All cases

Beaujolais Churches Targeted

March 28, 2026, France

A chapel in Lamure-sur-Azergues and a church in Beaujeu were vandalised on March 28, with broken stained glass windows and damaged doors reported.

Statue and Church Vandalised on Palm Sunday Eve

March 28, 2026, Croatia

A statue of the Virgin Mary and other church property were vandalised outside a church in Labin. The incident occurred on the eve of Palm Sunday, a significant date in the Christian calendar.

Intrusion, Assault and Rising Disorder Around Notre-Dame Immaculée Church

March 27, 2026, Belgium

Residents raised concerns following a series of disturbances around Notre-Dame Immaculée Church in late March 2026. The most serious incident involved an intrusion during a religious service, when an individual disrupted the ceremony, threw a cross onto the altar and assaulted a parishioner.

Supreme Court Acquits MP for Bible Verse Tweet, Convicts Over Church Pamphlet

March 26, 2026, Finland

Finland’s Supreme Court has unanimously acquitted parliamentarian Päivi Räsänen of “hate speech” charges related to a 2019 social media post in which she cited a Bible verse to express her views on marriage and sexual ethics. At the same time, in a narrow 3–2 decision, the Court convicted Räsänen and Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola over the publication of a church pamphlet originally written in 2004.

Religious Ornaments Depicting Christ Stolen from 103 Graves at Wavre Cemetery

March 26, 2026, Belgium

Religious metal ornaments, mainly depicting Christ and crucifixion scenes, were stolen from 103 graves at Wavre cemetery, in what authorities see as part of a wider pattern of cemetery thefts in Belgium.

Severe vandalism and theft at the Church of the Four Holy Evangelists in Vienna

March 25, 2026, Austria

On the afternoon of 25 March 2026, the Church of the Four Holy Evangelists in Vienna-Oberbaumgarten was targeted in a serious act of vandalism and theft. The interior was extensively damaged and two bronze sculptures of saints were stolen.

Wave of Vandalism and Thefts in Frosinone Churches Raises Concern

March 24, 2026, Italy

Over the past two months, several churches in Frosinone have been affected by repeated thefts and acts of vandalism targeting sacred objects. One particularly disturbing incident occurred on 24 March 2026, when a woman approached the altar, turned a statue upside down, struck a cross, and removed the altar cloth, actions captured on CCTV.

Vandalism at Saint-Pierre Church in Caen

March 22, 2026, France

An act of vandalism at Saint-Pierre Church in Caen left a stained glass window broken.

Vandalism in Garbenteich Church: Bible Damaged with Fire

March 22, 2026, Germany

A Protestant church in Garbenteich was vandalised, with fire damage affecting the altar Bible and altar area.

Altar and Sacred Objects Targeted in Deliberate Desecration

March 21, 2026, Belgium

A church in Lommel was again targeted by vandals who left sexually explicit messages and desecrated the altar and religious objects. The incident forms part of a series of repeated attacks, including with arson, on the same church in recent months.

Catholic Priest Faces Criminal Investigation Over Statements on Church Teaching on Sexuality

March 20, 2026, Iceland

Monsignor Jakob Rolland is facing a potential criminal trial after explaining Catholic teaching on homosexuality in a radio interview and stating that the Church offers spiritual guidance to persons with same-sex attraction who seek it. Following the interview, LGBTIQ advocacy groups launched a campaign calling for legal action, leading to a police examination of the Catholic priest under Iceland’s 2023 ban on “conversion practices”.

Parish in Provaglio d’Iseo Targeted by Vandalism

March 20, 2026, Italy

The church of Saints Peter and Paul in Provaglio d’Iseo was targeted by vandalism, with its historic rose windows heavily damaged by stones.

Cross Destroyed in Vandalism at Memorial in Szczecin

March 19, 2026, Poland

Unknown perpetrators vandalised a memorial lapidarium in Szczecin, damaging tombstones and a stone cross.

Vandals damage Chapel of San Giuseppe in Nozarego on its feast day.

March 19, 2026, Italy

Vandals damaged the chapel of San Giuseppe in Nozarego, breaking two front windows in an act of deliberate destruction on the chapel's dedication day.

Repeated Desecration Inside Catholic Church in Białystok

March 18, 2026, Poland

A Catholic church in Białystok has been repeatedly targeted with acts of vandalism and religious offence. A suspected has been identified through CCTV footage.

Aachen Court: Police Order Banning Pro-life Prayer Gatherings Near Abortion Facility Are Illegal

March 18, 2026, Germany

The Administrative Court of Aachen has ruled in favour of a pro-life association, finding that a police order prohibiting its monthly prayer gatherings within 100 metres of a gynaecological practice in Aachen was unlawful. The ruling found that no blanked "buffer zones" could be established under the law and that gatherings remain protected under freedom of expression and assembly as long as they do not obstruct or directly harass patients.

Church in Felletin Defaced with "F* religion" and "Free Palestine"

March 17, 2026, France

Offensive graffiti was discovered on the walls of the Church of Sainte Valérie in Felletin. Local officials have condemned the attack.

Attempted abduction of seminary student near Pochaiv Lavra

March 16, 2026, Ukraine

A group of about 15 people allegedly tried to forcibly detain a seminary student and drag him into a minibus by force.

Arson and vandalism in Absam Parish Church

March 15, 2026, Austria

Absam Parish Church was the target of a serious act of vandalism, two minors entered the church and desecrated the interior.

Multiple churches in Belfort targeted with vandalism and break-ins

March 15, 2026, France

During the night of 14 to 15 March, Sainte-Croix Church in Chèvremont was vandalised, with doors forced open, consecrated hosts found on the ground, and sacred objects stolen. Authorities and the parish have filed complaints.