All cases
Statue of Virgin Mary vandalised in Łańcut
June 24, 2024, PolandOn June 24, 2024, in Łańcut, a twenty-seven-year-old man devastated a roadside chapel and smashed a statue of Virgin Mary. The man was already arrested by the police.
Attack on Orthodox churches and synagogues in Dagestan
June 23, 2024, RussiaOn June 23, militant gunmen attacked two churches and two synagogues in Russia’s North Caucasus republic Debrent. While numbers vary with sources, at least 25 people have been killed, including 4 civilians, 19 police officers and one priest, Father Nikolai Kotelnikov, and at least 46 people have been injured. The Church of Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an Orthodox Church in Derbent, was also set on fire. It was the Pentecost Sunday for the Russian Orthodox Church. The Islamic terrorists allegedly screamed “Allahu Akbar”. These attacks against Christians and Jews happened in the Muslim-predominant Dagestan region of South Russia, bordering Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Attempts to Cancel Faith Conference in Munich
June 23, 2024, GermanyFrom June 20 to 23 the Christian ecumenical conference UNUM24 took place in Munich. Despite the fact that it was a prayer meeting, focussing on common worship and faith, and the organisers highlighted that it was "not a platform for political or social disputes", demonstrations by LGBTIQ activists demanded the cancellation of the event as the Christians participating in the event were assumed to be "anti-LGBTIQ rights". The Third Mayor of the City of Munich, Verena Dietl, from the Social Democrats, even called the event a meeting of "different fundamentally Christian LGBTIQ* hostile actors" and expressed her regrets that she did not have any legal possibility to prevent the event.
Cemetery vandalised: Perpetrators post video on social media
June 23, 2024, SpainOn the night of 23 June, the Spanish fiesta of San Juan, young people destroyed all the niches and some religious images in the Valdoviño cemetery ( La Coruña) by kicking them down. They also smashed statues of saints on tombstones and tore off their heads. They recorded their acts of destruction and abuse, including shouts and insults such as "F*** Jesus Christ", and uploaded the video to social networks.
Vandalism in Twistetal
June 22, 2024, GermanySometime between 20th and 22nd June, an unknown perpetrator threw a stone at a window of a church in Twistetal, 3 metres high, damaging the window. The cost of the damage is around 2500 EUR.
Arson in Windischbergerdorf
June 22, 2024, GermanyOn June 22, the local priest of St. Michael's Church in Windischbergerdorf noticed a pungent smell inside the church. A wooden stand had been set on fire and the Bible was also covered with soot. Earlier, the priest has noticed 3 children riding away from the church on their bikes. The police believe that the fire was arson. The damage is estimated to be around 300 EUR.
Vandalism in Vilstrup: Organ severely damaged
June 22, 2024, DenmarkOn 22nd June, unknown perpetrators damaged the organ of a church in Vilstrup. The organ is no longer functional and the damage is estimated to be around 100,000 krone. Keys were stuck, and there was a bottle of beer next to it. This is not the first time that an incident had happened in this church. In January, 58 designer chairs worth 174,000 krone were stolen.
Vandalism in Völklingen Church
June 21, 2024, GermanyBetween June 20 and 21, a window of the Church of Reconciliation on Poststrasse in Völklingen was smashed. The damage is estimated to be around 300 euros.
"Debanking" of Christian pro-life organisations
June 20, 2024, SwedenAs reported on June 12 by CNE, two Christian pro-life organisations in Sweden and the Netherlands, have experienced "debanking". Mats Selander, who started the pro-life organisation Center for Bioethical Reform in Sweden (CBR-S) was forced to end his 30 year customer relationship with Scandinavian Bank Nordea. The bank subsequently even closed down his private account. He was not given any explanation besides "not enough customer knowledge", despite having disclosed all his transactions. Salender believes it is due to his pro-life views. With increasing regulations, many banks have been shutting down customers for their beliefs.
