Gordon and the church community were devastated that the church was targeted by this vandalism.
Photographer and Naked Model Caught in Church
June 13, 2017, FranceA photographer taking pictures of a naked model were caught in the center aisle of the church Saint-Antoine de Compiegne in Oise in front of the altar by two parish members who went to the church to pray the rosary for the Christians of the East.
Break-In and Possible Attempted Robbery of Church in Lyon
June 12, 2017, FranceUnknown perpetrators entered the church of the 5th arrondissement of Lyon during the night of June 11-12th and broke the glass door to the sacristy. Nothing was stolen. The break-in occurred only a month after the crown of the Virgin at the Fourvière Museum was stolen.
Ramadan Prayer in front of Virgin Mary Statue
June 10, 2017, SpainBefore breaking their daily Ramadan fast, a prayer was held in the Jardines del Triunfo (Gardens of Triumph) in Granada, Spain. This prayer event was sanctioned by City Hall but caused outrage among some Catholics in the area as the Jardines del Triunfo is the site of a cherished statue of Virgin Mary.
Priest Assaulted in Church Sacristy
June 9, 2017, MonacoFather Jean-Christophe Genson of the church of Sainte-Dévote in Monaco was assaulted by an unnamed assailant as he prepared for Mass on the evening of June 9, 2017.