All cases

Attempted Theft and Assaults on three Christians

On 26 May 2023, a man was arrested after attempting to steal a chalice, and assaulting three parishioners in the Church of San James Apostle, in the city of Orihuela.

Graveyard and Church Defaced in Blackfairs Walk

Vandals targeted the Auld Kirk of Ayr in Blackfriars Walk on the evening of May 25. Grave stones were painted, rude imagery was drawn over stained glass windows and profanity was written on an iron gate. Historic stonework, as well as a welcome sign featuring a picture of King Charles III was vandalized with red spray paint. The incident is being investigated by Ayr Police.

Church Painting Damaged through vandalism

An oil painting inside the St Gerhard's Church in Heiligenstadt was damaged by unknown perpetrators. According to the Nordhausen police, the crime took place on the 25th of May. The vandals poured the liquid wax of a burning candle from the offering box onto the painting.

Four churches targeted by vandals and thieves and one cemetery vandalised

In May 2023, four churches and a cemetery were targeted by vandals and thieves in France.

Update: Landmark Case Bans Christian Teacher for Misgendering a Transgender Pupil

On May 23rd, a ruling by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) in the UK banned Christian Joshua Sutcliffe from teaching altogether, after he failed to treat his pupils "with dignity and respect" by misgendering a transgender boy. This case is the first of its kind in the UK and has become international news. It goes back to 2017, when the former maths teacher at the Cherwell School in Oxford, said "well done girls" to a group of girls, where one was a transgender boy - and he later apologized. Sutcliffe was later also accused of inappropriately sharing his Christian beliefs.

Vandals locked out Priest and Vandalize his Church

In Malnia, near Gogolin on May 23rd, unknown perpetrators blocked the door to the rectory to prevent the parish priest from intervening and destroyed a statue of Mary, a statue of St. Anthony, and damaged the interior of the church. The losses made by the perpetrators were estimated at several thousand zlotys.

Vandalism and Physical Violence in Wolgast Church

On May 22, a heavily intoxicated couple caused vandalism and violence in the St. Peter's Church in Wolgast. They couple forcibly cleared the book table and injured a visitor.

Santiago Cathedral Defaced with Graffiti

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is an internationally renowned place of pilgrimage. On May 20, a graffiti displaying a penis was smeared on the cathedral’s west façade, which then got covered with a tarpaulin for cleaning purposes.

British Man Admits Plotting to Murder Street Evangelist Hatun Tash

A 21-year-old British man, Edward Little, has pleaded guilty to preparing to commit acts of terrorism in an attack against the evangelist Hatun Tash in 2022. Little was found carrying £5,000, with which he planned to buy a firearm to kill Hatun Tash at the Speaker's Corner, a place for public debates where she frequently debates and preaches. He refused the allegations at first, but on the May 19, 2023 he admitted to planning the murder back on September 23, 2022.

Vandals Pour Red Paint Inside the Walls of a French Church

On May 19, between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m., unknown perpetrators entered the church Notre-Dame des Grâces in Revel without being detected. Once inside, they poured red paint on the walls. A depiction of Christ on the cross, a pyrographed painting of the Virgin and Child, candles and the altar were also vandalized with paint. On a wall, the word "proteste" (unclear form in French) was also written in red. The mayor considers closing the church outside worship hours due to this incident. The same happening had already taken place on May 1st, with the same acts and the word "protest" written on a wall with red paint. Back in 2018, the church in Revel had been attacked with arson.

Citizen arrested in Madrid for praying in front of an abortion clinic

On May 17, a citizen who was silently praying in front of the Dator abortion clinic in Madrid was arrested by the Spanish national police. The arrest comes as a result of the entry into force of the reform of the Spanish Criminal Code last year, which punishes praying in front of abortion clinics as it considers it 'harassment to women.'

An Exhibition in Memory of John Paul II Vandalized in Gdansk

In the Polish city of Gdansk, a Solidarity exhibition dedicated to St John Paul II before the Solidarity building in Gdansk, was vandalized on May 17. The CCTV footage shows five people destroying the exhibition boards with the Holy Father John Paul II. The crime was reported to the police.

