All cases
Marian Statue and Church Window Damaged in Dornburg-Langendernbach
March 19, 2025, GermanyA Marian statue and a church window were damaged in an act of vandalism in Dornburg-Langendernbach.
Tabernacle Desecrated and Eucharist Stolen
March 17, 2025, SpainA church in Arroyo de la Encomienda was desecrated after perpetrators opened the tabernacle and stole consecrated hosts. The act has been strongly condemned by the Archdiocese of Valladolid and has affected the wider Catholic community.
Elderly Priest Assaulted and Robbed in Cambrai
March 17, 2025, FranceA 96-year-old priest in Cambrai was violently assaulted, tied up, and robbed in his presbytery. Four suspects have since been arrested and are facing charges including aggravated violence, unlawful detention, and the theft of both personal and religious items.
Court dismisses case against Christian preacher prosecuted for criticising Islam
March 14, 2025, United KingdomOn 12 March, a British court found Christian street preacher Karandeep Mamman not guilty of "causing religious harassment, alarm or distress" after he publicly criticised the Koran during a street sermon in January 2023. Listeners also reacted aggressively to him, threatening to beat him up and ''cut his throat'' and only letting him go after police arrived.
Wayside cross damaged
March 13, 2025, GermanyUnknown offenders have desecrated a cross on a footpath and cycle path near Haar, east of Munich. The left arm of the crucified Jesus was torn off and half a foot was chopped off.
Serious episode of desecration
March 12, 2025, ItalyUnknown assailants broke into the Church of St Paul the Apostle in Borgo Nuovo during the night, ransacked the parish and stole the chalice and the pyx containing the consecrated hosts.
Teenagers commit crimes in church
March 10, 2025, GermanyIn Quedlinburg, a trio of teenagers threw stones at a man at St. Benedict's Church. The church door was damaged. The man also observed one of the teenagers drawing a swastika in the guest book.
Church in Brittany vandalised twice in two weeks
March 10, 2025, FranceVandalism and burglaries have been reported in Treffiagat-Léchiagat, France. The church of Notre-Dame des Flots has been attacked twice since the beginning of March. The damage to the religious building was shocking to the faithful: smashed candles, torn liturgical books, overturned pews, broken vases and more.
Acid attack on Christian café: 15 attacks since July 2024
March 10, 2025, GermanyThe Café "Stay" of an evangelical free church in Leipzig has been attacked with butyric acid. The perpetrators probably poured acid into the coffee shop through the keyhole of the entrance door. The owners had to call the fire brigade. The perpetrators are suspected to be left-wing extremists. This is the 15th attack on the Christian café since July 2024.
Historic Gravestone Cross Destroyed in Repeat Vandalism at Baldock Churchyard
March 10, 2025, United KingdomA historic gravestone cross was knocked over and destroyed in a churchyard in Baldock, marking a second vandalism incident within a year. The damage affected burial memorials of long-standing significance to the local community.
Statue Profanation in Saint-Denis
March 10, 2025, FranceAn act of profanation targeting a religious statue was reported in Saint-Denis, leading to police arrests shortly afterwards. The perpetrators had also posted the act on social media.
Church Vandalised and Eucharistic Vessel Taken
March 9, 2025, ItalyUnknown persons broke into the church of Santa Teresa del Bambin Gesù in Battipaglia. They overturned candles, damaged offertories and a broken glass in the sacristy, but stole only a small case used by extraordinary ministers to bring the Eucharist to the sick.
Altar cloth set on fire
March 8, 2025, ItalyUnknown persons set fire to the cloth covering the main altar of the church of San Francesco, the sanctuary of San Nicola Greco. The cause of the crime is still unknown, although there has been a lot of vandalism in the city in recent weeks.
Gravestones at Churchyard in Maidstone Targeted with Swastikas
March 8, 2025, United KingdomAt least six swastikas were etched into gravestones at a churchyard in Maidstone, targeting burial sites associated with a Christian place of worship. The incident prompted an investigation by local authorities.
Repeated vandalism seals church doors with cement in Loimil.
March 7, 2025, SpainA church in Loimil was targeted in a repeated act of vandalism in which doors were sealed with cement.
Racist Harassment of Priest and Vandalism Reported at Parish in Dragona
March 4, 2025, ItalyA parish in Rome has reported a series of incidents involving vandalism, blasphemy, and the disruption of church activities, culminating in the racist harassment of a priest. The church has now restricted access to the premises.
Church closed outside service due to repeated vandalism
March 3, 2025, ItalyThe Parish of the Santissimi Petro e Giacomo Apostoli has decided to close the Church of San Giacomo, in Via Roma, except during liturgical celebrations due to increasing vandalism. The church has repeatedly had flower pots, offerings and stations of the cross stolen, as well as the figure of Jesus from the nativity scene and excrement behind the altar.
