All cases
Arson attack on Emmendingen church
August 26, 2024, GermanyOn 26 August, unknown persons attempted to set fire to the side door of the Lutheran church in Emmendingen. The lower part of the wooden door was damaged. The total damage is estimated at around €3,000.
Arsonists Set Pilgrimage Church Altar on Fire
August 25, 2024, GermanyIn the night of August 24 to 25, unknown perpetrators tried to set fire to a pilgrim church in Dorschhausen, Bad Wörishofen. They also tried to set fire to the tablecloth on the altar, causing severe damage of several thousand euros.
Ukraine bans Ukrainian Orthodox Church
August 24, 2024, UkraineUkrainian lawmakers have approved a bill banning the Russian Orthodox Church. The text targets the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) of the Moscow Patriarchate and has raised concerns about the safeguarding of religious freedom in Ukraine. The law requires the UOC to cut all ties with the Russian Orthodox Church or face a process that would lead to its dissolution.
Several church windows smashed
August 24, 2024, GermanySeveral church windows at Friedrich-Ebert-Staße were smashed with stones by unknown persons. Police are investigating.
Desecration of Greek Orthodox Cemetery
August 24, 2024, TurkeyOn August 24, staff at the Agios Eleftherios cemetery in Istanbul found that the barbed wire fence around the cemetery had been cut, gravestones desecrated, holes dug and the cemetery's guard dogs sedated.
IS claims Knife-Stabbing in Solingen was an Attack Against Christians
August 23, 2024, GermanyOn 23 August 2024, a 26-year-old Syrian man attacked several people at a city festival in Solingen. IS claimed authorship of the attack and announced via Amaq (IS news agency) that it was "directed against Christians." The attack left three people dead and eight wounded.
Vandals Destroy Easter Candle and Smear Altar
August 23, 2024, GermanyBetween 20 and 28 August 2024, unknown persons entered the Höchheim church and damaged the Easter candle. They also scribbled on the white altar ceiling with a burnt-out candle cloth. The damage is estimated at around 200 euros.
Serina cemetery: Church and chapels vandalised
August 22, 2024, ItalyDuring the night of 21-22 August, unknown perpetrators ransacked the church of the Sirena cemetery and vandalised up to 5 private chapels on the cemetery of Serina, Bergamo. Pews, religious objects, flower pots, candles and glass were strewn about and partly destroyed.
Churches in Switzerland facing a series of break-ins
August 22, 2024, SwitzerlandIn August 2024, thieves broke into several churches in Frick and stole valuable church ornaments: silver-plated candlesticks. In Wegenstetten, a crucifix was stolen. In Zeiningen, various gold-plated jewels were stolen. The losses were estimated at several tens of thousands of francs.
Vandalism Leaves Church in Bra Devastated
August 20, 2024, ItalySerious damage inside the Church of the Assumption in Bra on August 20 has caused deep concern. Unknown persons broke into the building and destroyed the furnishings and furniture. The altarpiece depicting the Assumption of the Mary was damaged with numerous holes, the face of the statue of Mary was smeared with black paint, crucifixes were broken and damaged, the curtain of the canopy over the altar was torn, and the marble and tiles were removed from the floor under the miniature of the Lourdes grotto.
Church Desecrated and Robbed
August 20, 2024, SpainAs reported on August 22, unknown perpetrators desecrated the church of Samartín de Güerces and stole objects of great religious and historical value: a chalice, a monstrance; lanterns, crosses and even lamps.
Theft of religious objects and cemetery vandalism
August 20, 2024, ItalyIn August, someone stole money, keys and the personal belongings, including devotional objects, of a canon from the archpriest at the church of Saints Simon and Jude in Cartigliano. Earlier that month, someone destroyed flowers and vases on several graves in the town's cemetery.
Man stabs Ludlow church door
August 20, 2024, United StatesAn act of vandalism at the Cathedral of Life church in Ludlow was recorded by police on 20 August. Pastor Cutts said a man had been sitting on the steps of the church, then got up, pulled out a knife and started stabbing the church door. Damage was found on the outside of the door. Ludlow police said the man had been arrested.