Evangelical Church seized in Occupied Ukraine

On Tuesday the 16th of April, Russian forces seized the Ukrainian Christian Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity in Mariupol. According to a US NGO, it is "part of a wider systematic religious persecution campaign in occupied Ukraine." More generally: many Ukrainian pastors said they had been arrested and tortured by Russian soldiers, with one saying that the troops were directed to "kill all the Christian pastors who are not part of the Russian Orthodox Church."

St Cordula Church Closed due to Repetitive Vandalism

The Church of St Cordula in Schoten has announced that the doors will be kept closed, due to several cases of vandalism. The place of worship used to be open during the day. In the last vandalism case, candle wax was poured on the floor and smeared on chairs and carpets. A burnt smell shows that paper might also have been burnt.

Vandalism at Haarala cemetery

At the end of April, the Puskaradio Facebook group reported that vandalism had been committed at Haarala Cemetery. One post revealed that a hatch of a candle holder had been ripped off one of the gravestones, and similar acts had been committed on other graves.

Bavarian Police Identify Growing Trend of Anti-Christian Hate Crime

Churches in Bavaria are targeted by vandals with increased frequency. The Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (LKA) registered 294 cases of damage to property in churches, chapels, or monasteries last year - 23 more than in 2021 (271). According to the information, the trend has been increasing in recent years. In 2019, the LKA still counted 219 cases, and the following year it was 242. According to a spokesman of the Catholic diocese of Regensburg there are: "For example, figures of saints were destroyed or damaged, people smoked and urinated in church rooms, church walls were smeared or fires were set inside the church."

Vandals Destroy a Shrine and Smash Statues

On the night of May 13 to 14, the chapel in the Grotto of the White Mountains in Łaskarzew was vandalised. The statues of the Mary, Saint Bernadette and the image of Merciful Jesus were destroyed in the act.

Teacher dismissed for 'hate speech' after being encouraged to share his Christian beliefs

A teacher in Wales, Ben Dybowski, was encouraged to express his Christian beliefs at a seminar and was subsequently fired for "hate speech", according to the Daily Mail. The school claims that there is no evidence that his assignment was ended on the basis of his religious beliefs. The teacher said that he was prompted to share his opinions during a mandatory training session organised by the charity Diverse Cymru to instruct teachers on "workforce diversity practice, unconscious bias and gender awareness." He later commented that: "We were told it was a safe space and encouraged to speak freely."

Organ Pipes Stolen From Sussex Church

Organ pipes were stolen and the organ of the St John The Divine Church in Patching, England, was damaged on the night of the May 12 to 13, 2023. The theft is expected to cost thousands of pounds to repair or replace.

Russian Individuals Raid the cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Crimea

On May 11th, the Ukrainian newspaper Korrespondent.net reported: "The invaders are removing the property of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, but such actions are not explained in any way and no one was warned about the "raid". Russian occupants are looting and destroying the cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (PCU) in temporarily occupied Simferopol. The invaders broke down the doors of the temple, destroy and steal the property of the Ukrainian church." One of the leaders of this "raid" is Novikov Evgeny Nikolaevich - "the Moscow bailiff who manages the seizure of the PCU temple in Crimea". The Russian individuals did not explain their actions and no one warned the representatives of the religious community and church officials about the "raid".”

Death threats and Assaults at Bible stall in Vienna

Christian missionary Lahzy Mahfonz Hefzalla Girgis has regularly installed a Christian book table in different districts of Vienna, where he distributes bibles to those interested. He reported receiving death threats and being physically assaulted because of his message that “Jesus is God”. On May 5, 2023, his bookstall was surrounded and attacked by a mob and bibles were stolen.

Arson Attack to a Spanish Church in Vitoria

Some people have tried to cause a fire in the church of Santa María de los Ángeles. This criminal act occurred on Tuesday, May 9 around 4:00 pm in Vitoria, while the church was closed. Perpetrators sprayed gasoline at the main entrance of the church. The fire burned a billboard and the church entrance, which they left darkened and dirty. The criminals fled, but thanks to the images from the church's security cameras, the police were able to identify them.

