All cases
Arson in Shakhunya
June 20, 2024, RussiaAs reported on 20th June, a 38 year old man threw a Molotov cocktail on the wall of a church in Shakhunya. The man was detained. He stated that he was drunk and had a conflict with his mother. He is being tried for arson. However, he did not explain why he decided to attack the church.
Vandalism of Beauvais Cemetery
June 20, 2024, FranceAs reported on June 20, several graves were found vandalised in the Tilloy cemetery in Beauvais. Pots were overthrown, flowers were on the ground, plaques were broken.
More than 80 crucifix broken off and stolen from cemetery
June 20, 2024, SpainFigures of Jesus were broken off and stolen from more than 80 crosses in the cemetery of Estremera, Madrid, in the night from 19 to 20 June, leaving behind empty stone crosses. The local community is shocked.
Krakow church defaced with hateful graffiti
June 19, 2024, PolandAs reported on June 19, the Church of St. Wojciech in Krakow was vandalised with vulgar graffiti, expressing hatred towards the Catholic church, the Vatican, and accusing the clergy of pedophilia. They also destroyed the facade of the church, where Saint Wojciech once used to preach.
Vandalism: Swastikas Drawn in front of church square
June 19, 2024, ItalyAs reported on 19th June, residents and parishioners of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Isernia (Molise) reported the appearance of swastikas and other Nazi symbols painted on the pavement in front of the church.
Vandalism at Kettuvaara cemetery
June 19, 2024, FinlandAs reported on June 19, Vandalism occurred at the Kettuvaara Cemetery in Joensuu. Someone broke into the cemetery's maintenance building, broke lanterns and scattered them on graves and left taps running.
Church in Borna Defaced with satanic graffiti
June 17, 2024, GermanyOn June 17, a church in Borna was found defaced with graffiti in red paint reading "Satan" and "666" in several places. The church pews, a wall and a table cloth were also damaged with red paint.
Repeated Vandalism in Berlin
June 17, 2024, GermanyOn 16th June, the display case of a church in Prenzlauer Berg district of Berlin was smeared with a Star of David. The following night the display case was broken. The display contained a flyer which was stolen. The flyer read "Our cross has no hook - your vote against right-wing extremism."
Arson attack on church in Nowy Sącz
June 16, 2024, PolandOn 16 June, the historic 17th-century Church of St Helena in Nowy Sącz was set on fire. The damage is immense, including the loss of a late Renaissance-Baroque altar with paintings from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries and Renaissance works from the 1580s. The tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament, 3 altars and historical paintings had to be removed. The police have arrested one suspect.
Vandalism in Seine-Maritime
June 15, 2024, FranceAround 15th June, the church of Notre-Dame-du-Parc near Dieppe was vandalised. The door leading to the bell tower was completely destroyed with a sledge hammer. The damage is expected to cost around 2000 EUR.
Vandalism in Oudrenne
June 14, 2024, FranceAn incident of vandalism in Sainte-Marguerite Church in Oudrenne has been reported on 14th June.
Arson attack on Quintin Basilica
June 13, 2024, FranceOn June 13, there was an arson attack on the Notre-Dame-de-Délivrance Basilica in Quintin. The police have confirmed that the fire was deliberate.
ECHR "No right to die" ruling and needs for protecting freedom of conscience
June 13, 2024, FranceOn June 13, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), in Dániel Karsai v. Hungary, held that Member States could continue to prohibit assisted suicide. The Court ruled in favour of Hungary that prohibiting euthanasia and assisted suicide was in accordance with the “right to life” under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and under international law. With some countries limiting the right to freedom of conscience of medical personal objecting to euthanasia objectors to euthanasia, this ruling is of particular importance.
Statue of the Virgin Mary Stolen from Historic Hermitage in Ciudad Real
June 13, 2024, SpainThieves forcibly entered the Ermita de las Virtudes near Santa Cruz de Mudela and stole the statue of Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes, prompting a police investigation and public appeals for its return. The statue did not have any material, but "incommensurable sentimental value" according to the parish.
Fire in Dublin Crypt
June 12, 2024, IrelandAs reported on June 12, a man broke into the 11th-century church of St. Michael in Dublin and started a fire in the crypt containing 5 medieval mummies. They were damaged beyond repair. The man is now on trial.
Attack on French Catholic Family Association in Lyon
June 12, 2024, FranceThe building of the French Federation of Catholic Family Associations (AFC) in Lyon was severely attacked, leaving the place vandalised and daubed with graffiti slogans including "Death to Nazis" and similar insults. "AFC is not part of any political party", AFC underlined in the face of this absurd accusations in a statement published on their website.
Catalonia: Register of conscientious objectors in medical care
June 11, 2024, SpainOn June 11, the Government of Catalonia approved the creation of a register of health professionals who object to performing or assisting in abortions for reasons of conscience. According to the official statement, the register will be administrative and electronic, and not public. However, the management of health centres which provide abortion services will be able to access these records. Such a register is feared to lead to situations of discrimination on religious grounds in employment and indirectly violate the right to freedom of conscience of health personnel.
UPDATE: UK withdraws prosecution for "withholding money for transitioning"
June 10, 2024, United KingdomAfter "feedback from stakeholder" the Crown Prosecution Service has updated its domestic abuse guidance for prosecutors. In the updated version the section on “Transgender and non-binary identifying victims” no longer states that withholding “money for transitioning” may be considered abuse. Furthermore, refusing to use one's children's preferred name or pronoun can only be considered as part of a wider offence of coercive behaviour if there is intent to cause humiliation or distress. For an offence the children must be at least 16 years or older.
Vandalism and Threatening Letters at Gelting Cemetery
June 10, 2024, GermanyOn 10th June, several graves were found vandalised in the cemetery of the church of St. Benedict in Gelting. Flowers were torn, vases were thrown over, and wooden crosses were pulled out of the ground. Anonymous threatening letters were also sent. Previously, there had been copper, metal and bronze thefts from this cemetery.
Vandalism in Bordeaux Church
June 10, 2024, FranceAround 10 pm on June 10, the Saint Éloi church in Bordeaux was vandalised during a leftist demonstration. The perpetrators threw down plates and cutlery kept for the winter soup kitchen and spray-painted "Death to nationalists" on the church walls.