All cases
Arson Attack On German Church, Police Are Investigating The Crime
July 3, 2023, GermanyIn the evening of the 3rd of July, the firemen of the town of Schramberg, Germany, were called out to the church of Saint Maria - Heilig Geist where a stranger had set a table on fire in the back of the church. Dean Rüdiger Kocholl is deeply shocked and worries that the attack may have been planned. On top of setting the table on fire, new signs had been placed on the donation boxes, stating a new purpose for the donated money: for example, for drugs, alcohol and satanism.
Arson attack on Altar of church in Limoges
July 3, 2023, FranceThe altar of a church in Limoges, France was set on fire. Luckily, the fire was discovered by parishoners who came to the church for prayer and put out before it could spread.
Vandals Destroy Altar Piece in Ansbach with A Knife
July 2, 2023, GermanyA canvas painting that served as an altarpiece in the Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche in Ansbach was torn by a knife on Monday morning, the 3rd of July, 2023. The picture was made by the Ansbacher artist Georg Friedrich Bischoff (1819-1873). The restoration of the image is estimated to cost 2000-2500 euros.
Severe Vandalism to Church in Rüdesheim am Rhein
July 2, 2023, GermanyIn the night of July 1st to 2nd the St. Jakobus church in Rheinfeld am Rhein was severely vandalised. The intruders left without stealing anything but caused damages to the amount of 38 500€. Among other things, the intruders damaged an historical window and the church's organ. Police were notified and have started an investigation.
Religious Objects Stolen in a Series of Robberies in German Churches
July 1, 2023, GermanyMultiple religious items were stolen on the night of the 30th of June to the 1st of July, 2023, at the Heilig Kreuz church in Mönchengladbach, Germany. The thieves came in by forcing the door to the church and from the main room there they came into the sacristy by breaking the window. Two individual patens were stolen and one chalice with paten was stolen. The police have started an investigation.
Blasphemy Uttered by 16-year-old During Festive Mass
July 1, 2023, ItalyAmidst several acts of vandalism, perpetrated by young people, a sixteen-year-old was identified as responsible for disturbing a mass by shouting blasphemeous curses at the back of the cathedral during a festive mass. His identification was possible due to the testimonies of those present in the church
Research Study shows Christian students' Perceptions of religious freedom in UK Universities
June 30, 2023, United KingdomIn a recent study by four universities focusing on religious experiences among university students showed that, although the majority of students perceived a diverse and open atmosphere to different religions, there was still a small percentage (10%) of students that felt pressured to withhold their beliefs. Christian students emerged prominently as one of the most affected religious groups, facing challenges and unique perceptions within secular academic environments.
UK Survey Highlights Christian Students Being Silenced on University Campus
June 30, 2023, United KingdomA survey by Coventry University has detected varying levels of silencing among Christian students sharing experiences of prejudice and discrimination. Among students of other religions, Christian students stand out as feeling pressured to change their worldview.
Statue of Mary destroyed in Church in Fonzaso
June 30, 2023, ItalyOn June 1, the statue of Mary was found destroyed in a church in Fonzaso. Perpetrators put the broken statue on the altar of the church. The statue was an important symbol for the church, which is named after the Nativity of Mary and the community is shocked about the incident.
Ireland aproves 'buffer zones' that limit Freedom of Assembly, similar to those in England and Wales
June 29, 2023, IrelandOn the 29th of June, the Irish Government approved legislation to introduce 100-metre buffer zones around abortion clinics similar to those already in place in Northern Ireland and with the PSPO's and the Public Order bill in England and Wales. In the same way as in the UK, the legislation does not distinguish between harassment and peaceful activism such as silent prayer or mere physical presence inside the buffer zone.
Organ Damaged In German Church
June 29, 2023, GermanyBetween the 29th of June and the 6th of July the organ in the Herz Jesu church in Völklingen was damaged: tea lights were thrown against the pipes causing dents. The estimated damage is around 4000 euros. The police have started an investigation.
