All cases
Religious statue damaged
April 8, 2025, GermanyIn Salzgitter-Bad, unknown vandals caused damage to a local church. A statue of Mary, part of a group of holy figures, was removed and the wall damaged.
Swastika Carved into Church Door
April 8, 2025, GermanyIn Coburg, unknown perpetrators carved a swastika into the copper front door of the Protestant Church of St John. The church's showcase was also damaged. Police are investigating the case as criminal damage and the use of unconstitutional symbols and have appealed for witnesses.
Swastika Carved into Church Door in Coburg
April 8, 2025, GermanyA church in Coburg was vandalised with two swastikas and the neo-Nazi code "88" carved into its entrance door.
500-year-old altar damaged
April 7, 2025, GermanyOn 7 April, a vandal broke into the historic Abbey Church in Öhringen and seriously damaged the church's 500-year-old wooden high altar. The unknown offender broke off and destroyed the sword from a figure of the Apostle Paul and stole a valuable altar cloth.
Mass Disrupted by Pro-Palestinian Activist in Toulouse Basilica
April 6, 2025, FranceA Mass in Toulouse was disrupted when an individual entered the sanctuary area and delivered a pro-Palestinian political message during the service. The incident interrupted the religious celebration. According to a report, he was filmed by "supporters" who entered the church as well.
Church defaced with anti-Israeli graffiti
April 6, 2025, GermanyUnknown persons had written anti-Israeli graffiti on a window in the entrance area of a church in Neukölln, Berlin. Further investigation was taken over by the State Security Police.
Fire in church: Police suspect arson
April 6, 2025, GermanyUnknown persons have apparently attempted to set fire to the grounds of a church on Harffer Strasse in Neuss-Erfttal. According to initial findings, a wooden flowerpot was set alight inside the church building.
Anti-Religious Graffiti Appears on Church Wall in Göttingen
April 5, 2025, GermanyAnti-religious graffiti was sprayed on a church in Göttingen, targeting the building with an ideological message about religion.
Man Harasses Worshippers in Church in Eboli and Attacks Officers
April 5, 2025, ItalyA man entered a church in Eboli and harassed the faithful during evening prayers by aggressively demanding money. The police had to intervene.
Church Windows Broken in Vandalism in Thorembais-les-Béguines
April 5, 2025, BelgiumA church in Thorembais-les-Béguines was vandalised, with several stained-glass windows deliberately broken. The incident affected the structure of the church and prompted a police investigation.
Statue of the Virgin Mary Vandalised in Mhère
April 5, 2025, FranceA man was observed vandalising a statue of the Virgin Mary situated at a roadside calvary in the hamlet of Enfert. The incident occurred around 8:30 PM and was witnessed by a local resident. The perpetrator appeared to be recording himself during the act. The event has left the local community shocked and concerned.
Christian woman convicted for holding sign "here to talk if you want"
April 4, 2025, United KingdomA 63-year-old Christian woman, Livia Tossici-Bolt, has been convicted for breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) by holding a sign that read "here to talk, if you want" near an abortion clinic in Bournemouth. This case raises significant concerns about the impact of such orders on religious freedom and the right to free expression.
Thousands in Damages Every Month
April 4, 2025, GermanyChurches in Cologne's city centre, including the iconic Cologne Cathedral, are regularly targeted by vandals, causing thousands of euros in damage each month. Dr Dominik Meiering, the leading priest for Cologne's inner city, expressed concern about the repeated desecration, theft and graffiti, describing it as a serious burden on the Church and a threat to its public mission.
Vandals destroy shrine and cut off arms of Jesus statue
April 3, 2025, PolandUnknown perpetrators desecrated a religious site on the roadside between the villages of Podlesie and Sławno, destroying a statue of the Mary, tearing the body of a Jesus figure from the cross and breaking off its arms and damaging a painting of the Passion. The incident caused outrage among the locals.
Church crosses destroyed in Paternò
April 2, 2025, ItalyOn 2 April 2025, vandals destroyed two large crosses outside the Chiesa Madre in Paternò, Sicily. The attack follows other recent incidents in the same town, including an attempted theft of a sacred painting and verbal abuse during a Christian procession, raising serious concerns about growing hostility towards the local Christian community.
Repeated urine, faeces and riots in Mainz churches
April 1, 2025, GermanyIn recent weeks, several churches in Mainz have suffered serious acts of vandalism, including the desecration of holy water with urine and the destruction of confessional doors. These incidents have deeply distressed local clergy and parishioners, and have led to discussions about possible church closures to prevent further offences.
Church walls defaced with Swastika
April 1, 2025, GermanyBetween 30 March and 1 April, unknown persons sprayed graffiti on the walls of St Martin's Church in Hermeskeil. The graffiti included a swastika on the outside of the church.
Man smashes church windows and attacks priest
March 31, 2025, GreeceIn Volos, Greece, a man vandalised a local church by smashing its windows before attacking a hieromonk, striking him multiple times. The incident has deeply unsettled the local clergy and parishioners.
Finnish Couple Convicted for Private Prayer
March 31, 2025, FinlandOn 31 March 2025, a Finnish court convicted an elderly Christian couple of “assault” after praying with a young man about issues relating to sexuality. Despite the fact that the prayers were non-coercive and the young man had sought the support and participated in the prayers on his own initiative, the court upheld his claim that the prayers had caused psychological harm. The judgment—believed to be the first of its kind in Finland—has raised concerns about the application of criminal law to religiously motivated pastoral care and its potential implications for freedom of religion or belief.
Relic Busts Stolen from Church in Guémené-sur-Scorff in Repeated Theft
March 30, 2025, FranceTwo reliquary busts were stolen from a church in Guémené-sur-Scorff, marking the second theft targeting religious objects at the site within one month. The incident affected items of both religious and historical significance.