All cases

Desecration and Theft in the Church of San Giacomo di Monselice

May 14, 2018, Italy

On May 14th, witnesses discovered that the tabernacle had been desecrated and two ciboriums containing consecrated Hosts had been stolen from the church of San Giacomo de Monselice. This was the 3rd robbery in the Padua diocese in five months.

Saint André Church in Grenoble Looted

May 13, 2018, France

Four boxes use to collect donations for the poor and for upkeep of the church were discovered looted in the Saint André church in Grenoble on May 13th. According to the parish priest, the perpetrators emptied the donation boxes and forced the drawers. Losses are estimated at around 600 euros.

Bulgarian Catholics and Protestants Unite to Oppose Proposed Religious Law: Updated

May 13, 2018, Bulgaria

Catholic and Protestant communities in Bulgaria have unified their efforts to prevent the adoption of two legislative proposals put before the parliamentary assembly in May 2018. The first, sponsored by the conservative GERB, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms, would permit state subsidies only for major religious denominations. The second, tabled by the United Patriots, would require greater oversight of religious activities and financing.

Church Vandalized in Lombardy

May 11, 2018, Italy

Residents in Solbiate Olona discovered that young people had been repeatedly entering the Chiesa del Sacro Cuore and covering the floor with wax melted from votive candles. The church is loved by members of the community who take responsibility for keeping it clean.

Priest Assaulted during Mass

May 11, 2018, France

On May 11th, a man entered l’église de la Source à Saint Denis on the French island of Réunion during the celebration of the Mass, walked straight to the altar, and slapped Father Pascal Mussard. Many parishioners rushed to intervene. Police arrived soon after and handcuffed the man. After it was discovered that the perpetrator was "imbalanced" and had fled from a hospital hours earlier, the priest declined to file a complaint.

Google Halts Advertising on Irish Abortion Referendum

May 9, 2018, Ireland

On May 9th, Google announced that it would "pause" all advertising related to the upcoming Irish abortion referendum. The ban applies to all sites associated with the Google brand, including YouTube, and follows Facebook’s decision to ban any ads from advertisers outside of Ireland relating to the referendum. Opponents of the referendum, Pro-Life Campaign, Save the 8th, and the Iona Institute issued a joint statement condemning the tech giant’s decision as “shutting down a free and fair debate” and that it was "scandalous, and is an attempt to rig the referendum.”

Jihad Graffiti on Church in Sweden

May 7, 2018, Sweden

"Jihad" was painted on the outside wall of the church Sankt Olov in Skellefteå by unknown vandals. A representative of Skellefteå's pastorate commented on News Today that "it is obviously regrettable that we can not have our properties in peace." The Swedish national television SVT initially published a photograph of the affected church. Later they chose to eliminate it, indicating that the image was "too sensitive" to show.

Stained Glass Window Broken in Cölbe Church

May 5, 2018, Germany

Sometime between April 29th and May 5th, unknown vandals threw stones at the Catholic church on Gartenstraße in Cölbe, breaking one of the large stained glass windows adorning the building. Damage was estimated to exceed 1,000 euros.

Robbery in the Sacré Chœur of Toulouse

May 5, 2018, France

On the night between May 5th and 6th, one or more individuals visited the Sacré Chœur Church in Toulouse. Various religious objects were stolen by the thieves, including the chalice and the parterre. An investigation was opened to the local police office.

Six Recent Cases of Vandalism in Bamberg Churches: Witnesses Sought

May 4, 2018, Germany

Police are investigating at least six separate acts of vandalism in five churches in Bamberg in a short period. The property damage is estimated at more than 20,000 euros. On May 2nd, unknown people knocked the figure of Saint Joseph from its pedestal in the Convent of Heiliggrab, seriously damaging it. The next day at the convent, a large wooden crucifix was thrown to the ground. Also on May 3rd, two large figures of saints were overturned in St. Ottokirche.