Man Arrested After He desecrated and vandalized an Austrian Church

On the 9th of May, the Police of Salzburg have arrested a man who hurled a bottle of red wine he had brought with full force against the high altar on Monday morning in the parish church of Schwarzach im Pongau. Thus, two altar lights were knocked over and the offering table and brickwork were contaminated by the wine. The man had entered the church loudly ranting and gesticulating aggressively and spat at a statue of Christ. The man - a Czech citizen who is banned from staying in Austria - was filmed in the church by two video cameras.

Perpetrator Tags Church with Graffiti, Among other Vandalic acts

On May 5, 2013, graffiti was found on the Church of Lieusaint, in a suburb of Paris. The graffiti, which said: 'Vive l'Islam et la paix" (Long live Islam and Peace) was written in French and a Star of David was drawn. According to a local Muslim association, the scripture, full of mistakes, is unlikely to come from a Muslim. The Mayor strongly condemns this "proof of human stupidity". Last year, statues inside the church had been destroyed.

Priest in Pionki assaulted

On 5 May 2023, at around 1pm, an unknown man attacked 80-year-old priest Fr. Leon Czerwiński, former parish priest of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of Poland in Pionki near Radom.

Public prayer gathering attacked

On May 5, 2023, at around 5pm, the participants in a public rosary prayer organised by a pro-life foundation in Elbląg, were attacked. During the meeting, a masked and very aggressive man approached the people praying.

Azerbaijan has demanded the expulsion of the Armenian clergy from the Dadivank monastery in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh

In the context of the current blockade by Azerbaijan on the Republic of Artsakh, the ethnic Armenian breakaway state in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the Armenian Christians are suffering increasing threats and fear for their future. In one of the latest threats against the Christians living in the region, Azerbaijan has demanded the expulsion of the Armenian clergy from the Dadivank monastery, built in the 9th century and one of the symbols of medieval Armenia.

European Parliament: Outrage over exhibition showing explicitly sexualized Jesus surrounded by apostles

An exhibition in the European Parliament showing Jesus surrounded by men dressed in leather as sadomasochistic slaves, apparently homosexuals, has provoked complaints from several MEPs and Christians in Europe. The author, lesbian Swedish photographer Elisabeth Ohlson, argues the photographs depict Christ supporting homosexual rights.

Street wall Displays insults and Hateful Messages Against Christians

A German man who was doing a bicycle tour around the Tollensee Sea in Germany, near Neubrandenburg, came across a wall displaying several hateful or disrespectful messages and insults almost entirely against Christians or Catholic Christians. He posted a picture of the display on his facebook page and informed the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians. Some of the posters on the wall say "F**k off Vatican", "Good that theologians are disappearing on their own", "Catholics are sh*t", among other things.

Arson in Steinfeld Church: Cloth Set Alight, Bible Damaged

On May 2, 2023 between 14:00-18:00, a cloth on a stand of Saint Leodegar Church in Steinfeld, Germany, was set on fire, burning the cloth to crisp and damaging the Bible on the stand in the church.

The church of Affringues targeted by degradation

Desecration was noted at the Saint-Léger church in Affringues, just reopened to the public a month ago after seven years of closure. Mass books were torn and candles crushed.

UPDATE: Christian Mayoral Candidate Wins Legal Case After Being Fired For alleged "Hate Speech"

In 2022, Maureen Martin, who was campaigning to become a mayor in London was sacked by her housing association employer for stating publicly that she believed in marriage between men and women. She was accused of gross misconduct for leading a "discriminatory" campaign. In April 2023, she won substantial damages following a legal challenge against her dismissal by the London & Quadrant Housing Trust (L&Q). She was supported by the NGO Christian Concern.

Public Figure of Jesus vandalised

A public figure of Jesus on a cross was severely vandalised in Villalbe, France.

Vandalism on Corsica: Scout Camp Chapel and Cross Destroyed

An open-air chapel and cross situated on an eight-hectare plot of land in Vero, Corsica, was found completely knocked down and ransacked on April 29 by Father Louis El Rahi. The site was bequeathed to the church by a local resident a few years ago and was relaunched as a scouting site by Father Louis, who celebrated Palm Sunday mass there a few weeks before the incident. This is one of the four acts of anti-Christian vandalism that have occurred in Corsica in recent months. Earlier in April, a statuette of the Virgin Mary in Petit Capo was vandalised and a cross on the Saint Jean pass was decapitated. In May, another statue of the Virgin Mary was found decapitated in Ajaccio.

