All cases
Priest Discovered Armed Man in Parisian Church
September 29, 2021, FranceA Priest in the Saint-Luc church in the 19. district of Paris was approached by an agitated armed man on 29. August, asking for the time of mass and saying he wants to attend. After answering him, the priest noticed the man was carrying a revolver gun and alerted the police, who later took the suspect into custody near the church. The 28-year-old suspect was found with a loaded gun and had already been known for other offences. The police are investigating.
Update: Former Finnish MP Faces Trial for Quoting the Bible
September 29, 2021, FinlandFormer MP Päivi Räsänen, physician and mother of five is awaiting her hearing for the 22nd of January, 2022. She is being investigated after the Finnish Prosecutor General filed criminal charges against her. One of the reasons is that she published a tweet quoting the Bible. Räsänen could faced a two-year prison sentence or a fine for the tweet.
New Law in Spain Plans to Publicly Publish List of Medical Staff Who Object Abortion
September 29, 2021, SpainThe Spanish Ministry of Equality is planning to create a registry of medical doctors, nurses, and staff who object abortion on the grounds of conscientious objection. The intended registry is part of a reform of the abortion law in Spain, passed in 2010. The argument for the proposal is to be able to guarantee the “right to terminate pregnancies” in public hospitals, as in many hospitals abortions are not performed, given the conscientious objections of the staff. Many bishops and experts are strongly criticizing this registry, as such a list can cause discrimination and harm freedom of expression, as well as freedom of conscience.
The Stations of the Cross in Wettemhausen Vandalized
September 28, 2021, GermanyThe Stations of the Cross were severely vandalized on September 28th in Wettemhausen. Some of the figures were overturned while other had been dismembered. Glass beads had been demolished and the Burgau police were examining the scene for indications of who the perpetrators may have been.
Roof of Church in Frodsham Stolen
September 28, 2021, United KingdomA "substantial" part of St. Laurence's Church roof has been stolen by a group of thieves. Sergeant Simpson, from the Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team, has written on Facebook: "When someone steals from a listed or protected site, building or monument, its a crime against all of us. They are stealing our shared history", and he added, "the impact on the community can be devastating too, so please keep an eye on our history and report anything suspicious."
Vandals Smash Church Window in Horn-Bad Meinberg
September 27, 2021, GermanyUnknown perpetrators smashed the window of the local church in Horn-Bad Meinberg on 27 September. According to the police, the window is located directly above the church door. The damage amounts to around 2.000 Euros.
Güdesweiler Church Broken into and Raided
September 26, 2021, GermanyUnidentified thieves broke a window to get into the Güdesweiler church on March 26th. They took the money from a sacrificial candlestick box and also stole some of the sacrificial candles.
Update: University Revokes its Decision Regarding the Catholic Chaplain
September 25, 2021, United KingdomFr Palmer had been declined as a University chaplain due to posts on his Twitter account expressing personal opinions and views regarding abortion and assisted suicide. After the "Free Speech Union" threatened the University for ignoring the 2010 Equality act, Nottingham University recognized Fr Palmer to become the Catholic priest of the University
Joan of Arc's "Heart" Stolen in Nimes
September 25, 2021, FranceA 19-year-old boy discovered, after he came back from holidays, that a bronze heart containing a reliquary of Joan of Arc had been stolen.
Thieves Steal Sacred Objects of the Laurentius Chapel in Waltrop-Leveringhausen.
September 25, 2021, GermanyDuring the night of the 25th of September, a golden monstrance with the relic of Saint Laurence and a baroque cross were stolen from the altar of the St. Ludgerus parish. On Monday, the parish was surprised to find everything but the monstrance, returned in a bag in the neighboring garden. The intent of this was unknown but it was suggested that the thieves had a guilty conscience. Bernd Brinker, said of the monstrance which was never found, "The ideal value is great for the community, which has cherished and cared for the chapel for decades."
