All cases

52-year-old Man Vandalizes Church and Sets Several Fires

March 21, 2022, Germany

The Catholic church in Ispringer was the victim of an arson attack, as a perpetrator set fires in several spots of the church by using candles and other materials. This was reported on the 21st of March. Fortunately, the police patrol and the fire crew were there very fast and could track the fire before it really started. The damage to property was estimated at about 10,000 euros.

Pastor Arrested in Mariupol, Ukraine

March 21, 2022, Ukraine

Release International has reported that Alexsander Glushko, the pastor of the Light of the World Evangelical Church of Mariupol, has been arrested by the Russian military. He was believed to have been taken to Dokuchaevsk, which is close to Donetsk, but no further information has been given about his wellbeing. Other pastors homes near Mariupol have been searched and the "hunt for pastors has begun in areas now under Russian control."

No Evidence to Justify Oxford College's Cancellation of Wilberforce Academy

March 21, 2022, United Kingdom

An independent investigation found that there was no substantial evidence for Worcester College's apology and cancellation of the Wilberforce Academy in September of 2021. After hosting this Christian youth conference that seeks to uphold free and considerate debate about controversial issues, this Oxford College said it had received "a number of complaints" and would not hold the event next year. Christian Concern inquired about these complaints, which they had heard nothing of, and upon getting little response, instigated their own investigation.

Teenagers try to Set Church on Fire

March 21, 2022, Italy

The church of Villa San Martino was the victim of an attempted arson by young teenagers around the 21st of March. The teenagers, who have already been identified, took the hand sanitiser gel at the entrance and spread it all over the church, pews and floor. They then tried to set fire to the gel, thinking it would be flammable. Given that the alcohol percentage was not that high, the fire did not catch up. Still, the layers of blackened gel remained on the floor near the altar. The vandals also looted the offering box.

Pastor Kidnapped by Russian Military in Melitopol, Ukraine

March 19, 2022, Ukraine

Dmitry Bodyu, the American - Ukrainian pastor of the Word of Life Church, was taken from his house in Melitopol, Ukraine by Russian soldiers. His wife Helen explained how 10 soldiers walked into their house, questioned them about their nationality, and then took her husband along with their electronic devices and other documents. This was the second pastor, that we know of, to be abducted by Russian troops.

Statue of Virgin Mary Stolen in Ardennes

March 19, 2022, France

The bronze statue of the Virgin of Chesnois-Auboncourt (Ardennes), was stolen on March 19 from the entrance to the village, where it had been since 1990. It was fixed to a concrete base with a marble plaque that commemorated Germaine Justin, the donor of the statue. The villagers were disappointed as the statue was beloved by them.

Germany: Court Ruled Banning Protests Outside Abortion Centers was Illegal

March 18, 2022, Germany

A German court ruled that it was illegal for the city of Frankfurt to create buffer zones around abortion centers where pro-life activists could not demonstrate during certain hours or within certain spatial restrictions. The ruling was reached on March 18th, after the city appealed the initial ruling on March 1st and the administrative court of Kassel confirmed the ruling by denying the appeal. It was the result of a long legal battle instigated by the city of Frankfurt imposing restrictions on the pro-life group "40 Days for Life" when they started a 40-day Lenten prayer gathering in January in front of a counseling center for pregnant women

Stations of the Cross Vandalized in Wettenhausen

March 18, 2022, Germany

Almost all of the Stations of the Cross in Wettenhausen have been violently vandalized by unknown persons on March 18th. The police estimated that the damage was around 150,000 Euros but with the cleanup would probably end up being more. The deliberate attack on sacred Christian symbols demonstrates a complete lack of respect.

Statue of Christ Stolen from Crucifix in L'Escaillère

March 18, 2022, Belgium

A metal statue of Christ in L'Escaillère was ripped from its crucifix by thieves on March 18th. It was suspected that the act was done because of the rising metal prices and the statue could be sold and melted down. Nevertheless, the symbolic value of the statue of Christ for the community is very high and this theft shows clear disrespect for religious sentiments.