Payout for Christian woman who was fined for silent prayer, but government planing new restrictions
August 19, 2024, United KingdomA Christian charity volunteer has received a £13,000 payout and an apology from police after claiming her arrest for silently praying outside an abortion clinic was unjust and violated her human rights. While many see this as a victory for religious freedom, the new UK government is planning to introduce national legislation banning prayer outside abortion clinics.
"Allahu Akabar" smeared on Church in Haiger
August 19, 2024, GermanyUnknown vandals have smeared the walls of the city church in Haiger. According to police, "Allahu Akbar" was written on the walls.
Bishop's ceremonial chair stolen
August 19, 2024, United KingdomAn ornate historic oak bishop's chair, 100 years old and worth £500, has been stolen from the 13th-century All Saints' Church in Ashwicken between August 19- 23.
Church of Madonna di Portadini vandalised
August 17, 2024, ItalyVandals broke into a local church in Alatri, Italy, and turned it upside down.
Lutheran church in Greiz pelted with stones
August 17, 2024, GermanyUnknown persons threw stones at the Lutheran Church in Greiz. The incident is said to have taken place between 10 and 17 August. Lead glass windows were hit and damaged. The police are searching for the perpetrators. The loss is estimate at €4,000.
Vandals wreak havoc in Montecilfone church
August 17, 2024, ItalyOn the night from August 16 to 17, unknown persons destroyed a statue of Mary and other sacred objects in a chapel of a retirement home in Montecilfone.
Priest stabbed on the street in Ireland
August 16, 2024, IrelandOn August 16, in the morning an attacker brutally stabbed Fr. Paul Murphy from Waterford on his way to the Defence Force barracks in Galway, where he works as an army chaplain. Soldiers from the barracks had to open fire on the attacker. The priest is now in a serious condition.
Chalices stolen from two churches
August 16, 2024, FranceTwo churches in the Lot département suffered thefts of sacred objects on August 16 and 17, in Saint-Jean de Laure and Concots. These are the 4th and 5th thefts since the start of the year 2023 - and the 15th and 16th since the series of thefts began previous year.
Stone cross destroyed by vandals on Christian Feast Day
August 15, 2024, FranceOn the night of 15 August (the Catholic Feast Day of the Assumption Mary), vandals destroyed an important stone cross in Tréport, France. The stone cross is more than 400 years old and was declared a historical monument in 1913.
Two churches closed due to increased vandalism
August 14, 2024, GermanyDue to repeated acts of vandalism, two churches in Bodenfelde and Uslar have had to close their doors outside of worship hours. The churches have been the target of various attacks, including broken windows, arson and an altar being defaced with swastika graffiti.
Parishioners Shocked after Vandals Smash Statue
August 7, 2024, United KingdomA statue of Mary outside St Joseph Church in Wembley in the Diocese of Westminster, was smashed into pieces in the night of August 7, leaving behind the empty plinth. The parishioners are shocked. Police presence around the church will be reinforced.
Young man records anti-Christian video inside church
August 6, 2024, ItalyA young Muslim man posted a video in Arabic on TikTok that he had recorded in a church in Milan. In the video, he asked an elderly woman if she was a Christian, then wished her death and cursed another woman in the same church.
Repeated Cross Vandalism: Figure of Jesus Cut into Pieces
August 5, 2024, PolandOn August 5, a cross in the fields of the Polish village Kościuki was vandalised again, following two previous incidents. This time, the vandals also cut up the figure of Jesus, which was attached to the cross, and threw the pieces in the bushes. The local community is shocked about the anti-religious hatred displayed by the act.
Theft of consecrated hosts in Porto Recanati
August 5, 2024, ItalyOn the evening of August 5, unknown persons entered the church of the Most Precious Blood in Porto Recanati and, after forcing the tabernacle, took the hosts that had already been consecrated and were kept inside. During their escape, the thieves abandoned a chalice on the street. The parish priest alerted the police. Nothing else was stolen from the church.
Christian Activists unlawfully arrested in Paris
August 5, 2024, FranceOn August 5, Parisian police arrested six Christians who were on a bus labelled with “Stop attacks on Christians” driving around Paris to bring attention to the Last Supper parody at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony and its anti-Christian message.
French Church vandalised: Tabernacle set on fire
August 4, 2024, FranceIn the church of Saint-Pierre in Lège-Cap-Ferret, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the tabernacle was set on fire during the night of August 4. Furthermore, religious materials were smashed on the ground. The church will remain closed during the restoration. The police have started an investigation.
