All cases
Vandals destroy shrine and cut off arms of Jesus statue
April 3, 2025, PolandUnknown perpetrators desecrated a religious site on the roadside between the villages of Podlesie and Sławno, destroying a statue of the Mary, tearing the body of a Jesus figure from the cross and breaking off its arms and damaging a painting of the Passion. The incident caused outrage among the locals.
Church crosses destroyed in Paternò
April 2, 2025, ItalyOn 2 April 2025, vandals destroyed two large crosses outside the Chiesa Madre in Paternò, Sicily. The attack follows other recent incidents in the same town, including an attempted theft of a sacred painting and verbal abuse during a Christian procession, raising serious concerns about growing hostility towards the local Christian community.
Repeated urine, faeces and riots in Mainz churches
April 1, 2025, GermanyIn recent weeks, several churches in Mainz have suffered serious acts of vandalism, including the desecration of holy water with urine and the destruction of confessional doors. These incidents have deeply distressed local clergy and parishioners, and have led to discussions about possible church closures to prevent further offences.
Church walls defaced with Swastika
April 1, 2025, GermanyBetween 30 March and 1 April, unknown persons sprayed graffiti on the walls of St Martin's Church in Hermeskeil. The graffiti included a swastika on the outside of the church.
Man smashes church windows and attacks priest
March 31, 2025, GreeceIn Volos, Greece, a man vandalised a local church by smashing its windows before attacking a hieromonk, striking him multiple times. The incident has deeply unsettled the local clergy and parishioners.
Finnish Couple Convicted for Private Prayer
March 31, 2025, FinlandOn 31 March 2025, a Finnish court convicted an elderly Christian couple of “assault” after praying with a young man about issues relating to sexuality. Despite the fact that the prayers were non-coercive and the young man had sought the support and participated in the prayers on his own initiative, the court upheld his claim that the prayers had caused psychological harm. The judgment—believed to be the first of its kind in Finland—has raised concerns about the application of criminal law to religiously motivated pastoral care and its potential implications for freedom of religion or belief.
Relic Busts Stolen from Church in Guémené-sur-Scorff in Repeated Theft
March 30, 2025, FranceTwo reliquary busts were stolen from a church in Guémené-sur-Scorff, marking the second theft targeting religious objects at the site within one month. The incident affected items of both religious and historical significance.
Desecration of crosses at the sanctuary
March 30, 2025, SpainOn the night of 29-30 March, vandals destroyed two crosses near the Sanctuary of St Michael in Aralar, in the Spanish Archdiocese of Pamplona and Tudela. This is the second attack on the site in recent months.
Anti-Christian Graffiti Discovered at Pamplona Church During Holy Week
March 28, 2025, SpainSantiago Parish in Pamplona was vandalized during Holy Week with graffiti containing anti-Christian threats, incitement to violence, blasphemous slogans, and political extremist messages.
Hateful Messages and Damage of Church Logo at Sestao Church
March 27, 2025, SpainUnknown individuals placed offensive stickers on the entrance of the Evangelical Church of Cuerpo de Cristo in Sestao, Vizcaya, displaying anti-Semitic messages and a swastika. The vandals also targeted the church's emblem, which contained Jewish symbols.