Cross Vandalised

On 29 April 2023, an 18-year-old man destroyed a cross on the grounds of the Roman Catholic parish of St Jadwiga in Chorzów. The perpetrator threw the granite cross from its pedestal and poured red liquid on the figure of Jesus Crucified.

Church in Schwaz sprayed with satanic graffiti

On April 28 between 12:00 and 5:30 PM, the "Maria Himmelfahrt" parish church in Schwaz was vandalized. An inverted pentagram and the number "666" was sprayed in blue paint on the stone floor and on a confessional. The graffiti on the 500-year-old floor was in front of the altar. The perpetrators have been caught by the police.

Systematic Church Thefts: Thief caught

In Ireland, a man was charged for a series of thefts including in several churches between 2020 and 2024. This example points to the growing problem of systematic church thefts and shows that the biggest harm for the religious communities is often not the thefts themselves, but the damage caused through break-ins. Another detrimental effect of these thefts is that parishes which cannot afford constant surveillence increasingly decide to keep their doors locked, which can be a great loss for believers who are thus prevented from frequenting local places of worship.

Cross Vandalized on Sisco, Corsica

A cross on the Saint Jean pass in Sisco, Corsica, was found vandalized at the end of April. The nearly two-metre-high cross was placed on the pass more than twenty years ago by the inhabitants of Sisco.

A severe setback for Religious Freedom in Russia: The Russian Federation's Ministry of Justice will permanently close the Sova Center

On April 27, the Moscow City Court ruled the liquidation of the Sova Information and Analytical Center, the leading organization monitoring religious liberty violations in the country. This represents a significant blow to the protection of freedom of religion in Russia.

Squatters desecrate church and threaten to damage

A group of squatters identifying themselves as artists desecrated the San Roque Church in the town of Farrera. Additionally, they allegedly threatened to cause damage to the church and attempted to coerce people. Subsequently, the Bishopric of Urgel has closed the church.

Priest in Dobczyce beaten up

On 25 April 2023, a 32-year-old man physically attacked a parish priest in Dobczyce.

Jesus figure torn from cross and smashed

On the night of 25 April 2023, unknown perpetrators vandalised a roadside cross in the area of the parish of St Michael the Archangel in Ropa. They tore the figure of Jesus from the cross and then smashed it into small pieces that were scattered on the pavement.

Priest attacked outside a church

After the Sunday mass on April 24 in Saint-Emilien church, Nantes, a young girl physically attacked an elderly priest of the SSPX fraternity shouting ‘no to the Freemasons’.

(UPDATE?) Man on Trial for Slapping Priest

In mid-April 2022, a man was tried in Namur for burning the Belgian flag and slapping a priest during the Te Deum on 14 November 2022. On 24 April 2023, the Criminal Court of Walloon Brabant examined two cases against a resident of Rebecq.

Man sets bible on fire and damages cross

As reported on April 23, a man caused extensive damage of 20.000€ to a church in Stockach (Constance district) in April 2023. He damaged a statue, books and stole plates.

Chapel set on fire in Dinant

On Sunday night, 23 April, the fire brigade and the police were called to a fire that completely destroyed the chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph in Dinant. Arson is suspected.

Three acts of Vandalism to Churches in a Belgian Village

In April 2023, two acts of vandalism were committed in the church of Saint-Rémy de Profondeville (province of Namur): On 22 April, two large statues of Saint Joseph and Saint Anthony were thrown off their pedestals and smashed to the ground. A vase on a side altar was also smashed. A few days earlier, a small statue of the Virgin Mary had been torn from its pedestal and carried away.

Damages at Church in Beccles

St. Michael's Church in Beccles was targeted by vandals who damaged stones and moved fences. Suffolk Police said the incident occurred at some point between April 17 and 22. Damage was caused to the stonework, including to the patio terrace slabs, and safety fences were moved that were in position to safeguard and protect an area on the ground where loose stone masonry may fall from the church. The police closed the case pending further investigative opportunities. No arrests were made and no suspects were identified.

