All cases
Car insurance Revoked Over ‘Jesus Loves You’ Stickers
August 7, 2026, United KingdomA Christian driver in the United Kingdom was told that his car insurance could not continue unless he removed “Jesus Loves You” messages displayed on his vehicle. The case has raised concerns about whether peaceful expressions of Christian belief can affect access to ordinary commercial services.
Attempted arson damages entrance to church in Kielce
August 4, 2026, PolandAn unknown person attempted to set fire to the side entrance of St. Joseph the Worker Church in Kielce, Poland during the night of 3 to 4 August, 2026. A burning package was placed under the church doors, partially charring the side entrance, before the fire was discovered and extinguished. Reports describe the incident as a "sad experience" for the whole parish community.
Church Desecrated Following Series of Vandalism and Verbal Abuse
August 1, 2026, SpainSanta Margarita María de Alacoque Parish in Madrid was burglarised and desecrated after intruders forced open two tabernacles, damaged the church and discarded a relic of the parish's patron saint. The incident followed months of reported vandalism and disruptions, including verbal abuse during mass, affecting the parish community
Church furnishings damaged and hymnals scattered in Waldbrunn Church
August 1, 2026, GermanyOn 1 August 2026, a protestant church in Waldbrunn-Strümpfelbrunn was vandalised by unknown perpetrators. Two people are believed to have entered the church, overturned seat cushions and hymn books, and carved symbols and letters into a wooden pew. Police have opened an investigation and are looking for witnesses.
Scottish Teacher Takes Legal Action After Dismissal For Expressing Pro-Life Beliefs
July 30, 2026, United KingdomA Catholic teacher in Scotland has brought an employment tribunal claim after being dismissed for expressing her pro-life beliefs in response to pupils' questions during a classroom discussion. She alleges that her dismissal discriminated against her because of her Catholic beliefs and violated her freedom to express them in the workplace.
Altar Desecrated and Relics Taken From Church
July 30, 2026, GermanyUnknown perpetrators broke into St Martinus Church in Neuss-Holzheim, stole a Missal and relics of St Martin from inside the church altar, damaging the altar. The burglary caused limited material damage but a significant religious loss, requiring the altar to be blessed before it could again be used for worship.
Update: Perpetrator of Medjugorje Vandalism Identified
July 28, 2026, Bosnia and HerzegovinaOn the night of 27 to 28 July 2026, a scandalous desecration occurred on Apparition Hill in Medjugorje. Among the offences, the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was tagged with a blasphemous inscription, the altar of St James' church was set on fire, and a banner with aggressive messaging to the Medjugorje seers was hung up. Police have identified a Polish national who had been a pilgrim at Medjugorje back in 2017, but since then his life had taken a difficult turn "personally and spiritually". The local Catholic community have responded urging for prayers and forgiveness for the suspect, rather than judgement.
Man throws stones at image of St Joseph and damages church property
July 28, 2026, ItalySan Giuseppe Church and its parish oratory in the Matteotti district of Saronno were damaged in a vandalism attack in which stones were thrown at the church façade, damaging the image of St Joseph and the lighting of the Oratory. The incident not only affected the Christian community, but local organisations reached out in support in light of the "deeply saddening episode."
NI Police Guidance Warns Carrying a Bible Could Be an Offence Under "Buffer Zone" Law
July 28, 2026, United KingdomNew guidance issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has raised concerns that ordinary Christian pastoral ministry could fall within the scope of Northern Ireland's abortion buffer zone legislation. According to the guidance, activities such as praying with patients at their request, reading Scripture or carrying a Bible through certain areas of a hospital may constitute criminal offences if they are considered capable of influencing or causing distress to a person accessing abortion services. Critics argue that the guidance illustrates the far-reaching scope of buffer zone legislation and risks creating a chilling effect on the peaceful exercise of freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
Third Church Targeted This Week: Tabernacle Desecrated and Excrement Left Inside Saint-Symphorien
July 27, 2026, FranceOn the night of 26 to 27 July 2026, the church of Saint-Symphorien in Chambray-lès-Tours was left desecrated and vandalised, the third church in the Indre-et-Loire region to be targeted this week. Unknown perpetrators entered the church, opened the tabernacle and threw consecrated hosts from the ciborium on the floor along and left excrement inside the church, the Diocese of Tours stated.
