All cases
UPDATE: Maltese court clears Matthew Grech of all charges
March 4, 2026, MaltaMatthew Grech, a Maltese Christian, has been cleared by a Maltese court following charges related to his participation in a TV show in April 2022. During the interview, Grech shared his personal testimony of leaving a homosexual lifestyle after finding the Christian faith. The case was brought under Malta’s ban on “conversion practices,” but the court concluded that the programme constituted a public discussion and that Grech had merely shared his personal experience about sexual morality.
Christian Church Targeted in Cyberattack Showing Degrading Images of Pastors
March 4, 2026, United KingdomA Baptist church in the UK was targeted in a cyberattack in which hackers hijacked its online identity, used it to promote gambling, and posted degrading images of pastors. The hackers used a similar domain name and imagery from the church’s website to confuse users
Medieval Holy Water Stela Deliberately Damaged at Altenberg Cathedral
March 3, 2026, GermanyA medieval holy water stela was deliberately toppled and severely damaged inside Altenberg Cathedral in North Rhine-Westphalia. Parish officials ruled out an accident due to the size and weight of the object and are planning restoration.
Paper Bomb Causes Damage to Church in Lusia
March 1, 2026, ItalyA paper bomb struck the Church of Saints Vito and Modesto (Lusia), in an act of vandalism similar to a previous incident near the Church of San Biagio in Lendinara.
Desecration of Valencia Church in Sacrilegious Theft
March 1, 2026, SpainThe parish of San Francisco de Asís in Manises, Valencia, was targeted in a burglary in which the tabernacle containing the consecrated hosts, along with liturgical items, was stolen. The deliberate targeting of the Eucharist constitutes a serious act of desecration in the Catholic context.
Cemetery Thefts: Crosses Broken Off the Graves
March 1, 2026, BelgiumApproximately 50 graves were targeted in a cemetery in Sombreffe, with crucifixes and religious items stolen. Images indicate that crosses were deliberately broken off graves, affecting objects of religious and commemorative significance.
Holy Altar Destroyed in Gardiki Church
February 27, 2026, GreeceVandals broke into the cemetery Church of All Saints in Gardiki, Fthiotida, Greece, and demolished the Holy Altar during the night of 26–27 February 2026. The destruction was reportedly carried out while the perpetrators searched for gold sovereigns believed to be hidden inside the altar.
Repeated Burglary Targets Sacred Objects in Quarrata Church
February 27, 2026, ItalyIn Quarrata, three ancient chalices and some sacred furnishings were stolen from the Church of Catena but later recovered. Similar incidents have occurred in nearby parishes, pointing to a rising pattern of local church thefts.
Arson Attacks on Three Churches in Eden in One Week
February 25, 2026, NetherlandsA series of deliberate fires damaged three churches in Ede within five days, leading to increased security and an arrest.
Repeated church thefts in Rouen target sacred Christian objects
February 24, 2026, FranceTwo men have been arrested for a series of four church burglaries in Rouen, during which sacred objects of spiritual importance were stolen. The thefts targeted items essential to Christian worship, including consecrated hosts and liturgical vessels, from the churches of Val-de-la-Haye and Hautot-sur-Seine. The crimes were deliberate, and the stolen objects have not yet been recovered.
Vandalism and Fire Risk Reported at St. Jakob Church in Freising
February 24, 2026, GermanyOn 24 February 2026, repeated acts of vandalism were reported at a church in Freising, including the deliberate lighting of plastic candles, damage involving lamp oil, and the theft of church objects. The incidents created a potential fire hazard inside the church.
Repeated Vandalism at Parish Oratory in Quattro Castella
February 23, 2026, ItalyA parish oratory in Quattro Castella (Reggio Emilia, Italy) was repeatedly targeted by break-ins and vandalism in the past months. In February, two suspects were identified by the Carabinieri using images captured by camera traps installed inside the parish premises.
Suspected Arson targets West London Church
February 23, 2026, United KingdomA major fire severely damaged the former King’s Hall Methodist Church in Southall, West London. Police and fire investigators are treating the blaze as suspected arson.
Vandals Damage Forecourt of Romanian Orthodox San Sepolcro Church
February 21, 2026, ItalyVandals have repeatedly caused damage to the forecourt and exterior of San Sepolcro Church on Via Campagna, where the Romanian Orthodox community has been worshipping since 2018. The incidents, reported in February 2026, have left visible damage to the church’s surroundings and structure.
Vandalism Targets Historic Santa Susana Church in Santiago
February 20, 2026, SpainGraffiti with political slogans and other markings were found on the seventeenth‑century church, prompting renewed concern about repeated attacks on Santiago’s Christian heritage.
Consecrated Hosts Stolen from Two Rural Churches
February 20, 2026, FranceTwo churches in Buchy and Rouvray‑Catillon were broken into during the night, with consecrated hosts taken in what the Archdiocese of Rouen denounced as a grave act of desecration.
Repeated Vandalism Inside Notre‑Dame Church in Niort
February 18, 2026, FranceAuthorities in Niort lodged formal complaints after graffiti and burnt papers were discovered inside the Notre‑Dame church during two consecutive days of damage.
Religious Statue Vandalised at Bois‑le‑Roi Cemetery
February 18, 2026, FrancePolice investigated extensive damage to Christian funerary structures at the Bois‑le‑Roi cemetery, including the destruction of a statue of Mary and chapel stained glass windows.
Church of Christ the King in Valledoria Desecrated
February 17, 2026, ItalyThe Church of Christ the King in Valledoria was targeted in an apparent act of desecration after unknown individuals forced open the tabernacle.
Cathedral Vandalised During Carnival Event
February 17, 2026, FranceThe Archdiocese of Montpellier lodged a complaint after participants in a street carnival vandalised the city’s cathedral while police observed without intervening.