All cases
Clergy Personal Threatened with Death and the Basilica Robbed
August 5, 2021, FranceOn 3rd July 2021, the Notre-Dame Basilica in Nice witnessed a robbery attempt by a homeless man. He intended to steal a fifty kilo trunk and threatened the faithful as well as the priest with death. He shouted: "I'll come back and kill you all". In October 2020, the church has witnessed Islamic attack. A Tunisian migrant threated to slit the throats of three people in the church. He was sentenced to 17 months in prison for the attempted robbery and the threats.
Man Targets Churches for Thefts
August 5, 2021, PolandFootage from a surveillance camera allowed police to identify a man who robbed the offertory box money from the parish of the Elevation of the Holy Cross and Our Lady of the Healing of the Sick in Katowice. The incident took place on 5th of August. Sergeant Łukasz Kloc from the city police confirms that they are currently searching for the individual's whereabouts. At this point of the investigation, police released an image of the perpetrator asking the public for help.
Christian Buildings in Bratislava Tagged with Insults
August 5, 2021, SlovakiaOn August 5th, churches and monasteries in the historic city center of Bratislava, were tagged with insults written in red such as “God is Trans”, “Queer revolution is coming”, “and “Queer power." The cost of the damage was considerable and the religious community was very affected. The camera system that is in place was used to try and identify who committed the act.
Saint Mary Magdalene's Church in Caldecote Vandalized a Second Time Only a Week Later
August 4, 2021, United KingdomLess than a week after the Saint Mary Magdalene's Church in Caldecote suffered a thousand pound's worth of damage, it had been vandalised again. The Church, which had recently re-opened after several months of renovation had first been vandalised on 29 July, the second attack followed a couple of days later. Volunteers found several windows were broken and a door seemed to have been forced open. Police are investigating.
Update: Suspect in Desecration of Virgin Mary Statue to Face Charges
August 4, 2021, PolandA 50-year-old woman is currently held as the main suspect in the case of desecration and vandalism of a Virgin Mary Statue in Poland. The woman is accused of having stolen a gold-plated crown from a statue in a church in Kościerzyna, Wielu, worth PLN 1,000 (€219). She was charged with theft and is now facing a prison sentence of up to five years. The incident happened on July 8, 2021. The 50-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges raised against her.
Sanctuary Set on Fire in Marsala
August 4, 2021, ItalyUnknown perpetrator set the sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Marsala on fire. The incident happened on 4 August, at around 5.30 p.m. Although the fire brigade prevented much damage, the church suffered partial damage to its altar, the gospel book and other furnishings. The police were informed and are now looking for the perpetrator, who was seen fleeing the scene.
Thieves Steal over €3.000 from Presbytery
August 4, 2021, FrancePolice arrested three suspects in a case of church theft. The three individuals are accused of breaking into the presbytery of the church of Ligueuil in Touraine on the 27 July. They are said to have searched the premises and escaped with €3.870 in cash. Parish priest Father Rémy Soubrier explained this is the third robbery of this kind.
School Teacher 'Sacked' from School after Stating Christian Views
August 3, 2021, United KingdomJoshua Sutcliffe, a maths teacher and a Christian pastor, was dismissed from his school in Oxford because he allegedly 'misgendered' a student. He is said to have said "well-done girls" to a group that included a student who identifies as a boy. In a legal challenge, Mr Sutcliffe claims the school has "systematically and maliciously" breached his rights which subsequently forced him to leave his job, for it had become impossible to continue the working relationship. The secondary school he worked in has not commented on the case.
Update: Suspect Caught for Setting Church Door on Fire
August 3, 2021, ItalyPolice managed to apprehend a suspect in the case of arson at the Saint Andrew the Apostle Church. The individual identified is the same person who tried the set the church on fire in the previous year. According to parish priest Don Giuseppe the suspect has been committing acts of vandalism towards the church for some time now. Saint Andrew's community is collecting funds for the restoration of the church door.
Christian Missionary Arrested and Banned from Re-Entering Turkey to Return to his Family
August 3, 2021, TurkeyDavid Byle has lived in Turkey for 19 years and together with his wife Ulrike raised their five children there. The Christian minister has now been barred from re-entering the country because of his Christian faith. Supported by a legal team he is now taking the issue to the European Court of Human Rights. According to the Turkish government, Byle is a ‘threat to public order and security’ and has therefore been banned from the Country. The family is now residing in Germany until they are all permitted to return home.