Tabernacles desecrated and painting slashed at Saint-Pierre Church in Nevers
July 25, 2026, FranceOn 25 July 2026, Saint-Pierre Church in Nevers was found to be vandalised with intruders having damaged the tabernacles and slashed the paintings inside the historic church. The perpetrators not only caused extensive damage to the furnishings of the house of worship, but committed a serious act of desecration which deeply affected the Christian community. The reports also describe the increasing frequency of acts of vandalism affecting churches in France.
Repeated acts of vandalism damage church grounds in Weil am Rhein
July 24, 2026, GermanyThe grounds and parish hall of the Catholic Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Weil am Rhein have been repeatedly targeted in acts of vandalism. The damage affected the whole church property, including seats torn from their mounting and candle wax spilled inside the church, and reports state that the constant repair and cleaning up of the church grounds is a considerable burden on the parish community, who have appealed to local residents for assistance.
Suspected Catapult Attacks Target Church in Sheerness
July 24, 2026, United KingdomA church congregation on the Isle of Sheppey has been forced to move Sunday services to a local café after repeated suspected catapult attacks threatened the church's safety. As a result of safety concerns due to incidents starting in February 2026, the church has made plans to replace the damaged glass windows with a "bullet proof" alternative, and has had to board up windows to protect its congregants. The church minister believes such acts of vandalism are not isolated to Sheerness, but point to a wider problem in the UK.
Desecration of Stone Crosses at Évreux Cemetery
July 24, 2026, FranceOn 24 July 2026, crosses belonging to several military gravestones were desecrated at Saint-Louis Cemetery in Évreux, prompting the opening of a police investigation.
Excrements Left Inside Church Forces Parish to Restrict Opening Hours
July 23, 2026, FranceA parish church in Plan-de-la-Tour has been forced to reduce its opening hours following repeated acts of anti-social behaviour and degradation in and around the building. The incidents, which include animal defecation and littering, affected the church's ability to remain open to visitors and worshippers.
Church in Stoke-on-Trent damaged in suspected arson attack
July 23, 2026, United KingdomOn 23 July 2026, police launched a suspected arson investigation into a large fire which severely damaged the former St Bernadette's church in Stoke-on-Trent. Fire investigators concluded that the blaze had been started deliberately, and police opened an investigation to identify those responsible.
Dog faeces placed in front of a church altar
July 22, 2026, GermanyDog faeces were deliberately placed in front of the altar of St Giles Catholic Church in Wörth am Rhein after unknown perpetrators gained access to the church. In addition to causing minor damage inside the church, the act desecrated the sanctuary and caused distress to the parish.
Woman stabbed by knife attacker during Mass at an Irish Church
July 21, 2026, IrelandOn 21 July 2026, a woman was the victim of a vicious knife attack during prayer before Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Tramore. While investigations are still ongoing, the reports state the assailant is known to police as having mental health issues. As the community deals with the shock of the incident, the Diocese has asked the people to pray for the victim's recovery.
Student in Hamm arrested for planning ISIS-inspired arson attack on Christian church
July 21, 2026, GermanyReports published in July 2026 revealed that a 16-year-old from Hamm had been arrested in April on suspicion of planning an arson attack on an independent Christian church on behalf of the so-called Islamic State. According to the prosecution, the teenager had scouted the church as a target but was arrested before he could carry out the attack. The reported targeting of a Christian place of worship indicates a planned religiously motivated terrorist attack.
