All cases
Church in Peine target of arson
June 25, 2025, GermanyOn the morning of 25 June, a Catholic parish church in Peine, Germany, was targeted in an attempted arson attack. The fire, likely started using accelerants, caused minor damage to the entrance door but was quickly extinguished by a church employee before it could spread.
Several Churches of Different Denominations in Traunreut Vandalised
June 25, 2025, GermanyIn Traunreut, a town in Upper Bavaria, four churches from different denominations were vandalised over several days in the month of June. A young married couple admitted to vandalising multiple churches in Bavaria, citing a deep aversion to religious institutions.
Church in Orne desecrated
June 24, 2025, FranceThe tabernacle of the church in Mortagne-au-Perche (Orne) was desecrated on Tuesday, 24 June 2025. The religious building has been temporaily closed and will reopen on Saturday, 28 June for a Mass of Reparation.
Cross Vandalised on Mountain in Haute‑Savoie
June 21, 2025, FranceIn mid‑June 2025, only a few days after it was installed atop the Pointe du Sur Cou, a newly erected cross in Haute‑Savoie was defaced with a tag invoking France’s 1905 law on secularism. Antoine Valentin, mayor of Saint‑Jeoire, condemned the act as a calculated attempt to attack the Christian presence in France rather than a random act of vandalism.
Church Entrance Vandalised at Santissimo Salvatore Church in Noto
June 21, 2025, ItalyIn the early hours of June 20, 2025, unknown vandals damaged a historic Baroque stone column at the entrance of the Santissimo Salvatore Church in Noto, Sicily. The incident was quickly addressed, with authorities and church officials securing the area to prevent further harm. This act of vandalism follows earlier incidents at the same location, including graffiti and minor property damage.
British Catholic Hospices Face Closure Following Assisted Suicide Vote
June 20, 2025, United KingdomBritish Catholic hospices and care homes for the elderly face potential closure after the controversial Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was approved at Third Reading in the House of Commons on 20 June, passing by a narrow majority of just 23 votes. This bill, if enacted, would compel Catholic palliative care institutions that refuse to participate in assisted suicide on the basis of Christian teachings to either comply or face closure, raising deep concerns over the protection of institutional conscientious objection.
Arson Attack on Evangelical Street Preacher’s Trailer in Gütersloh
June 20, 2025, GermanyIn the pre-dawn hours of June 20, 2025, unknown assailants set fire to a vehicle trailer belonging to street preacher Henning Heinrich Westrup in Gütersloh, North Rhine‑Westphalia. The trailer, emblazoned with the message “Jesus saves”, suffered extensive damage to its protective tarpaulin and exterior in what authorities are investigating as a deliberate act of arson.
Liturgical Gospel Book Ripped Apart in St. Ulrich bei Steyr Church
June 19, 2025, AustriaBetween Monday 17 and Wednesday 19 June 2025, an unknown individual severely damaged a liturgical gospel at St Ulrich's parish church in Steyr, Austria. Parish staff found the Gospel, which had been left open on the side altar, completely vandalised — every single one of its 300 pages had been torn down the middle.
Man Threatens Guard at Cathédrale de La Major
June 19, 2025, FranceA man was arrested at La Major Cathedral in Marseille after allegedly trampling on graves while shouting “Allahu Akbar” and threatening the site’s security guard.
Church in Lingen Suffered Heavy Vandalism
June 18, 2025, GermanyOn the afternoon of Saturday, June 18, 2025, unidentified individuals broke into the Romanesque-Gothic St. Alexander Church in Lingen-Schepsdorf, leaving a trail of destruction. Several religious statues were vandalised—one completely destroyed, others defaced with melted wax—deeply shocking the local community, especially as this is not an isolated incident.