Protestant Church in Austria Target of Vandalism

On Thursday 20th of April, the Protestant Kreuzkirche in Graz was targeted by vandals. The Austrian police were able to catch one of the perpetrators. The witness Christine Pfau was working inside the church when the attack occurred. She was preparing everything for the next service when she heard a sound noice and saw a colored smoke through the windows. The Vandals had smeared the walls, the pillars and the church doors with about 15 spray cans, scraps of smoke and paint bombs and left even more rubbish lying on the floor.

Statues stolen from three roadside shrines

On April 18, 2023, local media reported the theft of a statue of Mary from a roadside shrine in Szymanów Thefts of figurines from roadside shrines occurred in this region three times in one month (in Mokre, Szymanów and Jusaki-Zarzecka).

St Michael's Church vandalized in Suffolk

Between April 17 and 22, the St Michael's Church in Beccles was vandalised. Perpetrators caused damage to the masonry, to the stonework, including to the patio terrace slabs, and safety fences were moved. The Suffolk police was informed and are looking for the perpetrators.

Minsk: Seven people fined for talking about Easter in the Street

On April 15, seven young men were fined for talking about Easter in a public street in the city centre of Minsk. The individuals, who were all Protestant, were approached by police and told that they were violating the law by "conducting missionary activities without a permit." The police fined each one about 2 months' average wages, reports Forum 18.

Statue of Mary beheaded in chapel

On 15 April 2023, a Baroque statue of the Virgin Mary from a chapel behind the church on Czerniakowska Street in Warsaw was destroyed. The perpetrator ripped the figure from its pedestal and tore off the statue's head.

Baptist Pastor Fined for “illegal missionary work” in Bryansk

On April 14, in the Russian city of Bryansk, the Volodarskiy Magistrates' District Court penalized the pastor of the "First Church of Evangelical Christians Baptists of Bryansk" for engaging in "illegal" missionary work. He was charged with "introducing 'modern' ways of communicating in line with 'Western standards'."

Vandalism of a Cross And Jesus Figure Stolen in a small German City

On April 14 in Menden, near Dortmund, unknown persons have tampered with the missionary cross on the church square of the Holy Cross Church. They broke off the Jesus figure and stole it. The police is looking for witnesses.

Explosives used to steals thousands of pounds of sacred silver

Tens of thousands of pounds worth of chalices and sacred items have been stolen from the Lady Saint Mary's Church in Wareham after thefts broke into the church and blew up the safe on April 14. Explosives were used for the break-in and at least 25 pieces of communion silver, including a 450-year-old Elizabethan chalice worth 30,000 pounds, were stolen. The police suspects this gang of thieves has been targeting churches across the UK.

Far-left protesters set fire to Convent of the Jacobins

On 14 April, radical far-left anti-government protesters set fire to the 14th century Jacobin monastery in Rennes, France. They also set fire to the police headquarters.

Windows of Chapel in Częstochowa broken

On the night of April 13-14, 2023, an unknown perpetrator vandalised one of the chapels on the "Way of the Blood of Christ" in Częstochowa. The vandal smashed the glass in the window and door of the chapel.

Sainte Matron Orthodox Church set on Fire

On April 13, 3 days before the Orthodox Easter, the Orthodox Church of St. Matrona, in the village of Gouta Mezhigorskaya near Kiev, was set on fire.

Two churches severely vandalised in Angers region

On the April 12, 2023, the rector of the Sainte-Madeleine Church in Angers found his church devastated: seven statues had been beheaded or amputated, the altar was vandalized, and many crosses were too. Mr. Verchère, Mayor of the city, and Mr. Darmanin, Minister of the Interior condemned the degradation. On the 18. April, a 40-year-old with criminal records named Brahim was arrested by the police, he was also taken to a hospital for psychiatric examination.