Irish Government Once again Restricts Certain Church Services
August 3, 2021, IrelandThe Irish Government instructed the local parishes to hold communion and confirmation services this month. This newly imposed restriction came as a blow, as the churches were allowed to resume services only in May after a very long period of COVID-19 related restrictions. While five Bishops have now decided to defy the newly imposed restrictions, holding communion and confirmation services anyway, the reformist Association of Catholic Priests in Ireland has criticised the Bishops action.
Ansgarii Church in Vättersnäs Set on Fire
August 3, 2021, SwedenAn unknown perpetrator burned down the Ansgarii Church in Vättersnäs, Jönköping. The incident happened on 3 August, at around 2 a.m. when residents called the fire brigade. The Ansgarii Church belongs to the Swedish Ecumenical Uniting Church. There were no injuries reported. Police are investigating and treating the incident as a case of arson.
The Galician Government Removed Monument Dedicated to John Paul II
August 3, 2021, SpainA monument, commemorating the visit of Pope John Paul ll, was removed by the Xunta de Galicia in March of 2021. They removed it because of its deterioration but it has recently become a problem since it doesn't seem to be getting reinstalled. The diocese of Galicia has tried to get in put back and the Christian Lawyers Association were collecting signatures to request its return. They claim that the authorities just wanted it removed and it could have easily been repaired so deterioration is not a sufficient reason.
Church Door Set on Fire in Italy
August 2, 2021, ItalyThe wooden door of the church of Saint Andrew the Apostle in Capodrise has been set on fire by an unknown perpetrator. The incident happened on the evening of 2 August. Thanks to the quick intervention of the local fire brigade the fire was brought under control and quickly put out. Police are investigating the scene and are looking for the perpetrator.
15 Graves Desecrated in Stains
August 2, 2021, France15 graves were desecrated on the cemetery of Stains. The incident occurred on the night of 31 July to 1 August. The perpetrator(s) knocked over flowers, broke plaques, smashed vaults and broke open tombstones. A complaint was filed with the local police. In the past, the cemetery had been vandalised numerous times, but never to this extend says mayor Azzedine Taïbi.
Church windows Stoned by Unknown Perpetrators
August 2, 2021, GermanyTwo panes of glass on the façade of the Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche church in Bayreuth were damaged by thrown stones. The police were notified and immediately searched for the perpetrator but they could no longer be found. Witnesses suggested the vandal was about 20 years old, slim, and 175 cm tall.
Update: Suspect Appears in Court After Attacking Priest
August 1, 2021, United KingdomAfter attacking a priest with a glass bottle in the Saint Mary's Catholic Cathedral in Edinburg, the main suspect appeared in court. The male is accused of assaulting a priest who was praying in the Cathedral at the time of the incident. 31-year-old Jason Irvine has been treated as the main suspect in the case. He has been charged with two counts of assault and is held in custody while expecting a court hearing.
Desecration of Statue of the Virgin Mary in Church in Koscierzyna
July 30, 2021, PolandA statue of the Virgin Mary has been desecrated in the church in Kościerzyna. Police managed to detain a 50-year-old female suspect, who is said to have entered the church and tore off the gold-plated crown from the statue of the Virgin Mary. As the main suspect, the woman is being charged with theft and is consequently facing a maximum of five years in prison. 200 Meters from the location of the theft, police found the crown. It was reported that the suspect confessed to the crime.
Major Theft of Consecrated Vessels in Zagórów
July 30, 2021, PolandPolice arrested a 45-year-old man who is said to have stolen from the Roman Catholic Church in Zagórów. The incident dates back to the end of July when it was reported that dozen gold-plated vessels, used for the daily celebration of the Mass, have been stolen. During a search of the suspect's flat, police recovered the stolen chalices, patens and ciboria. The suspect is already known to the police and is now facing a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Until the end of his process, the man was put under police supervision.
Suspect Arrested for Assaulting Priest in Church
July 29, 2021, United KingdomScottish police managed to apprehend a 31-year-old man in Cumbria. It is assumed that Jason Irvine is connected to assaulting a priest on July 26, while the same was praying at the Saint Mary's Catholic Cathedral in York Place. Police charged the man with two assaults, they could connect him to. He is now expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.