All cases
Azerbaijan has demanded the expulsion of the Armenian clergy from the Dadivank monastery in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh
May 4, 2023, ArmeniaIn the context of the current blockade by Azerbaijan on the Republic of Artsakh, the ethnic Armenian breakaway state in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the Armenian Christians are suffering increasing threats and fear for their future. In one of the latest threats against the Christians living in the region, Azerbaijan has demanded the expulsion of the Armenian clergy from the Dadivank monastery, built in the 9th century and one of the symbols of medieval Armenia.
European Parliament: Outrage over exhibition showing explicitly sexualized Jesus surrounded by apostles
May 4, 2023, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)An exhibition in the European Parliament showing Jesus surrounded by men dressed in leather as sadomasochistic slaves, apparently homosexuals, has provoked complaints from several MEPs and Christians in Europe. The author, lesbian Swedish photographer Elisabeth Ohlson, argues the photographs depict Christ supporting homosexual rights.
Street wall Displays insults and Hateful Messages Against Christians
May 2, 2023, GermanyA German man who was doing a bicycle tour around the Tollensee Sea in Germany, near Neubrandenburg, came across a wall displaying several hateful or disrespectful messages and insults almost entirely against Christians or Catholic Christians. He posted a picture of the display on his facebook page and informed the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians. Some of the posters on the wall say "F**k off Vatican", "Good that theologians are disappearing on their own", "Catholics are sh*t", among other things.
Arson in Steinfeld Church: Cloth Set Alight, Bible Damaged
May 2, 2023, GermanyOn May 2, 2023 between 14:00-18:00, a cloth on a stand of Saint Leodegar Church in Steinfeld, Germany, was set on fire, burning the cloth to crisp and damaging the Bible on the stand in the church.
The church of Affringues targeted by degradation
May 1, 2023, FranceDesecration was noted at the Saint-Léger church in Affringues, just reopened to the public a month ago after seven years of closure. Mass books were torn and candles crushed.
UPDATE: Christian Mayoral Candidate Wins Legal Case After Being Fired For alleged "Hate Speech"
April 30, 2023, United KingdomIn 2022, Maureen Martin, who was campaigning to become a mayor in London was sacked by her housing association employer for stating publicly that she believed in marriage between men and women. She was accused of gross misconduct for leading a "discriminatory" campaign. In April 2023, she won substantial damages following a legal challenge against her dismissal by the London & Quadrant Housing Trust (L&Q). She was supported by the NGO Christian Concern.
Public Figure of Jesus vandalised
April 30, 2023, FranceA public figure of Jesus on a cross was severely vandalised in Villalbe, France.
Vandalism on Corsica: Scout Camp Chapel and Cross Destroyed
April 29, 2023, FranceAn open-air chapel and cross situated on an eight-hectare plot of land in Vero, Corsica, was found completely knocked down and ransacked on April 29 by Father Louis El Rahi. The site was bequeathed to the church by a local resident a few years ago and was relaunched as a scouting site by Father Louis, who celebrated Palm Sunday mass there a few weeks before the incident. This is one of the four acts of anti-Christian vandalism that have occurred in Corsica in recent months. Earlier in April, a statuette of the Virgin Mary in Petit Capo was vandalised and a cross on the Saint Jean pass was decapitated. In May, another statue of the Virgin Mary was found decapitated in Ajaccio.
Cross Vandalised
April 29, 2023, PolandOn 29 April 2023, an 18-year-old man destroyed a cross on the grounds of the Roman Catholic parish of St Jadwiga in Chorzów. The perpetrator threw the granite cross from its pedestal and poured red liquid on the figure of Jesus Crucified.
Church in Schwaz sprayed with satanic graffiti
April 28, 2023, AustriaOn April 28 between 12:00 and 5:30 PM, the "Maria Himmelfahrt" parish church in Schwaz was vandalized. An inverted pentagram and the number "666" was sprayed in blue paint on the stone floor and on a confessional. The graffiti on the 500-year-old floor was in front of the altar. The perpetrators have been caught by the police.
Systematic Church Thefts: Thief caught
April 28, 2023, IrelandIn Ireland, a man was charged for a series of thefts including in several churches between 2020 and 2024. This example points to the growing problem of systematic church thefts and shows that the biggest harm for the religious communities is often not the thefts themselves, but the damage caused through break-ins. Another detrimental effect of these thefts is that parishes which cannot afford constant surveillence increasingly decide to keep their doors locked, which can be a great loss for believers who are thus prevented from frequenting local places of worship.
Cross Vandalized on Sisco, Corsica
April 27, 2023, FranceA cross on the Saint Jean pass in Sisco, Corsica, was found vandalized at the end of April. The nearly two-metre-high cross was placed on the pass more than twenty years ago by the inhabitants of Sisco.
A severe setback for Religious Freedom in Russia: The Russian Federation's Ministry of Justice will permanently close the Sova Center
April 27, 2023, RussiaOn April 27, the Moscow City Court ruled the liquidation of the Sova Information and Analytical Center, the leading organization monitoring religious liberty violations in the country. This represents a significant blow to the protection of freedom of religion in Russia.
Squatters desecrate church and threaten to damage
April 25, 2023, SpainA group of squatters identifying themselves as artists desecrated the San Roque Church in the town of Farrera. Additionally, they allegedly threatened to cause damage to the church and attempted to coerce people. Subsequently, the Bishopric of Urgel has closed the church.
Priest in Dobczyce beaten up
April 25, 2023, PolandOn 25 April 2023, a 32-year-old man physically attacked a parish priest in Dobczyce.
Jesus figure torn from cross and smashed
April 25, 2023, PolandOn the night of 25 April 2023, unknown perpetrators vandalised a roadside cross in the area of the parish of St Michael the Archangel in Ropa. They tore the figure of Jesus from the cross and then smashed it into small pieces that were scattered on the pavement.
Priest attacked outside a church
April 24, 2023, FranceAfter the Sunday mass on April 24 in Saint-Emilien church, Nantes, a young girl physically attacked an elderly priest of the SSPX fraternity shouting ‘no to the Freemasons’.
(UPDATE?) Man on Trial for Slapping Priest
April 24, 2023, BelgiumIn mid-April 2022, a man was tried in Namur for burning the Belgian flag and slapping a priest during the Te Deum on 14 November 2022. On 24 April 2023, the Criminal Court of Walloon Brabant examined two cases against a resident of Rebecq.
Man sets bible on fire and damages cross
April 23, 2023, GermanyAs reported on April 23, a man caused extensive damage of 20.000€ to a church in Stockach (Constance district) in April 2023. He damaged a statue, books and stole plates.
Chapel set on fire in Dinant
April 23, 2023, BelgiumOn Sunday night, 23 April, the fire brigade and the police were called to a fire that completely destroyed the chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph in Dinant. Arson is suspected.