Pastor attacked while praying for protestors
August 4, 2024, United KingdomA member of the Baptist church in Middlesborough was attacked by far-right protesters as he prayed alongside a rally on 4 August.
Man sets fire to door of Birštonas church
August 3, 2024, LithuaniaA 22-year-old man poured flammable liquid on the door of the church on the night of 4 August, set fire to it and smashed the glass above the main entrance door with a stone.
Concerns over Application of French "Abuse of Weakness" Law
August 1, 2024, FranceThe trial for “abuse of weakness” of the Catholic Missionary Family of Notre-Dame (FMND) raises concerns about the application of the recently amended French “anti-cult” law. At the trail, the experts solicited by the investigators presented some of basic principles of religious communities, such as the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, or silence and parts of the Catholic catechism, as “means of submission”.
Elderly woman attacked and robbed while praying in church
August 1, 2024, GermanyOn August 1, a 40-year-old man violently pushed an elderly woman who was praying in St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church to the ground, kicked her and took her bag. As a result of the attack, the woman suffered a laceration to her head and was taken to hospital where she was stitched up.
Rengsdorf church vandalised with stones
August 1, 2024, GermanyAs reported in September 2024, the Catholic Church of St Kastor in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, was again the target of vandalism in early August. In a recent incident, unknown persons threw stones at the church, breaking three large stained glass windows facing the street. A window to the sacristy and a display case were also damaged.
"Distressing" vandalism to church roof
August 1, 2024, United KingdomThe Church of the Holy Trinity and All Saints in Winterton has been badly damaged in what the parish has described as a "disturbing" case of vandalism. Vandals climbed onto the roof and removed parts of it, leaving the stones beside the church. Some services had to be disrupted because of the damage.
Mayor Break-In Causes Severe Damage to Church
July 31, 2024, PolandOn July 31, three men broke into a church in Szydłów and caused €700 worth of damage.
Religious statue beheaded inside Scalini church
July 31, 2024, ItalyOn July 31, vandals partially forced open the front and outer doors of the sacristy of the church of Scalini, a hamlet of Arsiero, destroyed a plaster statue of St. Anthony holding the Infant Jesus, decapitated both figures, threw furniture on the ground, attempted break into the donation box, broke a stained glass window in the apse, and tore down a microphone.
19 Cemeteries vandalised: Crosses broken off and stolen
July 31, 2024, SpainBetween May and July, a gang stole crucifixes and images from 19 cemeteries in the province of Toledo. Those responsible have been arrested.
NI Court Prosecutes Man and Woman for Praying in Coleraine "Buffer Zone"
July 30, 2024, United KingdomIn Northern Ireland, a court is set to rule on the case of a woman and a man who were arrested for praying inside an abortion "buffer zone" in October 2023. If found guilty in the current hearing, the woman who pleaded not guilty faces up to six months in prison. The police arrested them without any prior complaints about their presence on the street.
Theft and vandalism in Sant'Antonio Abate
July 30, 2024, ItalyOn the night of July 30, four young people broke into the Sant'Antonio Abate Church in Incisa Scapaccino, Asti. They broke into the entrance door, destroyed the cribs and sacred furniture, smeared the walls with spray cans and damaged the sound system for the services.
Vandals cut off hands and destroy face of statue
July 28, 2024, PolandOn the night of 27-28 July, vandals severely damaged a statue of Mary located at the entrance to the village of Kościuk. The statue's hands were cut off, a hole was punched in its head, its eyes were gouged out and its face destroyed. This was not the first act of vandalism against a religious object in the region.
UPDATE: Christian teacher loses High Court appeal after being banned for ‘misgendering’
July 25, 2024, United KingdomJoshua Sutcliffe, a Christian maths teacher, lost his High Court appeal case after being banned from teaching for "misgendering" a pupil. The judge said that “just because misgendering a transgender pupil might not be unlawful does not mean that it is appropriate conduct for a teacher.”
SCOTLAND: MOST EXTREME BUFFER ZONE LAW COMES INTO FORCE
July 25, 2024, United KingdomOn 22 July 2024, Scotland's highly restrictive abortion 'buffer zone' law came into force, creating a 200-metre zone around abortion facilities where it will be an offence to 'influence' the decision of anyone entering the facility. Offences include acts committed on private property if the act “is capable of being seen or heard by another person who is within the safe access zone“.