San Antonio Abate Church smeared with disparaging writings
June 29, 2023, ItalyThe exterior walls of the church of San Antonio Abate in the Roman suburb Cerveteri were smeared with disparaging writings, as was reported on June 29. The graffiti contained swearwords and the sentence "Nobody dies a virgin."
Church in Marseille Vandalised with Anti-Christian Tags
June 28, 2023, FranceThe evangelical church Philadelphia in Marseille was found ransacked on Wednesday, June 28th. The prayer room was destroyed with doors and windows fractured as well. On top of material damage, the tags speak of the anti-Christian nature of the attack: "Jesus is not God" and "Mohammed was the last prophet" were found written on the walls. The pastor has filed a complaint. It is unclear whether the attack is connected to the recent civil unrest in France.
New Sex-Ed Legislation in Northern Ireland Threatens Freedom of Religion
June 28, 2023, United KingdomOn the 28th of June, 2023, the UK government voted to introduce a new mandatory curriculum on sex and abortion in Northern Ireland, which includes education on the prevention of early pregnancy and how to access an abortion. This legislation has met with worry about the freedom of conscience and religion in Northern Ireland. Right To Life UK spokesperson Catherine Robinson said: "This legislation will likely put teachers and parents who oppose abortion in a very difficult situation.”
Theft of liturgical objects and consecrated hosts from church in Sicily
June 27, 2023, ItalyOn June 27, thieves broke into the tabernacle of the Church Parrocchiale Maria Santissima Addolorata in Grottasanta district in Siracusa, Sicily, thereby damaged the tabernacle, and stole the pyx with the consecrated hosts, the reliquary with the main host and a crucifix that was next to the altar.
UN Anti-Discrimination report Proposes to limit religious Freedom
June 25, 2023, InternationalThe so-called SOGI report from the UN, made public on the 15th of June, proposes to limit freedom of conscience and religious freedom, to avoid discrimination against the LGBT community. The National Council of Evangelicals of France (CNEF) expressed worry about the implications of this report in a statement, which has also been supported by the World Evangelical Alliance and the European Evangelical Alliance.
Man Commits Series of Thefts in Churches throughout England
June 24, 2023, United KingdomA man has been arrested after stealing from churches since the 1970s. He raided collection boxes in churches in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Kent and Oxfordshire. Between May and August, the man, identified as Mr Coulthard, stole more than £6,000 in cash from at least three churches. Coulthard, 61, was arrested in Radley, Oxfordshire, in September after a member of the public recognised him as the man caught on CCTV stealing from the village church's collection box in June. Following his arrest, Coulthard confessed to being a repeat church burglar and admitted that he had been stealing from churches since the 1970s.
Azerbaijani government forcibly converts Armenian church into mosque
June 23, 2023, ArmeniaAccording to the State Service for the Protection of the Historical Environment of the Republic of Artsakh, Azerbaijan is converting the Holy Ascension Church of Berdzor into a mosque. The church in Nagorno-Karabakh was designed by Hrachya Gasparyan, and the construction of the temple was finalised in 1998.
GOOD NEWS: German Court upholds freedom of assembly: prayer group can pray near abortion facility
June 22, 2023, GermanyOn the 20th of June, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig ruled that blanket bans against peaceful prayer gatherings near abortion organisations were impermissible. With this ruling, the legal issues end for a local prayer group in Pforzheim, which are challenging the bans since 2019. Germany’s highest administrative court has protected freedom of assembly, but Federal minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus is planning to introduce censorship zones around abortion organisations.
Recurrent Vandalism and Damages in Dielheim Church
June 22, 2023, GermanyIn a large-scale act of vandalism in the St-Cyriak-Kirche in Dielheim, discovered on the 22nd of June, the glass of a candlestick was broken as were numerous candles, the contents of a first-aid kit were scattered on the floor, a holy water font was emptied and self-painted pictures of the first communion soaked with water. The damage is estimated to be around 3000 euros. This current case of vandalism has moved the parish council to go to the police and limit the opening hours of the church. The church has seen smaller acts of vandalism before, including broken windows or candles, but something of this scale hasn't occurred since 2017.