Fire set outside church of Saint-Éloi prompts police investigation
July 20, 2026, FranceOn 20 July 2026, a fire was reported at the Saint-Éloi Protestant Church in Rouen after a mattress placed against the building was set alight. Passers-by extinguished the flames before firefighters arrived, preventing the fire from spreading to the historic church. Police have opened an investigation into the incident as a suspected arson attempt directed at the church.
Anarchist threat discovered in Catholic Church
July 20, 2026, FranceA threatening inscription was discovered in the Sancta Maria in Albis Church in Breil-sur-Roya which read "The only church that illuminates is the one that burns." The phrase, which is commonly used in anarchist circles, has been denounced by the town hall as an attack and a threat on a place of worship.
11 crucifixes taken from church
July 20, 2026, ItalyAccording to reports from 20 July 2026, Italian police have arrested a man and woman who broke down the door and smashed a window before removing 11 crucifixes from the building among other devotional items from the parish.
Statue of Mary removed from local shrine
July 19, 2026, PolandOn the night of 18 to 19 July 2026, unknown perpetrators vandalised a roadside shrine attached to the historic Józef Oak tree near Brzyno by smashing the glass and stealing the statue of the Virgin Mary. The attack damaged a place of Christian piety that had long been an important symbol of religious devotion for the local community.
Church in Abenheim vandalised and holy water font desecrated
July 19, 2026, GermanyOn 19 July 2026, St Boniface Catholic Church in Abenheim was found to be vandalised by unknown perpetrators who urinated in the holy water font and damaged church furnishings. The vandalism resulted in the temporary closure of the church. According to parish representatives, the incident points to a wider problem of church vandalism in the area and increasing challenges to keep churches open.
Swiss Evangelical Leaders Challenge Geneva's Ban on Religious Symbols for Elected Representatives
July 17, 2026, SwitzerlandThree Swiss evangelical leaders have filed a legal challenge against a constitutional amendment in the Canton of Geneva prohibiting elected representatives from wearing visible religious symbols while carrying out their official duties. The applicants argue that the measure violates freedom of religion and undermines democratic representation by requiring parliamentarians to conceal their religious identity.
Religious Statues Deliberately Damaged At Church in Deutschlandsberg
July 16, 2026, AustriaAt the Parish Church of St Oswald in Deutschlandsberg, historic religious statues were found deliberately destroyed by unknown vandals. The vandalism caused extensive damage to religious heritage dating back around 200 years and deeply affected the local Christian community. The attack follows previous acts of vandalism targeting the church, including the insult "Shitty Church" carved into an interior wall of the church.
Man charged with insulting religious group after church vandalism in Poland
July 16, 2026, PolandAs reported on July 16, a 37-year-old man has been charged with insulting a group of people on religious grounds in connection with a series of offences that included vandalising a church and a parish cemetery in north-eastern Poland. According to police, the church was defaced with vulgar anti-Christian graffiti, while nearby memorials were also targeted.
Vandalism Forces Church in Bad Dürrheim to Close
July 16, 2026, GermanyOn 16 July 2026, a man vandalised St. Johann Catholic Church in Bad Dürrheim, causing approximately €15,000 in damage, and leaving the building temporarily unusable for worship. As a result, the church had to be closed and scheduled services had to be relocated and a parish celebration was cancelled.
Bust of Pope John XXIII vandalised in Venetico
July 15, 2026, ItalyAccording to reports from 15 July 2026, a bust of Pope John XXIII in Venetico was deliberately vandalised and defaced by unknown perpetrators. The attack damaged the public monument dedicated to the Catholic saint and prompted condemnation from local authorities.
Vandals set fire to liturgical book at a church in Kelheim
July 15, 2026, GermanyOn 15 July 2026, unknown perpetrators vandalised the Holy Cross Church in Kelheim by damaging the interior and setting a liturgical book on fire. The burned lectionary was rendered unusable, causing damage to an object used during Catholic worship. Reports indicate that this incident is part of a series of attacks against Christian places of worship seen in Germany in the past months.