New Law on Religious Leadership Risks Criminalising Religious Practice
June 18, 2025, RomaniaIn June 2025, the Romanian Parliament adopted a legislative amendment to the country’s Law on Religious Communities, criminalising the “unauthorised exercise” of clerical or priestly functions. The new provision effectively grants the state and officially recognised religious denominations exclusive authority to determine who may lead religious communities. The amendment raises serious concerns regarding the protection of religious freedom.
Man steals church material amid anti-church statements
June 18, 2025, GermanyA 23-year-old man has been fined for stealing information leaflets and brochures from the parish church of Zum Heiligsten Erlöser. During the trial, the defendant openly expressed hostility towards church institutions.
Profanation of Church in Provins during Festival
June 14, 2025, FranceDuring the medieval festival Médiévales, held on 14–15 June 2025, the Collégiale Saint-Quiriace in Provins was desecrated. This Gothic collegiate church, which is a historic landmark in the Diocese of Meaux, was open to both pilgrims and festival exhibitors. However, several stalls displayed occult and neo-pagan items, including books on Satanism, inside the sacred space. Witnesses also reported seeing a shirtless man dressed as a satyr, wearing horns, parading through the nave, alongside erotic imagery placed among the church’s pillars. The local bishop denounced this violation of the church's spiritual dignity.
Suspected Arson at Fourteen Holy Helpers Chapel
June 12, 2025, GermanyA chapel in Weißenhorn was damaged after unknown individuals set fire to a bouquet inside the building. The incident caused soot damage and is being investigated as suspected arson.
Banner with Hostile Message Displayed at Karlskirche
June 12, 2025, AustriaOn 12 June 2025, a banner with hostile messaging was displayed at a church in Vienna ahead of a pro-life march. The act forms part of a series of incidents targeting Christian sites in the city.
Suspected Arson at Laval’s Sainte‑Trinité Cathedral Behind Scaffolding
June 11, 2025, FranceIn the early morning hours of June 11, 2025, a fire erupted on the scaffolding attached to the left side of the Sainte-Trinité Cathedral in Laval, Mayenne. The blaze, which began around 5 a.m., was quickly extinguished by firefighters after being alerted by a passerby.
Witness Suspects Arson at Saint-Pierre Church in Pontlevoy
June 11, 2025, FranceOn the afternoon of June 11, 2025, a small fire broke out inside the Église Saint-Pierre in Pontlevoy, southwestern Loir-et-Cher, France. The blaze started on a curtain near the sacristy and produced heavy smoke that filled the church, though damage fortunately remained limited. A passing resident, who attempted to extinguish the flames, alerted the fire department—leading investigators to suspect the incident may have been deliberate.
Arson Attack at Market Drayton’s St Mary’s Church
June 9, 2025, United KingdomSt Mary’s Church in Market Drayton, Shropshire, was the target of a deliberate arson attack. Firefighters from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service were alerted on the morning of 9 June, arriving to find the large oak rear door of the church engulfed in flames. The fire was threatening to spread to nearby curtains and wooden roof timbers. Thanks to their swift emergency response, firefighters contained the fire before it could cause more extensive damage.
Vandals Cause Extensive Damage to Great Yarmouth Minster Windows
June 9, 2025, United KingdomAccording to a BBC article, published on June 9th, the historic Great Yarmouth Minster, the largest parish church in England, was targeted by vandals who hurled stones at its leaded windows, shattering dozens of diamond-shaped panes and severely damaging one large stained-glass window. The attack occurred in broad daylight, while church wardens were still cleaning up earlier damage. During the cleanup, another stone was thrown through a window, prompting staff to run outside and spot two teenage boys fleeing the scene.
Vandalism St. Anna Basilica in Altötting: Pentecost Service Relocated
June 8, 2025, GermanyOn the night before Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2025, a 19-year-old man vandalised the pilgrimage church of St. Anna in Altötting, damaging and soiling numerous sacred objects. Police estimate the resulting property damage to be in the mid-five-figure range. The violent incident disrupted morning Pentecost services.