30 Gravestones Vandalized In Church Cemetery near London

Over three nights on April 12, 13, and 14, in Croydon, thirty gravestones have been destroyed with a sledgehammer - some graves were dating back 500 years, at a Grade I listed church. «The church is appealing for witnesses along with police who are trying to find out who took a sledgehammer to the graves. »

Statuette of Mary Damaged in Ajaccio

A statue of Mary, set up eight years ago by the residents of Sevani or Petit Capo beach in Ajaccio was found vandalised on April 12th, 2023. The flowers, the pots which contained them and the candles surrounding the statue were stolen and the statue was tipped aside. This is the first incident in a row of recent anti-Christian vandalisation on Corsica.

Cross Stolen from Church in Burstall

A 60-90cm Victorian cross and a 45cm lectern have been stolen from a locked vestry at St Mary's Church, Burstall. The theft took place between 9 and 11 April. No arrests have been made and Suffolk Police are still searching for the stolen items.

Destruction of the papal exhibition in Gdańsk

On the night of April 10-11, 2023, a group of young people (two 16-year-olds and one 18-year-old) vandalized an exhibition documenting the relations between "Solidarity" and John Paul II, located at the headquarters of "Solidarity" in Gdańsk. Vandals damaged outdoor boards with infographics about John Paul II.

Belgian Pastor Publicly Defamed and Church Vandalized

On the 9th of April, at night, unknown people wrote with white paint "Pa Pedophil" (paedophile pastor) on the evangelical Church of Jemelle. Pastor Grégory Zieleniec received a hateful letter in his mailbox "pedophil en liberté. Il s'agit du pasteur grégory zieleniec" (Free paedophile. This is Pastor Gregory Zieleniec). The Pastor has filed a complaint for insult, vandalism and defamation.

Man on Trial for Extortion of a Priest and Theft from a Church

Lorenzo Cerquetta, 43, from Recanati, is on trial at the Court of Macerata accused of theft and extortion against the parish priest of the Church of San Flavino. The man from Recanati blackmailed the priest into giving him 200 euros under the threat of setting fire to the church. On April 9, 2023 he furthermore stole 240 euros from the priest's drawer.

Desecration of Cobeña Church

In the night of April 8 to 9, burglars desecrated the church of San Cipriano in the Madrid town of Cobeña. The burglars threw the tabernacle of the church to the ground, scattering the hosts.

Religious statues stolen from roadside shrine

At Easter 2023, an unknown offender stole the statues of Jesus and Mary from the roadside chapel in the village of Mokre (Rossosz commune).

Teacher in Sardinia suspended for 20 days for praying with her students

Marisa Francescangeli, a primary school teacher in San Vero Milis (Oristano, Sardinia), has been suspended for 20 days with a pay reduction (from 25 March to 15 April) for having made her students construct a rosary for Christmas and praying an Ave Maria and Our Father with them. The Oristano school office's decision of suspension was taken after two mothers protested. While other parents defend her, she said she will appeal the decision.

Two men urinate and defecate inside a German Church

Two men were arrested on April 5 after having urinated inside of the St. Georg's church of Nördlingen. One perpetrator is 39 years old and the other is 41. The day before, faeces had been found in the same church. In addition, the two men attempted to break the offertory box. As the police searched the suspects' apartments, stolen goods from the previous day were found and seized.

First prison sentence for opposing Ukraine war on religious grounds

Mikhail Simonov, a 63-year-old Russian Orthodox Christian, has become the first person to be imprisoned for expressing opposition to Russia's war in Ukraine on religious grounds. Simonov has been accused of disseminating false information about the Russian armed forces "based on political hatred" due to two social media posts in which he criticized Russian attacks on Kiev and Mariupol. One of the posts read "We, Russia, have become godless. Forgive us, Lord!"

Norwegian city under investigation for denying funding to Christian organisations

In the Norwegian city of Klepp, nine council members are conducting investigations into a suspected case of religious discrimination over the funding of Christian organisations. It is suspected that organisations that adhere to the traditional view of marriage appear to be left out of the community grants.

Sacred Objects Stolen From an Italian Church

On April 4, intruders broke into the church Santa Caterina da Siena in Coverciano (a suburb of Florence). Sacred objects, including four chalices, and two pyxins (host holders) were stolen. Also, loudspeakers and microphones have been stolen. A parish priest's helper raised the alarm when he noticed that the window of the entrance door had been smashed on Monday morning. Also, a copper gutter was partly torn off the wall. The value of the damage is yet to be estimated. The police are investigating.