Evangelical Foster Agency Accused of "Discriminatory Policy" Against Homosexual Couples Lost Case
September 24, 2021, United KingdomThe Christian Cornerstone (North East) Adoption and Fostering Agency has lost the case at the Court of Appeal. They were hoping to reverse a ruling that found the agency "discriminatory" for working only with heterosexual couples. Three Court of Appeal judges have found the Foster agency's policy discriminatory, as they find that the basis of the agency's religious beliefs is not enough to justify their policy of only recruiting heterosexual carers.
Flags of Evangelical Church in Nagold Repeatedly Vandalised
September 24, 2021, GermanyFor the fourth time in a row this year, the flags decorating the evangelical church in Nagold have been torn or cut. Among the upset parishioners, an active woman in the community stated that the flags are not cheap and they are paid with everyone's donations.
Offering Box Stolen and Sacristy Door Broken in Avoscan Church
September 24, 2021, ItalyOn September 24th, unknown thieves broke into the church in Avoscan through a broken window. Once inside, they took what was in the offering box, which wasn't much, and then broke the sacristy door to see it there was anything they could take from there. Parish administrator Don Luigino Canal said it was, "More moral than economic damage."
Right-Wing Extremists Storm Pastoral Office in Linz
September 23, 2021, AustriaAround 15 hooded men have stormed the office of the Diocese of Linz with leaflets, banners, and a megaphone. The pursuit was to protest against a memorial that will be placed in Linz's city cemetery for the refugees who died in the Mediterranean Sea. The group apparently belongs to the right-wing extremist "Identitäre" (Identitarians).
Oxford College Regrets Hosting a Christian Event
September 22, 2021, United KingdomThe Wilberforce Academy (Christian seminar) has been holding its courses in different Oxford colleges for many years. But this year, the Worcester College, where the seminar was taking place, apologized for having hosted this event "that caused significant distress" as it was published in the student newspaper "The Tab".
Street Preachers Arrested after Preaching the Gospel and on Homosexuality
September 21, 2021, IrelandMr Williamson was preaching on the streets of Dundalk together with two other colleagues, when he was asked by police to stop. The reason was that he was critically preaching about gender ideology and homosexuality, the police considered the content to be a hate crime and that the preaching disrupted the public social order. Together with Robert Ervine and Sean Paul Tully, Ryan Williamson got arrested. The trial is expected on 13 October.
Cemetery Severly Vandalized in Rivière
September 21, 2021, FranceThe cemetery of Rivière was ransacked on September 21st but it was not know who did it. A municipal employee found: "Many vases ... thrown to the ground, breaking and cracking the tombstones in places. Flowers were dug up. Crosses were torn off and cut." The gendarmerie was informed of this hateful act.
Germany increasingly Denies Asylum to Christian Converts from Islam and Deports them To Muslim Countries where they Face Death
September 20, 2021, GermanyOpen Doors, an international Christian organisation, which supports persecuted Christians worldwide, has published a report on the current situation of 5.207 Christian converts in Germany. The vast majority of them are denied asylum and many of them are threatened with deportation to conservative Muslim countries where conversion to another religion is considered a crime worthy of death.
Church in Sandhausen Vandalised
September 20, 2021, GermanyUnknown perpetrators have vandalized the church of the Holy Trinity and caused several damages: burning a sign, removing the Pascual Candle and damaging it, chairs and cushioins have burn holes, etc. Despite this event, the parish priest still wants to leave the church open for the people so that they can "recharge their batteries and strengthen their faith during this time". He also urged the people to protect the church "by visiting it and thus protect it from further damage". According to the police it seems that the perpetrators were not looking for money, "it was vandalism".
Painting Solen from Church in Zębocin was Later Found
September 20, 2021, PolandA 16th century painting worth 100 zloty was stolen from the St Stanislaus church in Zębocin. The theft was immediately reported to the police who began to search for it. Much to the churches relief, the "Mother of God with Child" painting was found at an auction in Warsaw on September 20th.