Altar Cross Stolen from High Altar in Church in Thalfang
March 3, 2025, GermanyA wooden altar cross was stolen from the high altar of a Catholic church in Thalfang, directly targeting a central object of religious significance within the church.
Vandals target Baptist Church
March 3, 2025, IrelandA Limavady Baptist the church in Northern Ireland has been targeted by vandals who destroyed a sign advertising a children's Sunday School. It was deliberately destroyed—torn up and rendered useless.
Desecration of monastery quarter
March 3, 2025, GermanyNazi symbols were sprayed in the vicinity of a church in Bad Herrenalb, and a church-affiliated youth bus was also vandalised. The incidents form part of an ongoing series affecting the church environment.
Pait attack on Mühlhausen church
March 2, 2025, GermanyVandals sprayed pink paint on the front door, display case and adjacent wall of the Evangelical Free Church in Mühlhausen. The perpetrator then fled the scene.
Desecration: Gave crosses turned upside down
March 2, 2025, GermanyUnknown perpetrators dug up seven grave crosses at the Erzhütten cemetery in Germany over the weekend and put them back in the ground upside down. According to police, at least two crosses and one grave were damaged.
Car of Parish Priest Set on Fire At Church in Santo Stefano d’Aspromonte
March 2, 2025, ItalyThe car of a parish priest was deliberately set on fire next to a church in Santo Stefano d’Aspromonte, directly affecting a member of the clergy and the church environment. The incident has raised concern within the local community.
Sacrilegious Theft at Church in Ancona
March 1, 2025, ItalyA patena used during the Eucharist was stolen from a church in Ancona, in an act directly targeting an object of central liturgical significance, which is considered a “sacrilegious theft,” by the parish priest.
Baptismal Font Damaged in Church in Venningen
March 1, 2025, GermanyA baptismal font was deliberately damaged inside a Catholic church in Venningen, affecting an object used for a central Christian sacrament. The perpetrators remain unidentified.
Baptist church vandalised with Antifa
February 28, 2025, HungaryOn 28 February, the Baptist congregation in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, discovered that the facade of their church building had been vandalised with the slogan "God is dead". The graffiti also contained antifa symbols.
Riot in church in Neheim
February 28, 2025, GermanyAn unknown offender has vandalised the Catholic church of St John the Baptist in Neheim. The man destroyed a cross, broke off the head and arms of a figure of Jesus, knocked over candlesticks and tore and smeared tablecloths on the high altar. He also spilled liquids and scattered books on the floor.
Christian Midwife Student Suspended over Expressing Conscientious Objections
February 28, 2025, United KingdomSara Spencer, a Christian midwifery student in Scotland, has been suspended from her National Health Service placement for comments she made on a private Facebook forum explaining her conscientious objection to performing abortions. Despite being cleared of any wrongdoing, Spencer's professors at Edinburgh Napier University have continued to warn her against expressing "inappropriate" pro-life views.
Vandalism of Chapel in Olbia
February 26, 2025, ItalyOn 26 February, the parish priest of Sant'Ignazio da Laconi found the small church of San Vittore in Olbia vandalised. Unknown perpetrators had broken rosaries, altar candlesticks and several other sacred objects. The police are now investigating the incident.
Suspected Arson Attack on Church in Saumur
February 26, 2025, FranceOn 26 February, a fire destroyed the 17th century door of the church of Notre-Dame-des-Ardilliers in Saumur (Maine-et-Loire, France). Around thirty firefighters and a dozen vehicles were mobilised to bring the fire under control. Although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, the authorities suspect arson and have launched an investigation.
Sacrilegious Theft Targets Church in Lille
February 23, 2025, FranceA Catholic church in Lille was burglarised, with perpetrators stealing a ciborium and lunula containing consecrated hosts, an act considered desecration in Catholic belief. The incident has deeply affected the local parish community.
Ten Commandments Mural Stolen from Church in Lincolnshire
February 23, 2025, United KingdomThree religious murals, including a depiction of the Ten Commandments, were stolen from a church in Little Steeping, Lincolnshire.
Nottinghamshire village church severely vandalised
February 23, 2025, United KingdomThe church of St Mary and St Martin in Blyth was severely vandalised, with a stained glass window smashed, an effigy of a knight damaged, a knife plunged into the bell tower door and religious objects desecrated.
Roadside cross vandalised in Lublin
February 22, 2025, PolandA 48-year-old man has been arrested for vandalising a roadside cross in Jakubowice Konińskie (near Lublin). The suspect broke the cross and threw it under an oncoming vehicle, just before destroying the candles placed near the monument. The man has now been charged with destruction of public property and insulting religious feelings.
