All cases

The Statue of the Virgin Mary Completely Vandalized

September 17, 2020, Belgium

With probably an iron bar, the statue of the Virgin, at the Place des Quatre-Grands in Jemeppe, has been demolished.

Increase in Vandalism Against Churches in Northern Ireland

September 16, 2020, United Kingdom

In the last three years, there have been more than 400 attacks recorded against churches. In the last five years it sums up to 600 attacks in Northern Ireland. Most of the attacks happened in Belfast. Most of the incidents are attacks with paint bombs and graffitis, but also various forms of vandalism, arson attacks and general damage to church property are recorded.

Unknown Perpetrators Rioted and Set Fire Inside Church

September 16, 2020, Germany

Between the 16th and 29th of September, unknown perpetrators vandalized the St. Jürgen Chapel in Wolgast. The police was called, after unknown persons were rioting and setting fires inside the church. They broke a window, damaged the window sills and set fire to several places inside the Church, fortunately the flames did not spread. The caused damage is around 7,600 Euros. The police is investigating.

Priest Stabbed to Death Near His Parish in Italy

September 15, 2020, Italy

On the 15th September in Como, Roberto Malgesini, a 51-year-old priest was found dead from knife wounds in the vicinity of his parish. He was known for his devotion to the migrants, homeless people, and those who are in difficult situations. The priest was stabbed several times in a street near the Church of St. Rocco, including one to the neck. The attacker, a 53-year-old man from Tunisia, turned himself in to the police. The man suffered from a mental illness and was known by Malgesini. Malgesini had taken care of him in the parish. On the same morning, the priest was going to bring breakfast for the homeless.

Christian Restaurant Owner Accused of Incitement for Displaying Bible Verses about Homosexuality

September 15, 2020, Germany

The prosecuting attorney's office in Berlin instituted preliminary proceedings against Park Young-Ai, a 71 year-old Christian who owns a Korean restaurant in the Berlin district Schöneberg. She was accused of incitement for displaying a bible verse critical of homosexuality in the window of her restaurant "Ixthys". She was subject to a house search and has been called to a hearing.

Theft from Catholic Church of St Anna

September 11, 2020, Germany

September 11th, between 12 and 19:30 hrs, a display case was broken open in the provost church of St. Anna in Schwerin. Unknown perpetrators stole the relic of Saint Ansgar. The perpetrators also broke open two alms boxes in the church. The total damage to property amounts to about 1,400 euros, but the value of the stolen relic has not been quantified. Police opened an investigation.

Inverted Yellow Cross Sprayed on the Door of La Antigua Church in Valladolid

September 10, 2020, Spain

A large inverted yellow cross was painted onto the main entrance door of La Antigua Church in Valladolid on September 10th. This is not the first time that the church was vandalized. The perpetrator remains unknown.

War Memorial and Church Vandalised in Les Vigneaux

September 10, 2020, France

On September 10, inhabitants of Les Vigneaux discovered that all of the names on the war memorial had been crossed out with paint. Genitals had been painted on the monument as well as on either side of the church door. Mayor Gilles Pierre lodged a complaint.

Damage in the Cemetery and Church of the Madonna del Perpetuo Soccorso

September 9, 2020, Italy

A group of young people climbed over the chapel and broke into the cemetery. The damaged the roof and started throwing the shards of tiles on the street. The police traced and identified the underage perpetrators.

After Facebook Post Pastor Threatened by LGBT Activists with Arson and Physical Assault

September 8, 2020, United Kingdom

Since the 8th of August, Pastor Josh Williamson and his wife experienced several threats and verbal abuse by the LGBT community, because of posting his belief about homosexuality on Facebook. Among them are the threats to burn his church, to perform sexual acts and protests in front of his church and physical assault. His image was also used on pornographic content and shared online, among other misleading information about him. In his conversation with the Police, Williamson was told to be careful not to break the law by insulting the LGBT community and being charged for hate speech. The threats towards him and his church were not investigated, neither the acts of defamation.

Vandalism in St. Emmeram Church in Spalt

September 8, 2020, Germany

On September 8, vandals played with fire on the offertory box, set fire to a large wooden cross and broke a candle on the high altar in St. Emmeram Church in Spalt. The damage amounts to several hundred Euros. The police station in Roth initiated an investigation and asked for information of witnesses.

Statue of the Virgin Mary Decapitated in Borgo Sabotino

September 7, 2020, Italy

During the night of September 7th unknown perpetrators decapitated the statue of the Virgin Mary, called "Madonnina" by locals, which is situated in Borgo Sabotino in the province of Latina. This was not the first time the statue was vandalized the parish SS Cuore di Gesù states, expressing its deep sorrow over this tragic incident.

Discrimination Against Christian Academics in State-Led Educational Agency

September 7, 2020, Spain

The Observatory of Freedom of Religion (OFRC) in Spain, presented a research project in October 2019, to the National Agency for Evaluation and Prospective Studies (ANEP) under the Ministry of Science and Innovation on a Climate Change topic. The actors involved were the University of Alcalá, the University of Catalonia and researchers of three different universities, from which two have a Christian background. In June 2020 they received a statement that the experience of the members of the research, related to climate change, is doubted and they are afraid of a biased study, given the religious weight of the institutions involved. The OLRC took the case to the Ministry, but it was rejected.

Church Walls Vandalized With Graffiti In Ixelles

September 6, 2020, Belgium

Graffiti was found on the walls of Sainte-Croix Church which is situated close to Flagey Square in Ixelles. Tags include the phrases "God is gay", "Je suis a transwoman" ("I am a trans woman"), as well as an inverted cross and the number "666".

Figure of Christ Damaged on Roadside Cross in Katowicach

September 6, 2020, Poland

Vandals damaged the figure of Christ on a roadside cross, which is situated at the intersection between Szczecińska, Ściegiennego and Krzyżowa road in Katowicach. The damage was reported by Sw. Józefa Robotnika Parish in Józefowcu.

30-Centimeter-Long Dagger Found Stuck on Church Door

September 6, 2020, Germany

The Pastor Markus Hasenpusch from the St. John Church in Malchin found a 30-centimeter-long dagger stuck on the door of the church on September 6th. In the door leaf was a 30-centimeter-long dagger with a 17-centimeter large blade. The knife was stuck at a height of 1.60 meters and one centimeter deep in the wood of the church door. The police estimated the damage at 50 euros and is investigating it for " injurious damage to property". The police are investigating and are looking for witnesses.

Sainte-Croix Church Tagged and Vandalized

September 6, 2020, Belgium

The facade of the Sainte-Croix Church, near Place Flagey in Ixelles, was tagged with "God is gay", "I am a transwoman" or the number "666" with an inverted cross.

Theft from the Catholic Parish Church Maria Himmelfahrt in Blieskastel-Aßweiler

September 5, 2020, Germany

On the 3rd of September, several sacred objects were stolen from the Catholic parish church Maria Himmelfahrt in Blieskastel-Aßweiler by an unknown perpetrator. The church was unlocked. The objects were a microphone, Bible, altar bells and gong. Police is looking for clues.

Break-in at a Church Office in Nordenham

September 5, 2020, Germany

In the night between 5th and 6th September, there was a burglary from a church office in Nordenham. Perpetrators forced their way into the building and stole cash.

"Christians are Always Ridiculed": SRF-"Deville" Caused Displeasure

September 4, 2020, Switzerland

Christians are defamed and ridiculed in the satirical program "Deville". The reopening of churches was called irrelevant and unnecessary by David Koch. He also affirmed, that the Covid-19 pandemic had shown that there was no God. Neither the show nor the satirist found the episode harmful and have not apologized