Shrine vandalised: Statue broken

On April 4, 2023, an unknown perpetrator destroyed the shrine of Mary located in Warsaw, located at the intersection of Służewiecka Valley and Wilanowska Avenue. The perpetrator dismantled the statue of Mary and smashed it 50 metres from the chapel.

Chapel targeted: Cross broken off

On the night of April 4-5, 2023, the chapel of St. John of Nepomuk located at Odmętowa Street in Krakow was targeted by vandals. They tore off the cross held in the hands of the statue of the saint, thereby damaging the hand of the statue.

Vandalism to a Pope John-Paul II Monument in Lodz

On the 2nd of April, a Statue of Pope John-Paul II was vandalized: the hands were painted red, the face yellow. The sentence "Maxima Culpa" has been written on the pedestal, which is most probably an allusion to Ekke Overbeek's book accusing the late Pope of having closed the eyes on children-abuse cases.

Statue of Pope John Paul II vandalised

On April 2, the 18th anniversary of the Polish pope's death, a statue of him got vandalised in Łódź with Graffiti. At the bottom of the statue the preperator wrote "Maxima Culpa".

Poitiers Cathedral smeared with insulting writings

According to the French Observatoire de la Christianophobia, the cathedral of Poitiers has been defaced with insults to the Virgin Mary by a local far-left group.

Statue of St. John Paul II vandalised

On 2 April, a statue of St. John Paul II was vandalised in Stalowa Wola. Unknown perpetrators poured red liquid on the Pope's monument in the Basilica of Stalowa Wola.

Church closed after robbery and damage

During the night of 1 April, the Sainte-Thérèse church in Metz (France) was robbed and damaged. The Sunday morning service the following day was cancelled. The rector filed a complaint.

Two People arrested for having stolen 14 Skulls in a Church Ossuary

On the 1. April, two German men were arrested after a random police control for having stolen 14 skulls in a Church Ossuary in Mölbling, Austria. The men said they had taken the skulls because they were interested in mourning and funeral cultures. The 43-year-old driver and his 35-year-old passenger from the Regensburg area said they had never stolen skulls before. The police seized the objects and stated that the two death cult fans would be charged with disturbing the peace of the dead after the investigation was completed.

Catholic School Students and Teachers Receive Online Death Threats

On the 31. March 2023, pupils and teachers from the Catholic School "Saint-Pierre", in the southern city of Montrond-les-Bains, received a threatening message in the school's intern e-mail box. An unknown person, probably an outsider, threatened pupils of with death with the words "I'm going to cut your throat". An investigation has been opened by the police.

Destruction of John Paul II Image

On the night of March 31, 2023, unknown perpetrators destroyed the mural of St. John Paul II in Wrocław on Ostrów Tumski. The Pope's face was covered in red paint, while the rest of the image was not damaged.

Thugs who vandalised seven churches caught

The thugs who vandalised six churches in Ile-de-France and another in Grenoble in January 2022 have been charged by a French court. The defendants had stolen money from churches and even consecrated hosts.

Parish cemetery vandalised

On 27 March 2023, an unknown offender damaged 8 monuments in the necropolis of the cemetery of the parish of St. Andrew the Apostle in Brody Poznańskie.

Nuns Leave Nantes City Centre After Constant Insecurity

On 3 March, the newspaper "Le Figaro" published an interview with two nuns who were forced to leave the centre of Nantes because of hostility and insecurity. They are called Sister Agathe and Sister Marie-Anne and they are moving to another place called Reims. The sisters argue that they are exhausted by the insecurity and have been subjected to "blows, spitting and insults".

Church in Cambrai closed due to repeated vandalism

The church of Saint-Géry in Cambrai, France, will remain closed to the public Due to repeated vandalism in recent weeks. The volunteers who look after the church are helpless and very shocked by this situation, no longer knowing how to protect this cultural and religious heritage.

