All cases

Christian Graves Desecrated in Matoury (French Guiana)

February 19, 2015, France

Several graves in the cemetery of Matoury, French Guiana (15 km from Cayenne) were intentionally vandalized.

A Statue of the Virgin Mary Desecrated in Châtel

February 19, 2015, France

Unknown perpetrators have committed various degradations and profanations in the main town of the resort of Châtel in Haute-Savoie. The statue of Our Lady of Skieurs in front of the church was the main target for the vandals.

Dozens of Christian Graves Vandalized in Calvados

February 17, 2015, France

Christian symbols on graves were vandalized in the cemetery of the town of Tracy-sur-Mer in Calvados. Unknown perpetrators vandalized dozens of crucifixes and displaced them. The Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve expressed his outrage and promised that "every effort will be made to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of these outrageous acts that violate our values and respect that seals our community".

Church in Delémont Soiled by Offensive Graffiti

February 17, 2015, Switzerland

Inside and outside the Catholic church of Saint-Marcel Delémont was vandalised by offensive graffiti. The perpetrators are suspected to have been anarchists or leftists.

St. John the Baptist Church in Lecce Vandalized With Offensive Graffiti

February 16, 2015, Italy

The church of Saint John the Baptist in Lecce was vandalized. A statue of the Virgin Mary was spray painted in red and graffiti saying "God is a transgender" and that "Priests are pedophiles" was painted. Other graffiti clarified that the reason for the attack was the pro-family conference organized the previous week by organizations "Se alla famiglia" and "Alleanza Cattolica". Offending graffiti also attacked a judge and former deputy Minister Alfredo Mantovano, who spoke at the pro-family event.

Statues in Church in Friedrichshafen Severely Vandalized

February 16, 2015, Germany

A church was vandalized and desecrated in Friedrichshafen in Baden-Württemberg. The Catholic community of the parish of St. Peter Canisius of the diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart was very much in shock.

French President Condemns the Murder of Christians Without Referring to Their Faith

February 16, 2015, France

In his statement after the murder of 21 Coptic Christians by Daesh in Libya, President Hollande did not mention the word "Christian" or that these people were killed by Islamic State for their Christian faith at all, but he merely referred to the victims as "Egyptian citizens."

After Numerous Acts of Vandalism Bishop Orders Removal of the Eucharist

February 10, 2015, France

In a response to the repeated, severe acts of vandalism which have taken place in ten French parishes during the last few weeks, the bishop of Bellay-Ars ordered that the Eucharist should be removed from all parishes and chapels of his diocese.

Abortion Opponents Compared to Jihadists

February 9, 2015, Sweden

Mona Sahlin, the national coordinator against violent extremism at the Swedish Ministry of Justice, stated during a panel discussion on religion and democracy that Ellinor Grimmark, a Christian midwife who refuses to participate in abortion, was an "extreme religious practitioner who is fighting in a similar way as do the people fighting for the Islamic state.”

Series of Desecration and Thefts at Churches

February 8, 2015, France

Five French churches were the victims of theft, vandalism and desecration within three days at the hands of unknown perpetrators.