All cases
Acts of Vandalism in a Cemetery in Ardèche
March 17, 2018, FranceOn March 17th, locals discovered that 18 graves in the Saint-Romain-d'Ay cemetery had been vandalized, with crosses broken. Complaints were filed and the police began an investigation.
Spanish Actor Refuses to Appear in Court to Answer Religious Charge
March 17, 2018, SpainSpanish actor and activist Willy Toledo announced that he does not intend to appear before a judge to respond to a complaint made by the Spanish Association of Christian Lawyers for having committed an offense "against religious sentiments." Toledo was investigated after he posted a rant in July 2017 against God, the Virgin Mary, and his criticism of a trial against three women who had been charged for their part in a 2014 anti-Christian procession in which the image of the Virgin Mary was replaced by a giant vagina ("el coño insumiso").
Blood Poured in front of Martinique Church
March 15, 2018, FranceA witness discovered blood poured on the stairs and door of the Eglise de Bellevue in Fort-de-France on the morning of March 15th.
Police Discovered Hundreds of Works of Art Stolen from Churches
March 15, 2018, FranceOn March 15th, investigators found 100 works of art, from paintings and statues to ciboriums and candlesticks, with a value estimated at 100,000 euros in an apartment in Pas-de-Calais. Following September robbery complaints from two churches in Likques and Sainghin-en-Weppes, a coordinated investigation resulted in the arrest of three art students, two men and a woman, who admitted having stolen the works art from various churches in Hauts-de-France, as well as in Belgium, over a two-year period.
Swedish Social Democrats Seek to Ban all Religious Schools
March 13, 2018, SwedenThe governing party announced the proposal on March 13, 2018, citing concerns about "systematic gender segregation and opinions that do not belong in Swedish schools." Although no examples of problems in Christian schools were cited, they would be included in the plan. Jewish schools would be exempted.
"Allahu Akbar" Shouted in a Crowded Evangelical Church
March 11, 2018, FranceA man burst into the crowded Evangelical Church of Wittenheim in Alsace during the Sunday service and shouted “Allahu Akbar” while mimicking the use of a weapon, frightening the congregation. The man, known to authorities for psychiatric disorders, was detained and sent to a psychiatric hospital.
Christians Assaulted for Protesting Sexually Explicit Ads in the Netherlands
March 11, 2018, NetherlandsCatholic protesters holding a prayer rally were physically harassed, spat on, and assaulted by LGBT activists on March 11th while denouncing retailer Suitsupply's advertising campaign featuring men "groping and kissing" each other.
Fire in Ravensburg Church; Damage Around Two Million Euros
March 10, 2018, GermanyOn March 10th police and firefighters responded to a massive fire in the 14th-century St. Jodok Church. Firefighters were able to save valuable pieces of art, but the organ was completely destroyed. Initial damage estimates were at least 2 million euros, as the church had been completely renovated in 2010. In addition to that, a fire was also set in St. Martin's church in Schlier, only a few kilometers from Ravensburg. Police received an anonymous message after the incident reading, “More churches will burn.” The arsonist was arrested on March 21st and convicted in September 2018, receiving a seven-year prison sentence.
Fire in a Church in Ravensburg
March 10, 2018, GermanyA small fire in a church was reported in Ravensburg on the same day as a devastating fire in the St. Jodok Church.
Four Crosses Shattered around 16th Century Church
March 10, 2018, SpainFour of the twelve 45 cm stone crosses atop the wall surrounding the Cantabrian church of San Jorge de Penagos, were destroyed during the night of March 10th. The bulletin board of the parish was torn and a window of the sacristy was broken. The sign pointing to the parish house, 2km away from the church, was also damaged.
Decapitated Statue of the Madonna in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano
March 10, 2018, ItalyIn the morning of March 10th the statue of the Virgin Mary was found decapitated near the oratory of San Rocco at the church of Maria Madre della Chiesa in Sant'Angelo. The statue's head was discovered later, a hundred meters away.
At Least Five Madrid Churches Vandalized during International Women's Day Strike
March 8, 2018, SpainOn March 8th, International Women’s Day, the church of Espíritu Santo, the church of San Cristóbal, the Hermitage of San Isidro, the military church of San Andrés, and the church of San Jorge in La Coruña were all defaced with pro-abortion and anti-Catholic graffiti. The vandals identified themselves as feminists who were part of the "8M" women's strike, young communists, or anarchists. Locks on some of the churches were sealed with silicone to prevent the faithful from entering.
Niort: Teenager Stabbed in Notre-Dame Church
March 8, 2018, FranceA 15-year-old boy praying at the church of Notre-Dame in Niort was assaulted around 6:30 p.m. on March 8th. Two hooded men ordered him to undress. When he refused, they stabbed him in the leg with a knife. The injured teen was transported to the Niort hospital by firefighters. No further information about the assailants was given by media reports.
Vandalism Against Seville Church
March 8, 2018, SpainThe church of the former convent of Santa Maria de la Paz in Seville, current canonical headquarters of the Catholic brotherhood of la Hermandad de la Sagrada Mortaja (Brotherhood of the Sacred Mortuary), was vandalized by unknown perpetrators with graffiti that read: "Ni Dios ni Amo" (Neither God nor Master).
Statue of Virgin Mary in Champagnat Stolen
March 7, 2018, FranceThe statue of Virgin Mary in an oratory in Champagnat was torn from its base and stolen on the eve of International Women's Day. An explanatory note was left by the vandals, saying that Mary did not want to remain behind an iron gate, surrounded by plastic flowers and peeling paint, but wished to "withdraw to meditate on the state of the sacred feminine" and that she would return.
Molotov Cocktail Found in Church Days after Threatening Graffiti Sprayed on Facade
March 6, 2018, SpainOn March 6th, a Molotov cocktail was found placed on the ledge of a window in the apse of the central parish San Miguel in Córdoba. The paper wick in the bottle had had been lit, but fortunately did not combust with the explosive materials inside.
Activist says "Burn the Episcopal Conference"
March 6, 2018, SpainOn March 6 during the television program Més 324 on the public broadcasting network Catalonia TV3, former CUP politician and activist Bel Olid encouraged participation in the March 8 feminist strike by saying: "Hem de cremar la conferència episcopal per masclista i patriarchal!" (We must burn the Episcopal Conference for machismo and patriarchyl!).
Arson at Saint-Gildas Church in Auray
March 4, 2018, FranceOn the afternoon of March 4th, a parishioner discovered thick smoke inside l'église Saint-Gildas. She observed two young women running from the church and immediately contacted the authorities. Firefighters discovered 10 separate fires had been set inside.
Bomb Scare in Bern Church
March 2, 2018, SwitzerlandA 21-year-old Afghan man was arrested in Bern on March 2nd after he threatened to blow up the Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit) near the main train station. Witnesses reported unusual behavior to the police. Upon arrival, police found the man in possession of "suspicious objects" which were later neutralized. The church was evacuated and the area around the church was sealed off for hours.
Local Government to Demolish Cross
March 1, 2018, SpainThe tripartite government of the Castellón municipality of Vall d'Uixó formed by PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party), Izquierda Unida (United Left) and Compomís (Coalició Compromís) announced the demolition of the cross in the small Plaza de la Paz (Freedom's Square). The removal was driven by the law of Historical Memory. However, the cross of Vall d'Uixó no longer contains any symbol that refers to the Civil War or the Franco regime.