Youth Gang Sprinkle Each Other with Holy Water and Shout "Allah Akbar" in Nice
June 20, 2023, FranceOn June 20, in the church of Saint Roch in Nice, a group of young people entered the place and sprinkled themselves with Holy Water and then one of them shouted "Allah Akbar", which can be considered a threat, as this shout is used by Islamists during attacks. The incident was reported to the first deputy mayor responsible for security, Anthony Borré, who said he would take the matter "very seriously".
Pectoral Cross of Benedict XVI Stolen from Church in Traunstein
June 19, 2023, GermanyThe papal pectoral cross of Pope Benedict XVI was stolen on June 19 during a break-in at the Traunstein city church of St. Oswald. The perpetrator broke open an exhibition display case to steal the cross. Pope Benedict XVI bequeathed the pectoral cross to St. Oswald's Church after his retirement in 2013. The cross holds immense value to the Catholic community in Traunstein, and investigators are still searching for it.
Northamptonshire Councillor Cancelled and Suspended for Tweet About Pride
June 19, 2023, United KingdomChristian Councillor King Lawal, who has been a councillor at North Northamptonshire Unitary Council for two years, was cancelled by seven organizations and suspended by the Conservative party pending an investigation over his tweets. His tweets commented on an LGBT pride parade that included naked men illegally parading through the streets in front of children. On June 19, he tweeted: "When did Pride become a thing to celebrate? Because of Pride Satan fell as an archangel. Pride is not a virtue but a sin." On the same day he posted the tweet, he was contacted by the leader of North Northamptonshire Unitary Council who told him that he was suspended for 21 days pending an investigation. On July 3, a local authority that held a substantial council contract with Cllr Lawal's family business ordered an urgent meeting. The family business was told that unless Cllr Lawal was removed immediately as director, their contract would be withdrawn. Under potentially illegal pressure, Cllr Lawal resigned from his own company. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Cllr Lawal instructed his lawyers to prepare legal action alleging multiple violations of his rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. On October 26, at a full council meeting, Cllr Lawal was reinstated. After being suspended for 3 months, Cllr Lawal said he was "relieved" but the Conservative party had still not dropped the complaint against him.
Church Windows Smashed in Spiesen-Elversberg
June 18, 2023, Germanyunknown perpetrators destroyed several windows of a Catholic church in Spiesen-Elversberg in the Neunkirchen district.
Vandalism: Church window smashed twice
June 17, 2023, GermanyDuring the night of 16 to 17 June, unknown persons smashed the historic stained glass window of the Protestant church in Neuenrade. The time can probably be narrowed down. At around 2.40 a.m. a "considerable impact noise" was heard. The police confirmed at the time that stones, possibly beer bottles, had been thrown at the window. The damage is estimated at 7000 euros.
Sacred objects stolen from Yorkshire church
June 17, 2023, United KingdomSacred objects stolen from the church of Bilton-in-Ainsty in Yorkshire, England, on July 17, including two patens and a 16th-century cruet, have been recovered and returned to the parish.
Religion Teacher receives Threats
June 15, 2023, PolandOn June 15, 2023, insults and threats were directed at one of the religion teachers at Primary School No. 35 in Toruń, who was organising a series of lessons for children under the slogan "Feel the chemistry of Jesus".
Feminist Group Paints over Fresco of Jesus in Church in Geneva
June 14, 2023, SwitzerlandA group of women desecrated a fresco of Jesus and the apostles on June 14 at the Plainpalais Church in Geneva. The group, called "The Red Tents", gained access to the chapel of the Plainpalais Church. They used pink and purple paint to add women, draw breasts on a saint, and paint male genitals on the fresco. They also painted symbols of Venus and Mars on Christ's dress.
Ciborium with consecrated hosts stolen
June 14, 2023, FranceOn June 14, 2023, a ciborium containing consecrated hosts was stolen from the Notre-Dame church in Rocheservière (Vendée). Parishioners expressed worry over the sacrilegious theft.
Church Guest Book tagged With Satanic Symbols
June 13, 2023, GermanyThe village church in Hiesfeld has been repeatedly vandalized by unknown perpetrators. According to media reports from June 13, vandals have left satanic and offensive symbols in the parish guest book.