French court orders removal of restored calvary cross from public land
July 15, 2026, FranceAccording to reports from 16 July, the Rennes Administrative Court has ordered the municipality of Saint-Divy in Brittany to remove a restored replica of the historic centuries-old Kerdalaès Calvary cross from public land, ruling that its installation violated the French secularism laws of 1905. Its removal affects a site of longstanding significance for the local Christian community, and raises concerns about the reconstruction of religious symbols.
Repeated Sacrilegious Thefts Prompt Concern of Bishop
July 14, 2026, ItalyDuring the night of 13 to 14 July 2026, a sacrilegious theft occurred at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Porto Sant'Elpidio, when a tabernacle was stolen which contained the ciborium of consecrated hosts. The theft of the Eucharist constitutes a profanation that affected the local Christian community and marked the second incident of this kind in the Archdiocese of Fermo in two weeks.
Suspected Arson damages parish building at Munkshöjden Church
July 14, 2026, FinlandPolice are investigating a suspected arson attack at the parish building of Munkshöjden Church in Helsinki which occurred on 14 July 2026. Firefighters took hours to extinguish the extensive fire, preventing it from spreading to the church building itself, however the parish hall sustained extensive damage.
Eggs thrown at church destroy windows
July 14, 2026, GermanyBetween 10 and 14 July 2026, unknown perpetrators damaged two leaded-glass windows of a church in the main street of Neuenkirchen. According to reports, the perpetrators threw eggs at the church building, destroying six glass windows in the process.
Man arrested after a spate of vandalism forces Cornwall churches to close
July 13, 2026, United KingdomReported on 13 July, a man has been charged in connection with alleged vandalism at various churches in Mevagissey, including damage to St Peter's Church between 8 to 9 July that forced it to suspend its long-standing open-door policy. The incidents affected places of Christian worship and have restricted public access to more than one church in the area, impacting the local Christian community and pointing to a broader problem of offences committed in places of worship in the United Kingdom.
Repeated vandalism at St Ruper Parish Church disrupts religious practice
July 13, 2026, GermanySt Rupert Parish Church in Amerang has been targeted in repeated acts of vandalism in which all votive candles were damaged and the holy water was contaminated with candle wax. The incident disrupted religious practices at the church and prompted a police investigation, affecting the local Christian community.
Cross Stolen From Church in Vejle
July 13, 2026, DenmarkAn iron cross and other items were stolen from St. Nikolai Church in Vejle. Thanks to witnesses, police identified and arrested the suspect.
Rheine-Hauenhorst Church the target of repeated acts of vandalism
July 13, 2026, GermanyReported on 13 July 2026, St Mariä Heimsuchung Church in Rheine-Hauenhorst was targeted by vandals, marking another incident affecting the parish within a short period of time. The repeated damage to the church prompted the parish to temporarily close the building while repairs were carried out.
Assault on Christian asylum seeker after wearing a cross in Regensburg accommodation
July 13, 2026, GermanyAccording to a police report that became publicly available in July 2026, a Christian asylum seeker was assaulted at an asylum accommodation in Regensburg after being confronted about wearing a cross necklace. The report describes an attack that occurred in April 2024 and states that the dispute was only secondarily religious in nature, an assessment that has drawn criticism given that the confrontation reportedly began because the victim was wearing a Christian cross.
Amnesty International UK withdraws report that branded Christian groups 'anti-rights'
July 13, 2026, United KingdomAmnesty International UK has withdrawn and expressed "regret" over a report that drew criticism for labelling dozens of Christian and pro-life organisations—including the Christian Institute, the Evangelical Alliance UK, and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales—as “anti-rights”.