Catholic priest violently beaten in Auxerre
February 22, 2025, FranceOn 22 February, a Catholic priest was attacked by two people outside the church of Saint-Eusèbe. The assailants insulted the priest, knocked him to the ground and punched him several times in the face. The priest, who had bruising and oedema on his face, was taken to hospital in a state of shock. Police are searching for the suspects.
Sacrilegious theft in Quattro Castella
February 21, 2025, ItalyA church in Quattro Castella was desecrated after unknown perpetrators forced the tabernacle and removed consecrated hosts.
Church Altar Cloth Set on Fire
February 21, 2025, GermanyAn unknown perpetrator ignited an altar cloth in St Sebastian’s Church in Bad Aibling, leaving burn damage to the side altar and a melted microphone cable.
Jesus Figure Torn from Cross During Vandalism in Church in Olten
February 20, 2025, SwitzerlandTwo men vandalised a church in Olten, destroying parts of the interior and tearing a figure of Jesus from the cross. The incident caused shock among parishioners.
Theft of Consecrated Hosts at Santarcangelo Convent
February 20, 2025, ItalyA theft occurred at the Capuchin Friars Minor Convent in Santarcangelo, Rimini, where the tabernacle and ciborium with consecrated hosts were stolen, prompting Bishop Nicolò Anselmi to condemn the act as a potential satanic desecration.
Santa Faz cross in Alicante vandalised again
February 20, 2025, SpainTwo years ago, on carnival night, the cross of the Holy Face, located in a public square near Alicante City Hall, was vandalised by unknown persons. The incident happened again on the same night, 20 February, and the cross was severely damaged. The Town Hall has now promised to install additional security measures to protect this public Christian symbol.
Altar Cross Stolen from Church in Emmerich
February 20, 2025, GermanyA bronze altar cross was stolen from the altar of a church in Emmerich am Rhein, directly targeting a central Christian symbol. The removal of the cross from the altar has raised concern within the local parish.
Christian prayer leader first charged under Scotland's buffer zone law
February 19, 2025, United KingdomRose Docherty, a 74-year-old Christian and leader of the pro-life prayer group "40 Days for Life", has become the first person to be arrested under Scotland's new abortion 'buffer zone' law for holding a silent vigil near a Glasgow hospital. The law, which criminalises any attempt to 'influence' abortion decisions within 200 metres of a facility, raises fundamental rights concerns. Pro-life groups plan to hold upcoming prayer vigils only outside the buffer zones, but politicians are already pushing for further extensions of the zones.
Statue of Christ Forcibly Removed and Stolen
February 17, 2025, GermanyA bronze statue of Christ was forcibly removed and stolen from outside a cemetery chapel in Harsewinkel, directly targeting a religious figure and long-standing Christian symbol at the site.
Cross broken: Church in West Keal vandalised
February 17, 2025, United KingdomSometime between 14 and 17 February, the Episcopal Church of St Helen in West Keal was robbed and vandalised by unknown offenders. The criminals broke a cross, burned signs, stole a tapestry and caused other damage. The crime has been reported to Lincolnshire Police, who are investigating.
Statue of Virgin Mary vandalised in Bydgoszcz
February 15, 2025, PolandOn the night of 14-15 February, unknown perpetrators destroyed an image of the Virgin Mary in a Catholic church in Bydgoszcz. Police are investigating.
Sacrilegious theft in Santarcangelo
February 13, 2025, ItalyUnknown assailants broke into the church of the Capuchin Friars Minor in Santarcangelo di Romagna. The suspects went straight to the tabernacle and stole a pisside containing the consecrated hosts. The police are now investigating the attack.
Arson attack on church in Nenzing
February 13, 2025, AustriaOn the evening of 13 February, unknown perpetrators set fire to a pew in the parish church of St. Mauritius in Nenzing. The Nenzing volunteer fire brigade extinguished the fire and ventilated the church, preventing further damage. The police are now investigating and are asking for witnesses.
Vandalism and arson attack on church in Aichach
February 13, 2025, GermanyOn 13 February, unknown persons vandalised the Catholic church in Gallenbach, a district of Aichach, Bavaria, and set fire to several objects. Although the flames did not spread to the rest of the church, the damage amounted to several thousand euros. The church will remain closed for the next few days as police investigate the attack.
Priest Murdered in Kłobuck Parish Residence
February 13, 2025, PolandFr. Grzegorz Dymek, a 58-year-old priest, has been killed in the parish residence in Kłobuck, Poland, by a former police officer.
UK Court Backs Christian Teacher After Unfair Dismissal For Sharing Christian Views
February 12, 2025, United KingdomOn February 12, 2025, the UK Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Christian teacher Kristie Higgs, who was fired in 2019 for sharing her concerns about sex education policies and expressed her Christian beliefs about this topic on her private Facebook page. The court confirmed that traditional Christian beliefs on social issues are protected under the Equality Act. The decision marks a major victory for freedom of speech and religion in the UK.