Young People Attack Priest and Utter Anti-Christian insults
June 12, 2023, FranceOn June 12th 2023, a "group of young people" attacked Joseph Eid, the rector of the Notre-Dame-du-Liban parish. Shortly after 8 pm a dozen young people allegedly entered the presbytery to retrieve a soccer ball, and were scolded by the priest. The situation seems to have escalated and the priest was violently thrown to the ground, then grabbed by the back of the neck before being helped by witnesses. The assailants then fled, hurling anti-Christian insults.
Forest Shrine near Mielec Vandalised
June 12, 2023, PolandOn 12 June 2023, a Marian shrine on a mountain path in Czerwone Wierchy near Mielec was painted with black paint. Religious objects belonging to the shrine were also vandalised.
Mary Figure Beheaded at Church in Braunton
June 11, 2023, United KingdomVandals took the head off a statute of Mary which stood outside St. Brannock Catholic Church in Braunton. They threw the torso into the consecrated shallow well and wedged her head into a nearby wall. Mrs. Smith-Bingham, who lives close the the church, stated: "I heard some noise on Sunday (June 11), and when my husband went to look, he noticed this had happened (...).The community should be made aware that a religious hate crime has been reported to the police. There has been petty vandalism in the area for the last 18 months or so, but this is on a different scale." Damage was also caused to the church door, and police are investigating the criminal damage.
Church of Saint-Cornély in Carnac Vandalized with Graffiti
June 11, 2023, FranceThe 17th-century church of Saint-Cornély in Carnac was vandalized by unknown perpetrators between the 10th and 11th of June. The church was tagged with blue lettering on the porch that said "Tout raser comme les menhirs" ("Raze everything like the menhirs"), referencing to another historical heritage that had been vandalized earlier that year.
Priest's Chair Stolen from Church in Cransford
June 10, 2023, United KingdomBetween 8 AM on June 9 and the evening of June 10, a Mendlesham Priest Chair was stolen from St. Peter's Church in Cransford. A spokesperon for Suffolk police said: "Local communities are urged to vigilant of any suspicious activity around churches and report anything of conern to the police.
Valuables Stolen from Church in Bournemouth
June 9, 2023, United KingdomA number of distinctive items have been stolen from St. Stephen's Church in Bournemouth, with police releasing a CCTV image of a suspect. The man was seen on the camera footage on June 9 at 9:30 AM. It was reported that he stole a silver sanctuary lamp, a decorative gold palm leaf and a statue of Our Lady of Walsingham. A private area of the church was also broken into and a number of items were damaged. The police have not arrested the man and are continuing their search.
New conversion therapy ban in Iceland affects Religious Freedom of parents
June 9, 2023, IcelandIn line with other European countries, Iceland has approved a ban on conversion therapies for 'sexual orientation,' 'gender expression' and 'gender identity.' The problem arises from the redaction of the new law, that restricts freedom of religion and parental choice. The law does not specify what is considered "conversion therapy", which could lead to the criminalization of harmless spiritual counseling by parents or fellow believers.
UPDATE: Former LGBT Man On Trial For Statements on His Conversion to Christianity
June 9, 2023, MaltaMatthew Grech, a maltese 33-year-old Christian, had his first Court trial on Friday 9th of June. He is being prosecuted on the grounds of "breaching the Affirmation of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression Act" and promoting "conversion therapy". He could face a prison sentence of up to five months and fines from 1,000 to 5,000 Euro. In the program, aired in April 2022, Grech shared his experience as a homosexual and how he found Christianity, which changed his life forever. Grech did not invite or encourage listeners to undergo any form of "conversion therapy".
Many Injured After Car Driver Rammed Through the Corpus Christi Procession in Warsaw
June 8, 2023, PolandOn June 8, during the Corpus Christi procession in Ursynów, an Audi driver rammed his car through the procession, hitting and injuring people. The police are investigating the event.