Vandalism in a historic altar in the St. Andreas Church in Offenburg.
July 24, 2024, GermanyOn 24 July, a 57-year-old man knocked over a historic altar in the Catholic St Andrew's Church on Fischmarkt. The damage is estimated at tens of thousands of euros. Investigators are still trying to establish the background to the crime.
New Survey finds Christians in Scotland under pressure
July 23, 2024, United KingdomAccording to an opinion poll by the think tank “Logos” published in The Herald on July 23, Christians in Scotland feel “excluded”. More than 70% feel the Scottish Government does not support them and 75% were concerned about abuse against Christian politicians.
Church of Saint-Paul in Orne defaced with satanic graffiti
July 21, 2024, FranceIn the night of Saturday, July 20 to Sunday, July 21, vandals defaced the façade of the church of Saint-Paul in Orne, France, with satanist graffiti. The tags included inverted crosses, pentagrams, and writings such as ‘False God’, ‘Liar’, and the number ‘666’, symbolising the devil. The statues on the façade were also sprayed with red paint, adding to the seriousness of the damage.
Woman threatens priest with a cutter during mass
July 21, 2024, SpainOn Sunday, July 21, a 46-year-old woman was arrested in Tudela, Navarra, after threatening the priest who was officiating the Sunday mass and the congregation with a cutter. According to the Municipal Police of Tudela, the woman not only threatened with the cutter, but also broke the glass of the entrance door of the church by throwing a stone. This act of vandalism increased the level of alarm among those present, who quickly called the authorities.
Vandalism at St Mary's Church and cemetery in Baldock
July 19, 2024, United KingdomOn 19 July, St Mary's Church and Cemetery in Baldock was vandalised by an unknown offender, with the Rector, Rev Phillipa Maddox, reporting that 'all the windows and doors' of the church hall had been smashed. Several gravestones in the churchyard were also damaged. Police are searching for the culprits.
Daughter Taken Away After Parents Object to Puberty Blockers
July 15, 2024, SwitzerlandA Swiss couple is taking legal action after their 16-year-old daughter was taken away from the parents and put into a government shelter due to the parents' objection to the daughter's "gender transitioning". The parents also said that doctors have been trying to administer puberty blockers to their daughter without their consent. The case has sent shockwaves around the world and raises severe concerns over the protection of parental rights, including for Christians objecting to the transitioning of their children.
Islamic tags and vandalism in Parisian Notre-Dame-du-Travail Church
July 15, 2024, FranceBetween Sunday, July 14 and Monday, July 15, vandals broke into the Parisian Notre-Dame-du-Travail Church, vandalised the building and left a number of Islamic anti-Christian graffiti, like "Submit yourselves to Allah infidels" and a knife planted in the throat of a statue of Mary.
Thieves behead Statue of Jesus and Steal Money from Shrine
July 13, 2024, ItalyOn Saturday, July 13, unknown perpetrators broke into the sanctuary of the Madonna della Grotta, stole over 500 euro and beheaded the statue of the infant Jesus.
Repeated Arson Attack on St. Benedikt church in Eisenharz
July 13, 2024, GermanyOn July 13, fire was set to the church of St. Benedikt in the Allgäu community of Argenbühl-Eisenharz (close to Isny, Ravensburg district). This is already the second arson attack on the church this year. When the fire brigade arrived three pews were burning brightly, but the fire brigade was able to extinguish the fire quickly. However, according to initial estimates by the Catholic parish, severe damage was caused. The church is completely covered in soot.
Young Christians attacked on Lake Constance while preaching
July 12, 2024, GermanyOn Wednesday afternoon, July 12, a group of young Christians aged between 16 and 23 were attacked on Lake Constance while they were reading bible verses over a megaphone on a rental boat.
Man drives a truck into Austrian free church
July 8, 2024, AustriaOn Monday evening, July 8, a man drove a truck into the Pentecostal Elim Church in Brunn am Gebirge, Austria. According to the police, this was a deliberate attack. The man confessed that he had acted out of anger, the perpetrator, however, is not known to the church.
Vandalism in the First Parish Unitarian Church
July 4, 2024, United KingdomOn 4 July, a 43-year-old man vandalised a church in Kingston, causing damage estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Police subsequently arrested the man without bail.