Several Anti-Christian Graffitis on Christian's Homes and Workplaces

March 17, 2022, Austria

Around the 8th of March, several Anti-Christian graffitis appeared in Vienna. The home and office of Gerhard Labschütz, a pro-life Catholic, were painted with anti-Christian tags by unknown vandals. The graffitied epithets read: "here lives a Christian fundamentalist" and "abort fundamentalists." Mr Labschütz is also the managing director of the Catholic-based Austrian Cartell Association (ÖCV), the offices that were also targeted by the perpetrators. Similar tags were found outside the offices of two other organisations: "Fairändern" and the "Lebensbewegung" (ÖLB).

Attempted Arson and Theft in Church in Albinatico

March 17, 2022, Italy

In the church of San Leopoldo in Albinatico, a candlestick for votive candles, and the offerings donated to the church, were stolen on 17. March. The thief, also inserted some lighted candles in the candlestick next to the special seats where the electric candles are usually put. When the parish priest Don Paolo Monti entered the church, he found that the lit candle was bending over and catching an electrical candle alight which he said could have started a fire.

St. Bernard Church in Angelmodder Ransacked

March 16, 2022, Germany

The sacristy of the St. Bernhard church in Angelmodder was ransacked by unknown vandals who stole and broke sacred objects. The thieves broke through a window made by the famous artist Johannes Schreiter and stole chalices, destroyed a monstrance, and broke into a safe. The damage and theft of these sacred objects was reported to the police.

USCIRF Warns of Religious Repression in Ukraine

March 16, 2022, Ukraine

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has warned of the religious oppression that Ukraine will experience under Russian control. They have recorded the increasing religious intolerance in Russia over the years and are concerned for the societal consequences that will undoubtedly ensue. Several religious buildings have already been damaged in the shelling along with the arrests of religious leaders and those attending prayer events.

St. Cuthbert's Church Vandalized in Somerset

March 16, 2022, United Kingdom

The police were called after the St. Cuthbert's Church in Wells, Somerset was vandalized on March 16th. A door was damaged and glass was broken but no one has been found yet. After viewing some CCTV footage, the police have a man they would like to question.

Insults against Christians Written on Grenoble Chapel

March 16, 2022, France

The enclosure wall of the Saint-Marie-Saint-Michel Chapel in Grenoble was tagged with hateful messages on March 16th. The inscriptions included the phrase: "Here homophobic racists" with an arrow directed toward the door and where the word "Civitas" was also written. The incident was reported to the police who started an investigation.

Koekelberg Basilica Vandalized for 15 Days

March 15, 2022, Belgium

For the past 15 days, the Koekelberg basilica in Belgium has had cobblestones thrown through its windows by young teenagers. Other vandalism and disrespectful acts have been done at this sacred sight in the past but the recent escalation was evident. The director general, Martine Motteux-Abeloos, regrets how little the police have done and will hold talks with other leaders about potentially closing the sight to the public.

English Schools Transition Pupils without Parents Knowledge

March 15, 2022, United Kingdom

Robin Walker, Schools Minister in England, told the House of Commons' Education Select Committee that schools would continue to teach LGBTQ+ content. This came in response to Conservative MP Miriam Cates who said "you cannot change sex" and that she often got concerns from parents that their children were being transitioned in school. This posses a problem for Christian parents and children who may disagree with such teachings on a religious basis.

Woman Detained in Moscow for Holding Religious Placard

March 15, 2022, Russia

Anastasiya Parshkova was detained but not charged, on March 15th for holding a sign that had: "The 6th commandment: Thou shalt not kill" written on it. She was wearing a headscarf and stood for five minutes outside the Cathedral of Christ the Savior before she was arrested and taken to the Khamovniki police station. She said: "despite my fear, I decided that this must be done."

Two Churches in Gutach and Bleibach Vandalized

March 14, 2022, Germany

The Church of St. George and the Church of St. Michael were both targeted by the same perpetrator on March 14. Police said furniture and statues were damaged and garbage was left behind. The police were looking for witnesses who could help them identify the person responsible.

Signatories of Anti-Conversion Therapy Letter in England Face Discrimination

March 14, 2022, United Kingdom

Evangelical ministers have faced a severe backlash after signing a letter to Liz Truss which expresses their opposition to the governments upcoming conversion therapy ban. Consequentially, they have had to take down the list of signatures which was published on the Ministers' Consultation Response website for fear of more acts of discrimination happening. It had collected 5,000 signatures from ministers and church leaders.