Church of Saint Roch defaced and robbed
June 8, 2023, FranceDuring the night of 8 to 9 June, the church of Saint Roch in Ajaccio was defaced with obscene tags and religious objects were stolen. Among the stolen objects are a wooden cross covered in gold leaf and a statue of St John the Baptist.
Orthodox Centre in Hincesti devastated by vandals
June 7, 2023, MoldovaIn a vandalism attack on the Orthodox Centre in Hîncești on June 7, furniture, doors, windows, as well as icons and religious textbooks were destroyed. The perpetrators even set some books on fire.
Devastation of a roadside shrine
June 5, 2023, PolandOn the night of January 5-6, 2023, a twenty-two-year-old man vandalised a roadside shrine in Uście Solne in the commune of Szczurowa. The perpetrator took out the statue of the Mary from the niche of the shrine and smashed it on the road surface.
Church in Southern France Desecrated
June 3, 2023, FranceOn June 3, the sacristan of the Chuch of Mailhac discovered that the place of worship had been vandalized. Many candles lay broken on the floor, and there are clear signs that someone had tried to open the trunk. The sacristan had already filed a complaint for the destruction of candles in the past. As a consequence of this act, the church has been closed for an indefinite time. The Ginestas gendarmerie was informed on the same day, and a complaint had been filed.
Baptist pastor arrested and fined in Brest for preaching on the street
June 2, 2023, BelarusOn June 2, Vladimir Burshtyn was arrested and taken to trial after having been preaching in the street in Drahichyn the day before. The law enforcers told his wife that the reason for the arrest was the "organisation of mass events". He was fined 555 Belarusian rubles, over a month's average pension in the country.
Thieves Smash Window and Steal Candlestick from Sussex Church
June 2, 2023, United KingdomA suspect entered St. Mary the Virgin Church in Littlehampton, Sussex the night between June 1 and June 2. Damage was caused to a window and a candlestick was stolen. Officers attended the scene and an investigation is now underway.
Case opened over the the Burning of a Cross in La Coruña
June 1, 2023, SpainOn June 1st, the provincial prosecutor's office of La Coruña opened a case over the burning of a cross in La Toleira of Neda, following a complaint by the organisation of Christian Lawyers. The lawyers' organization indicates that BNG (Galician nationalist party) members were responsible for the incident. They are being charged with possible hate crimes, offending religious feelings, offending historical heritage and illegal demonstrations. The Prosecutor's Office is asking the police to identify those involved in the reported act and the person(s) responsible for the fire.
Mayor tears down memorial cross two days after losing elections
May 31, 2023, SpainThe mayor of Barrado, a town in the province of Caceres, tore down the cross dedicated to the 'fallen' of the Spanish Civil War on May 31, after having lost the municipal elections two days before. The politician, a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), justifies his decision on the 'Democratic Memory Law' but the foundation Abogados Cristianos considers it an attack on Christians and is considering legal action.
Vandalism with rubbish and excrement at Church in Lucerne
May 30, 2023, SwitzerlandOn the 30th of May, the online news site Kath.ch reported that the front of St. Luke's Church in Lucerne, had been vandalised by people leaving rubbish and excrement.
Virgin Mary Statue Beheaded in Corsica
May 29, 2023, FranceA statue of Our Lady of Lavasina installed on the seafront of Ajaccio in Corsica was found decapitated on May 29th. The statue was used in processions in the parish of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Ajaccio. This is the fourth act of anti-Christian vandalism on Corsica in recent months. In April, a statuette of the Virgin Mary by Petit Capo beach was found vandalised, as well as a make-shift altar at a scout camp in Vero. A cross in Sisco was also decapitated that month.
French Church Desecrated in Cugnaux Village
May 28, 2023, FranceOn Sunday May 28, individuals broke into the church and carried out various acts of vandalism and damage to the place of worship. They tried to set fire to the church, also all the candles were knocked over, a crucifix was damaged and paintings were broken. The mayor, Albert Sanchez, strongly condemned this act of violence. In this context, local representatives called for a peaceful gathering in front of Cugnaux town hall (near the church), on May 31 at 6:30 pm to condemn all acts of violence against places of worship.