"Death to Jews and Christians" graffiti in Croissy-sur-Seine
July 3, 2024, FranceOn July 3 at around 11 am, the police discovered anti-police, anti-Semitic and anti-Christian tags in Croissy-sur-Seine (Yvelines, west of Paris). The writings were found on the wall of the Canotiers' underground car park. According to the news, the following slogans are written in metre-high letters: "ACAB", "FLIC = TUEUR", "FREE PALESTINE", and "À MORT LES JUIFS ET LES CHRÉTIENS", inciting to killing police, Jews and Christians.
Profanation of a statue of Mary in Żary
June 30, 2024, PolandOn the night of June 29 to June 30, an unknown perpetrator damaged both hands of a statue of the Mary, which is located on Zielona Góra Street in Żary. The police are investigating the incident.
Tear gas attack during evangelical church service
June 30, 2024, FranceOn Sunday, June 30, a disturbing event shook took place during a church service in Dijon. During the Seventh-Day Adventist Sunday service, which assembled about a hundred faithful at around 11:00 a.m., an unidentified individual entered the building and sprayed the assembly with tear gas. This unexpected attack caused panic and dismay among the participants, nine of whom were injured.
Secular Belgian court fines Catholic prelates for denying a woman access to deacon training
June 27, 2024, BelgiumBelgian prelates Archbishop Luc Terlinden of Mechelen-Brussels and former archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels Cardinal Jozef De Kesel were convicted by a Belgian court after they denied a woman entry into a diaconate formation program and ordered to pay compensation.
Arson at Methodist church in Doncaster
June 26, 2024, United KingdomAs reported on 26th June, 100 year old Rossington Methodist church in Doncaster has been destroyed due to fire. It is believed to be an arson attack. The church was added to the Local Heritage List last year. It has been closed for worship since 2019.
Statue of Virgin Mary vandalised in Łańcut
June 24, 2024, PolandOn June 24, 2024, in Łańcut, a twenty-seven-year-old man devastated a roadside chapel and smashed a statue of Virgin Mary. The man was already arrested by the police.
Attack on Orthodox churches and synagogues in Dagestan
June 23, 2024, RussiaOn June 23, militant gunmen attacked two churches and two synagogues in Russia’s North Caucasus republic Debrent. While numbers vary with sources, at least 25 people have been killed, including 4 civilians, 19 police officers and one priest, Father Nikolai Kotelnikov, and at least 46 people have been injured. The Church of Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an Orthodox Church in Derbent, was also set on fire. It was the Pentecost Sunday for the Russian Orthodox Church. The Islamic terrorists allegedly screamed “Allahu Akbar”. These attacks against Christians and Jews happened in the Muslim-predominant Dagestan region of South Russia, bordering Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Attempts to Cancel Faith Conference in Munich
June 23, 2024, GermanyFrom June 20 to 23 the Christian ecumenical conference UNUM24 took place in Munich. Despite the fact that it was a prayer meeting, focussing on common worship and faith, and the organisers highlighted that it was "not a platform for political or social disputes", demonstrations by LGBTIQ activists demanded the cancellation of the event as the Christians participating in the event were assumed to be "anti-LGBTIQ rights". The Third Mayor of the City of Munich, Verena Dietl, from the Social Democrats, even called the event a meeting of "different fundamentally Christian LGBTIQ* hostile actors" and expressed her regrets that she did not have any legal possibility to prevent the event.
Cemetery vandalised: Perpetrators post video on social media
June 23, 2024, SpainOn the night of 23 June, the Spanish fiesta of San Juan, young people destroyed all the niches and some religious images in the Valdoviño cemetery ( La Coruña) by kicking them down. They also smashed statues of saints on tombstones and tore off their heads. They recorded their acts of destruction and abuse, including shouts and insults such as "F*** Jesus Christ", and uploaded the video to social networks.
Arson in Windischbergerdorf
June 22, 2024, GermanyOn June 22, the local priest of St. Michael's Church in Windischbergerdorf noticed a pungent smell inside the church. A wooden stand had been set on fire and the Bible was also covered with soot. Earlier, the priest has noticed 3 children riding away from the church on their bikes. The police believe that the fire was arson. The damage is estimated to be around 300 EUR.