Evangelical church in Rome refused tax exemption, ECtHR dismisses case
June 20, 2024, ItalyAs reported on June 20, the Supreme Court of Italy has ruled between Breccia di Roma, an evangelical church, and the Italian tax authorities. The authorities had refused to give the Breccia di Roma Church tax-exemption under Italian law, available to all religious places of worship, on the grounds that its premises lacked the “intrinsic characteristics” of a religious building. The Supreme Court backed the decision by the tax authorities. An appeal at the European Court of Human Rights has been dismissed. The case raises massive concerns about discrimination of evangelical churches in Italy.
Arson in Shakhunya
June 20, 2024, RussiaAs reported on 20th June, a 38 year old man threw a Molotov cocktail on the wall of a church in Shakhunya. The man was detained. He stated that he was drunk and had a conflict with his mother. He is being tried for arson. However, he did not explain why he decided to attack the church.
Vandalism of Beauvais Cemetery
June 20, 2024, FranceAs reported on June 20, several graves were found vandalised in the Tilloy cemetery in Beauvais. Pots were overthrown, flowers were on the ground, plaques were broken.
More than 80 crucifix broken off and stolen from cemetery
June 20, 2024, SpainFigures of Jesus were broken off and stolen from more than 80 crosses in the cemetery of Estremera, Madrid, in the night from 19 to 20 June, leaving behind empty stone crosses. The local community is shocked.
Krakow church defaced with hateful graffiti
June 19, 2024, PolandAs reported on June 19, the Church of St. Wojciech in Krakow was vandalised with vulgar graffiti, expressing hatred towards the Catholic church, the Vatican, and accusing the clergy of pedophilia. They also destroyed the facade of the church, where Saint Wojciech once used to preach.
Vandalism: Swastikas Drawn in front of church square
June 19, 2024, ItalyAs reported on 19th June, residents and parishioners of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Isernia (Molise) reported the appearance of swastikas and other Nazi symbols painted on the pavement in front of the church.
Vandalism at Kettuvaara cemetery
June 19, 2024, FinlandAs reported on June 19, Vandalism occurred at the Kettuvaara Cemetery in Joensuu. Someone broke into the cemetery's maintenance building, broke lanterns and scattered them on graves and left taps running.
Church in Borna Defaced with satanic graffiti
June 17, 2024, GermanyOn June 17, a church in Borna was found defaced with graffiti in red paint reading "Satan" and "666" in several places. The church pews, a wall and a table cloth were also damaged with red paint.
Repeated Vandalism in Berlin
June 17, 2024, GermanyOn 16th June, the display case of a church in Prenzlauer Berg district of Berlin was smeared with a Star of David. The following night the display case was broken. The display contained a flyer which was stolen. The flyer read "Our cross has no hook - your vote against right-wing extremism."
Arson attack on church in Nowy Sącz
June 16, 2024, PolandOn 16 June, the historic 17th-century Church of St Helena in Nowy Sącz was set on fire. The damage is immense, including the loss of a late Renaissance-Baroque altar with paintings from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries and Renaissance works from the 1580s. The tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament, 3 altars and historical paintings had to be removed. The police have arrested one suspect.
Vandalism in Seine-Maritime
June 15, 2024, FranceAround 15th June, the church of Notre-Dame-du-Parc near Dieppe was vandalised. The door leading to the bell tower was completely destroyed with a sledge hammer. The damage is expected to cost around 2000 EUR.
Vandalism in Oudrenne
June 14, 2024, FranceAn incident of vandalism in Sainte-Marguerite Church in Oudrenne has been reported on 14th June.
Arson attack on Quintin Basilica
June 13, 2024, FranceOn June 13, there was an arson attack on the Notre-Dame-de-Délivrance Basilica in Quintin. The police have confirmed that the fire was deliberate.
ECHR "No right to die" ruling and needs for protecting freedom of conscience
June 13, 2024, FranceOn June 13, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), in Dániel Karsai v. Hungary, held that Member States could continue to prohibit assisted suicide. The Court ruled in favour of Hungary that prohibiting euthanasia and assisted suicide was in accordance with the “right to life” under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and under international law. With some countries limiting the right to freedom of conscience of medical personal objecting to euthanasia objectors to euthanasia, this ruling is of particular importance.
