All cases
Cemetery vandalism
January 16, 2024, SpainOn January 16, some hooded men, during the early morning, destroyed the graves and tore off crosses and other religious images from the cemetery of Espinardo, Murcia, in order to steal them.
Parish priest in Varapodio physically attacked
January 15, 2024, ItalyOn January 15, Father Giovanni Rigoli, the parish priest of Varapodio, was attacked and intimidated after a funeral service at the parish church of Santo Stefano.
Vandalism and Desecration of Bible in Ossingen Church
January 14, 2024, SwitzerlandOver the weekend of 13-14 January, the Reformed Church in Ossingen (Weinland Mitte) was vandalised. According to local news reports, the perpetrator also tried to set fire to the Bible on display.
Church walls vandalised with Nazi symbols
January 13, 2024, PolandOn 13 January 2024, the walls of the Protestant Church of Peace in Świdnica, Lower Silesia, were vandalised and painted with Nazi symbols and slogans insulting Prime Minister Donald Tusk. One suspect has been arrested.
Teaching Assistant Wins Legal Case After Being Fired for Street Preaching
January 12, 2024, United KingdomIn March 2022, Andy Nix, 65, was called to the headteacher's office from Temple Moor High School and interrogated about his street preaching in the summer of 2021. This happened after some students complained that his street preaching made them feel "unsafe". He was fired on the spot and had to leave the school premises immediately. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), Mr Nix took legal action against the school claiming harassment, discrimination and a breach of his right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion under Article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). Now, the school decided to settle the case and pay him £7,000 in compensation instead of going to trial.
UPDATE: Prosecutor Will Take Päivi Räsänen Case to The Supreme Court
January 12, 2024, FinlandAfter the Court of Appeal cleared Päivi Räsänen of all charges in November 2023, the prosecutor has decided to take the case against the Finnish politician to the Supreme Court of Finland. The case started back in 2019 due to do social media postings by Mrs. Räsänen, in which she quoted a bible verse and asked the Finnish Lutheran Church to stop the support of the Helsinki Gay Pride Parade. Part of the charges were also directed against the Lutheran bishop Juhana Pohjola, who published a booklet by Mrs Räsänen about the Christian teaching on marriage and family.
Glass door of Guildford Cathedral smashed to pieces in senseless vandalism act
January 12, 2024, United KingdomAs reported on January 12, vandals have caused considerable damage to the iconic glass panes at Guildford Cathedral. The door, which had sentinel angels engraved by a renowned glass artist, has been smashed. The Cathedral team said they were devastated by a “senseless act of vandalism at a holy place.”
Prayer book set on fire in church
January 12, 2024, GermanyOn January 12, someone set fire to a prayer book in the Weihenlinden church in Germany. Thanks to the quick action of the people who were in the church, the damage was limited to a few pages of the book. Earlier, two children had pointed out a man smoking next to the book of wishes. The police have launched an investigation and are appealing for witnesses.
Fire set on church of San Matteo
January 9, 2024, ItalyOn January 9, someone set fire to wooden pallets leaning against the walls of the Salesian Oratory of San Matteo in Messina, Italy. The fire blackened the walls of the church and the pavement. The incident was reported to the police by the oratory's director, Don Gabriele Cardaciatto. "We consider certain behaviours to be absurd and unseemly incivility," said Raffaele Verso, President of the V Municipality of Messina.
St. John Church in Barcelona vandalised by left-wing group
January 9, 2024, SpainOn January 9, the church of Saint John in Barcelona, Spain, was vandalised by the left-wing organisation ARRAN. The church is considered a cultural asset of the city. The incident was published in X by and several users called for ARRAN to be fined.
Hosts and sacred objects stolen
January 8, 2024, ItalyOn January 8, between 2am and 4am, thieves broke into the sanctuary of Beata Vergine dell'Olmo in Portomaggiore, Italy, and stole hosts, sacred objects, video and sound equipment, and damaged the interior of the church. When the parish priest, Don Ugo Berti, went to prepare for the first mass of the day at 6.30am he found the church door open. At first he thought it was an accident, but then he saw that the entrance had been forced open in several places. He quickly alerted the authorities. "I am afraid it was a theft on behalf of Satanists: the hosts could be used to celebrate black masses," the parish priest said.
Arson to Monastery in Stavronikita, Greece
January 8, 2024, GreeceOn January 8, the Holy Monastery of Stavronikita on Mount Athos suffered an arson attack. A 63-year-old man has been arrested, after being reported by one of the monks as the suspected perpetrator, and he confessed to being involved in the arson attack.
Arson to Church in Pula, Croatia
January 7, 2024, CroatiaOn January 7, unknown perpetrators started a fire in front of the church in Pula. As a witness reported, the vandals placed two burning boards in front of the large wooden door, which was quickly engulfed by the fire. The police have started an investigation and are looking for the perpetrators. The church held a mass on the same day to pray for the ones who committed the act.
"God doesn't exist" graffiti sprayed on Mendigorría church
January 6, 2024, SpainOn the eve of Epiphany, the church in Mendigorría, Spain, was spray-painted with two graffiti reading "God does not exist".
Windows of St Jame's Church repeatedly smashed
January 5, 2024, United KingdomThe stained galss windows of St James's Church in west London have been repeatedly smashed accross five nights. In total, they have been broken through 16 times. In some cases the panes have been damaged, in others they have been completely destroyed.
Man caused £35,000 worth of damage to church windows
January 5, 2024, United KingdomOver the course of five nights, an individual repeatedly attacked St James' church in London, damaging virtually every panel of the church's window. Some panels have been completely destroyed, others badly damaged.
ISIS issues global call to kill Jews and Christians
January 4, 2024, InternationalOn Thursday, January 4, the IS militia once again claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Kerman, Iran. It also issued a global call to attack Jews and Christians, particularly in Europe and the US. In a recorded message, the spokesperson of ISIS, Abu Huzaifa Al-Ansari, urged extremist Islamists to kill "Christians, Jews and their allies in the streets of Europe, the United States and the world." He also specifically called for targeting churches.
Recidivist thief arrested for church burglary
January 4, 2024, PolandIn Łomża, Poland, a 28-year-old man was arrested. In December, he "broke the display case of the painting of Our Lady of Częstochowa and stole the decorations from inside".
Cross in Tarnów vandalised
January 4, 2024, PolandA roadside cross with a figure of Christ was found vandalised in Tarnów, Poland. The corpus on the cross has been severely damaged.
Nativity scene in Turin destroyed
January 4, 2024, ItalyOn January 4, the nativity scene and Christmas tree were destroyed in an act of vandalism in the 5th district of Turin. The president of the district, Enrico Crescimanno, announced that an investigation would be launched to identify the vandals. He also described the act as "a disgraceful gesture against the representation of the Nativity".