Vandalism in Völklingen Church
June 21, 2024, GermanyBetween June 20 and 21, a window of the Church of Reconciliation on Poststrasse in Völklingen was smashed. The damage is estimated to be around 300 euros.
"Debanking" of Christian pro-life organisations
June 20, 2024, SwedenAs reported on June 12 by CNE, two Christian pro-life organisations in Sweden and the Netherlands, have experienced "debanking". Mats Selander, who started the pro-life organisation Center for Bioethical Reform in Sweden (CBR-S) was forced to end his 30 year customer relationship with Scandinavian Bank Nordea. The bank subsequently even closed down his private account. He was not given any explanation besides "not enough customer knowledge", despite having disclosed all his transactions. Salender believes it is due to his pro-life views. With increasing regulations, many banks have been shutting down customers for their beliefs.
Evangelical church in Rome refused tax exemption, ECtHR dismisses case
June 20, 2024, ItalyAs reported on June 20, the Supreme Court of Italy has ruled between Breccia di Roma, an evangelical church, and the Italian tax authorities. The authorities had refused to give the Breccia di Roma Church tax-exemption under Italian law, available to all religious places of worship, on the grounds that its premises lacked the “intrinsic characteristics” of a religious building. The Supreme Court backed the decision by the tax authorities. An appeal at the European Court of Human Rights has been dismissed. The case raises massive concerns about discrimination of evangelical churches in Italy.
Vandalism of Beauvais Cemetery
June 20, 2024, FranceAs reported on June 20, several graves were found vandalised in the Tilloy cemetery in Beauvais. Pots were overthrown, flowers were on the ground, plaques were broken.
More than 80 crucifix broken off and stolen from cemetery
June 20, 2024, SpainFigures of Jesus were broken off and stolen from more than 80 crosses in the cemetery of Estremera, Madrid, in the night from 19 to 20 June, leaving behind empty stone crosses. The local community is shocked.
Krakow church defaced with hateful graffiti
June 19, 2024, PolandAs reported on June 19, the Church of St. Wojciech in Krakow was vandalised with vulgar graffiti, expressing hatred towards the Catholic church, the Vatican, and accusing the clergy of pedophilia. They also destroyed the facade of the church, where Saint Wojciech once used to preach.
Vandalism at Kettuvaara cemetery
June 19, 2024, FinlandAs reported on June 19, Vandalism occurred at the Kettuvaara Cemetery in Joensuu. Someone broke into the cemetery's maintenance building, broke lanterns and scattered them on graves and left taps running.
Church in Borna Defaced with satanic graffiti
June 17, 2024, GermanyOn June 17, a church in Borna was found defaced with graffiti in red paint reading "Satan" and "666" in several places. The church pews, a wall and a table cloth were also damaged with red paint.
Arson attack on church in Nowy Sącz
June 16, 2024, PolandOn 16 June, the historic 17th-century Church of St Helena in Nowy Sącz was set on fire. The damage is immense, including the loss of a late Renaissance-Baroque altar with paintings from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries and Renaissance works from the 1580s. The tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament, 3 altars and historical paintings had to be removed. The police have arrested one suspect.
Arson attack on Quintin Basilica
June 13, 2024, FranceOn June 13, there was an arson attack on the Notre-Dame-de-Délivrance Basilica in Quintin. The police have confirmed that the fire was deliberate.
ECHR "No right to die" ruling and needs for protecting freedom of conscience
June 13, 2024, FranceOn June 13, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), in Dániel Karsai v. Hungary, held that Member States could continue to prohibit assisted suicide. The Court ruled in favour of Hungary that prohibiting euthanasia and assisted suicide was in accordance with the “right to life” under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and under international law. With some countries limiting the right to freedom of conscience of medical personal objecting to euthanasia objectors to euthanasia, this ruling is of particular importance.
Fire in Dublin Crypt
June 12, 2024, IrelandAs reported on June 12, a man broke into the 11th-century church of St. Michael in Dublin and started a fire in the crypt containing 5 medieval mummies. They were damaged beyond repair. The man is now on trial.