Päivi Räsänen Denied UK Transit Authorisation Following Finnish Conviction
July 12, 2026, United KingdomFinnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen announced that the United Kingdom had withdrawn her Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), preventing her from transiting through London Heathrow Airport on her return from the United States, supposedly linked to her recent conviction for "hate speech" by the Finnish Supreme Court. Although her ETA had initially been approved, it was revoked shortly before her departure.
Attempted Intrusion and Arson at the Notre-Dame Church of Le Relecq-Kerhuon
July 10, 2026, FranceOn the night of 9 to 10 July 2026, the Notre-Dame Church in Relecq-Kerhuon was the target of a fire and attempted break-in throughout the night. The fire was extinguished before it could spread to the whole church building, but the incident nonetheless affected the Christian place of worship and is being investigated by the police.
Crucifix vandalised in Stolberg-Zweifall
July 10, 2026, GermanyAs reported on 10 July, a wayside cross at the "Kartoffelbaum" site in Stolberg-Zweifall has been deliberately damaged, with parts of the wooden corpus having been cut off. As the vandalism targeted a religious monument in the area that serves as a place of prayer and remembrance for pilgrims, the incident has caused deep distress for the local community.
Church banner destroyed in Hohenwarthe
July 8, 2026, GermanyAs reported on 8 July, a banner at a lutheran church of Möser in Hohenwarthe has been cut up and destroyed in an act of vandalism. According to reports, the church congregation suspects the vandalism was politically motivated and is horrified by the incident.
Desecration of Armenian cemetery in Istanbul
July 8, 2026, TurkeyOn the night of 7 to 8 July 2026, an individual entered the Surp Karabet Christian Cemetery in Istanbul by climbing over the perimeter wall. The perpetrator vandalised six graves and a memorial just days before the reconsecration of the Armenian Surp Karapet Church. The reports describe the Christian community as deeply wounded by the incident, and their concerns over the safety of Christian communities in Turkey have been heightened.
Church vandalised and attempted desecration in Ca' Cappellino
July 7, 2026, ItalyReported on 7 July, unknown perpetrators vandalised the church in Ca' Cappellino, Porto Viro, causing extensive damage to liturgical furnishings and attempting to force open the tabernacle. Nothing was stolen, but the vandalism left the church damaged. The attack caused shock among the parish community and is under police investigation.
Attempted Arson damages chapel in southern Germany
July 7, 2026, GermanyIt was reported on 7 July 2026 that an unknown perpetrator deliberately set fire to seat cushions in a chapel in Wolfegg-Molpertshaus, Baden-Württemberg, causing approximately €1000 in damage. Fortunately, the fire did not spread to the rest of the church building, and the incident is being investigated as an attempted arson.
Woman arrested for repeated acts of vandalism targeting a church and cemetery
July 7, 2026, FranceOn 7 July 2026, a woman in Écommoy was arrested for the second time in connection with a series of vandalism incidents, including damage to Christian religious objects inside a church and desecration of approximately 30 graves in a cemetery. The repeated targeting of Christian places of worship has caused concern in the local community.
Church of Sts Peter and Paul Vandalised and Tabernacle desecrated
July 6, 2026, FranceOn the night of 5 to 6 July, unknown perpetrators entered Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul Church in the Wazemmes district of Lille and committed vandalism and sacrilegious theft. According to reports, the tabernacle, containing consecrated hosts, was stolen along with the sacred contents. Further, a cross and several religious objects were damaged and the interior of the church was also found to be vandalised. This act was lamented by the diocese as an offence against the sacred, the faithful and priests of the community.
Military school accused of discriminating against applicants from Catholic schools
July 6, 2026, FranceParents and education associations have raised the issue of discrimination against applicants from independent Catholic schools at the Prytanée National Militaire de La Flèche in France, after a Parcoursup admissions notice listed attendance at a non-contract school as an exclusion criterion. The allegations prompted legal action by affected families and an administrative investigation ordered by the Ministry of the Armed Forces, which instructed the school to remove what it described as the "erroneous" admission criterion.