Theft Poland 2023

TV-Channel Prohibits News Presenter from Wearing A Cross Pendant

The Swiss TV sender SRF has prohibited the moderator Wasiliki Goutziomitros to wear a cross necklace during the program. Ms. Goutziomitros is a presenter on the news program "10 vor 10", and was seen wearing a small cross pendant. Now, the SRF has decided that it violates journalistic guidelines. This has caused a great discussion in Switzerland regarding religious freedom. This news was reported around the 24th of March.

Couple arrested after stealing from eight churches

As reported on March 23, a couple was arrested for stealing religious figures in eight churches. They are accused of nine crimes of robbery with force inside churches. According to reports from the region, burglaries in churches are a problem in many small towns.

Minors set fire inside church

On the afternoon of 23 March, witnesses found minors attacking the furniture in the church of Saint-Briac, France. The youths had even set fire to some posters on a pillar next to the collection box. The fire brigade and police intervened and the damage was limited.

Religious Objects Stolen

On 22 March, religious objects including furnitures and silk liturgical clothes were stolen in a church in Lincolnshire.

A Painting of Jesus in the Church of Aléria Has been Stolen

On March 21, the City Council of Aléria (Corsica), stated that a painting representing Jesus Christ and exposed in the Village Church had been stolen. The town hall of Aleria posted on its Facebook page about the theft. The municipality of Plaine orientale wrote: "It is a shock in the parish of Aleria, (...) a sacred object has been stolen." A complaint has been filled.

Vienna: Increased Secutity Cameras in Churches

A terrorist alert in the city of Vienna on 15. March made it particularly obvious, that religious buildings and communities live in fear of attacks or vandalism. During the 15. March, the police guarded several religious sites and churches in the city, according to possible threats of an Islamist attack identified by the intelligence office. Security cameras have been dispatched in many Viennese churches. Jewish and Muslim communities also have such protections.

Theft and Degradations in a Church in Sádaba

On March 21, intruders broke in the church of Sadaba for the second time in the week. The mayor pointed out that the stolen money only had a total amount of under 10 euros. However, the perpetrators made several degradations, including destroying the sacristy's door and throwing several items to the floor, including the clothes from the priests. The mayor expressed his support to the local priest.

Legal Proceedings Opened For Posters in San Sebastian Insulting Catholics

"If you abort now, what are we going to f**k in 5 or 6 years?" This is what was depicted in the posters that appeared in March in several bus shelters in San Sebastián, Spain. Apart from the hateful sentence that attacks religious feelings and discriminates Catholics, the posters included the image of an unborn child and the logo of the Spanish Episcopal Conference. The Organisation "Abogados Cristianos" filed a complaint regarding the events and now the courts have asked the Ertaintza (Basque Police) to investigate the authorship of the posters.

Anti-Christian Tags Painted on Cardinal Saliège's Statue in Toulouse

On March 19, unknown vandals wrote the anarchist motto "Ni Dieu ni maître" (No God nor master) on the pedestal of Cardinal Saliège's statue in Toulouse. The Cardinal served as archbishop of the city during World War 2 and used all his power to rescue Jews from persecution and later received the title of Righteous Among the Nations. The current archbishop, Guy de Kerimel strongly condemned this degradation which "hurts both Christians and Jews". The degradation occurred precisely eleven years after Mohammed Merah's mass shooting at a Jewish school.

Valuable Silver Sacred Objects stolen from a Rural Church

On the night of March 19th, burglars stole valuable silver items in a church from a rural parish in East Devon in Sidmouth. The police are looking for witnesses. On Twitter, pictures show that the objects were chalices, host holders and other tools for the celebration of Mass.

Municipality prevents commemoration prayer in cemetery

The City Council of Moncada, near Barcelona, has prevented a religious act in memory of the "Carlists of Valls" from being celebrated in the cemetery. The congregation had to hold the memorial act outside of the cemetery wall, thus breaking a mass tradition that has been celebrated for almost a century.

Church desecrated and burgled

During Saturday night, March 18, three churches in the Navarre region were burgled: the parishes of Santacara, Mélida and Murillo el Fruto. In the church of Murillo el Fruto, thieves committed a desecration by opening the tabernacle and throwing away some consecrated hosts.