Attack on French Catholic Family Association in Lyon
June 12, 2024, FranceThe building of the French Federation of Catholic Family Associations (AFC) in Lyon was severely attacked, leaving the place vandalised and daubed with graffiti slogans including "Death to Nazis" and similar insults. "AFC is not part of any political party", AFC underlined in the face of this absurd accusations in a statement published on their website.
Catalonia: Register of conscientious objectors in medical care
June 11, 2024, SpainOn June 11, the Government of Catalonia approved the creation of a register of health professionals who object to performing or assisting in abortions for reasons of conscience. According to the official statement, the register will be administrative and electronic, and not public. However, the management of health centres which provide abortion services will be able to access these records. Such a register is feared to lead to situations of discrimination on religious grounds in employment and indirectly violate the right to freedom of conscience of health personnel.
UPDATE: UK withdraws prosecution for "withholding money for transitioning"
June 10, 2024, United KingdomAfter "feedback from stakeholder" the Crown Prosecution Service has updated its domestic abuse guidance for prosecutors. In the updated version the section on “Transgender and non-binary identifying victims” no longer states that withholding “money for transitioning” may be considered abuse. Furthermore, refusing to use one's children's preferred name or pronoun can only be considered as part of a wider offence of coercive behaviour if there is intent to cause humiliation or distress. For an offence the children must be at least 16 years or older.
Vandalism in Bordeaux Church
June 10, 2024, FranceAround 10 pm on June 10, the Saint Éloi church in Bordeaux was vandalised during a leftist demonstration. The perpetrators threw down plates and cutlery kept for the winter soup kitchen and spray-painted "Death to nationalists" on the church walls.
Vandalism in Poitiers
June 9, 2024, FranceOn June 9, the Montierneuf church in Poitiers was found vandalised. The cross was twisted, the altar smashed, vases of flowers were thrown against the walls, a sacred plaque on the altar was unsealed, twelve columns were torn down and the cross from the high altar was thrown on the sidewalk. Furthermore, furniture and sacred objects were damaged. The most symbolic and sacrilegious act for the catholic community remains the degradation of the tabernacle, where the consecrated hosts were kept. It was unsealed from the top.
Christian concert attacked in Bonn
June 9, 2024, GermanyOn June 9, during a concert inside a church at Bonn's Hofgarten, an unknown person threw a stone from outside, smashing a window and injuring a 55 year old musician. There were around 80 artists performing in the classical concert by Johann Sebastian Bach, St. John's passion "Open heaven for me".
Cross in Lubartów Defaced
June 8, 2024, PolandOn 8th June, a cross on a street in Lubartów with the figure of Jesus was found spray-painted with swastikas. The face of the statue was also smeared with white paint. On a bench nearby, graffiti containing "Slava Ukraine JP" was spray-painted.
Christian pro-life association attacked for 13th time in three years
June 6, 2024, ItalyThe headquarters of the Italian Christian pro-life association Pro Vita & Famiglia in Rome was attacked on June 6. A female protestor, a cameraman of an Italian news channel and a candidate for the European Parliament pasted a pro-abortion poster on the building and refused to leave until the police arrived. This had been the 13th attack on this organisation in three years and third only that month.
Fire and theft in Walldürn
June 6, 2024, GermanyOn June 6, unknown perpetrators entered the protestant church on Schachleiterstrasse in Walldürn and broke open the donation box. They not only emptied the money but also a statue of Christ was found damaged by fire near the groin.
Man sentenced for series of arsons in Pau
June 5, 2024, FranceOn June 5, Fataharhman Awad Allah Abdalkrem, a political refugee, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for a series of arson attacks in Pau between March and May 2022. He had caused fire to the chaplaincy of the Saint-Pierre Church, from which he also stole a cash box containing 300 euros and a computer.
Verbal harassment during mass
June 4, 2024, Bosnia and HerzegovinaDuring the celebration of the Corpus Christi, a group of young men harassed the faithful with inappropriate insults and shouted "Takbir" (exclamation, which in Arabic means "Allah is great"). Similar Incidents were already happening during previous celebrations.
Arson attempt in Tyumen
June 3, 2024, RussiaOn June 3, a 43-year-old man tried to set fire on the Dmitry Donskoy Church Tyumen. He threw incendiary mixtures and fled on his bicycle, as filmed by an eyewitness. The police have now detained the man. The motives are still unknown.
Vandalism in Freren
June 2, 2024, GermanySometime between May 31 and June 2, unknown perpetrators caused considerable damage to the staircase of the protestant church St. Andreas und Vitus in Freren. The sandstone slabs on the staircase were destroyed. The damage is estimated to be around 2000 EUR. This is not the first incident in this church.
Vandals urinate into the holy water fountain of Strasbourg church
May 31, 2024, FranceOn the morning of May 31, the priest of Saint-Maurice Church in Strasbourg observed that some people had urinated into the holy water fountain near the entrance. This is not the first incident in this church. There have been a series of thefts and other incivilites over several months.
Vandalism of Chapel in Tawern
May 31, 2024, GermanyOn May 31, unknown perpetrators knocked down two historical statues of saints and the Stations of the Cross in Margarethen Chapel Tawern causing severe damage. The head of the statue of Peter was broken and three reliefs of the Stations of the Cross were torn down from the wall.
Scotland: Most extreme buffer zone law passes first stage
May 30, 2024, United KingdomThe Scottish draft legislation on abortion "buffer zones", which was passed at first stage on April 30, has sparked a debate on the criminalisation of silent prayer in these zones. This bill proposes the creation of a zone extending to 200 meters around abortion clinics in which "influencing" someone in regard to abortion would be illegal. In a parliament debate MSP Jeremy Balfour asked if he would be criminalised for praying at a bus stop inside the zone. He tabled an amendment seeking to exclude silent prayer from the criminal actions within the zone. MSP Gillian Mackay who introduced the Bill responded to Mr Balfour by saying: "If nobody knows someone is praying, and nothing in their conduct is capable of having the effects on women or staff that this Bill seeks to prevent, then it is unlikely that any offence could be committed. If someone stands silently praying for a long time, deliberately looking at women accessing an abortion clinic, or for example with a sign, then they may be committing an offence."
Fire in Pagnano Church
May 30, 2024, ItalyOn May 30, a fire broke out in the church of San Giorgio in Pagnano. Fortunately, the damage is minimal, since the fire which had started from a wooden candle holder was immediately extinguished. While the cause of the fire is currently unknown the priest suspects that someone had deliberately started the fire, since the candle holder was only used to store unlit candles and it was empty. Also, no signs of melted wax were found.
Church in Faubourg-Bonnefoy severely vandalised
May 30, 2024, FranceOn 30th May, the Immaculate Conception church in Toulouse was heavily vandalised by unknown perpetrators. Several objects, boards and furniture were broken and overturned, causing severe damage. Although the altar is located in a protected area behind bars, it was also overturned and severely damaged. The head of the statue of Virgin Mary was covered with a blue cloth.
Man steals statue of Jesus from church
May 29, 2024, ItalyIn the early morning of May 29, in the Santissima Addolorata church in Taranto, a man was caught on camera, carrying a statue of Jesus on his shoulder, which he had taken from the church. The police were able to track down the perpetrator, a 28-year-old convicted felon. He had already been under house arrest, during which he had escaped to steal the statue.
Vandalism of altar in Siedliska
May 29, 2024, PolandOn May 29 at night, unknown perpetrators destroyed decorations on the altar prepared for the Corpus Christi procession in Siedliska. They also tore down decorative trees attached to the Christian community centre, and damaged the stairs of the building. Furthermore, the contents of two garbage bins were spilt next to the altar.
Chapel defaced with Islamic graffiti
May 29, 2024, SloveniaOn May 29, a chapel at the crossroads of Zagrad and Leše, in the municipality of Prevalje, Slovenia, was found defaced with graffiti. Unknown perpetrators wrote the word "Allah" in big letters with red paint on the walls of the chapel.
Man rammed car into Rodez Cathedral shouting "I hate Jesus"
May 28, 2024, FranceAs reported on 28th May, a 55 year old Frenchman has been arrested for driving his vehicle into the Cathedral of Rodez in Aveyron region. Fortunately, the SUV got stuck on the stairs leading up to the entrance and did not damage the Cathedral. According to witnesses, he was shouting “I hate Jesus” and “I hate Christianity”.
Man rams car into cross and shouts "Allahou Akbar"
May 28, 2024, FranceOn May 28 in Loyettes, in the Ain, a man of Turkish origin knocked over a Catholic cross with his van. After shouting "Allahou Akbar", he began to pray at the scene of the incident.