Statue of the Virgin Mary Stolen from Historic Hermitage in Ciudad Real
June 13, 2024, SpainThieves forcibly entered the Ermita de las Virtudes near Santa Cruz de Mudela and stole the statue of Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes, prompting a police investigation and public appeals for its return. The statue did not have any material, but "incommensurable sentimental value" according to the parish.
Fire in Dublin Crypt
June 12, 2024, IrelandAs reported on June 12, a man broke into the 11th-century church of St. Michael in Dublin and started a fire in the crypt containing 5 medieval mummies. They were damaged beyond repair. The man is now on trial.
Attack on French Catholic Family Association in Lyon
June 12, 2024, FranceThe building of the French Federation of Catholic Family Associations (AFC) in Lyon was severely attacked, leaving the place vandalised and daubed with graffiti slogans including "Death to Nazis" and similar insults. "AFC is not part of any political party", AFC underlined in the face of this absurd accusations in a statement published on their website.
Catalonia: Register of conscientious objectors in medical care
June 11, 2024, SpainOn June 11, the Government of Catalonia approved the creation of a register of health professionals who object to performing or assisting in abortions for reasons of conscience. According to the official statement, the register will be administrative and electronic, and not public. However, the management of health centres which provide abortion services will be able to access these records. Such a register is feared to lead to situations of discrimination on religious grounds in employment and indirectly violate the right to freedom of conscience of health personnel.
UPDATE: UK withdraws prosecution for "withholding money for transitioning"
June 10, 2024, United KingdomAfter "feedback from stakeholder" the Crown Prosecution Service has updated its domestic abuse guidance for prosecutors. In the updated version the section on “Transgender and non-binary identifying victims” no longer states that withholding “money for transitioning” may be considered abuse. Furthermore, refusing to use one's children's preferred name or pronoun can only be considered as part of a wider offence of coercive behaviour if there is intent to cause humiliation or distress. For an offence the children must be at least 16 years or older.
Vandalism and Threatening Letters at Gelting Cemetery
June 10, 2024, GermanyOn 10th June, several graves were found vandalised in the cemetery of the church of St. Benedict in Gelting. Flowers were torn, vases were thrown over, and wooden crosses were pulled out of the ground. Anonymous threatening letters were also sent. Previously, there had been copper, metal and bronze thefts from this cemetery.
Vandalism in Bordeaux Church
June 10, 2024, FranceAround 10 pm on June 10, the Saint Éloi church in Bordeaux was vandalised during a leftist demonstration. The perpetrators threw down plates and cutlery kept for the winter soup kitchen and spray-painted "Death to nationalists" on the church walls.
Vandalism in Poitiers
June 9, 2024, FranceOn June 9, the Montierneuf church in Poitiers was found vandalised. The cross was twisted, the altar smashed, vases of flowers were thrown against the walls, a sacred plaque on the altar was unsealed, twelve columns were torn down and the cross from the high altar was thrown on the sidewalk. Furthermore, furniture and sacred objects were damaged. The most symbolic and sacrilegious act for the catholic community remains the degradation of the tabernacle, where the consecrated hosts were kept. It was unsealed from the top.
Christian concert attacked in Bonn
June 9, 2024, GermanyOn June 9, during a concert inside a church at Bonn's Hofgarten, an unknown person threw a stone from outside, smashing a window and injuring a 55 year old musician. There were around 80 artists performing in the classical concert by Johann Sebastian Bach, St. John's passion "Open heaven for me".
Cross in Lubartów Defaced
June 8, 2024, PolandOn 8th June, a cross on a street in Lubartów with the figure of Jesus was found spray-painted with swastikas. The face of the statue was also smeared with white paint. On a bench nearby, graffiti containing "Slava Ukraine JP" was spray-painted.
Christian pro-life association attacked for 13th time in three years
June 6, 2024, ItalyThe headquarters of the Italian Christian pro-life association Pro Vita & Famiglia in Rome was attacked on June 6. A female protestor, a cameraman of an Italian news channel and a candidate for the European Parliament pasted a pro-abortion poster on the building and refused to leave until the police arrived. This had been the 13th attack on this organisation in three years and third only that month.
Fire and theft in Walldürn
June 6, 2024, GermanyOn June 6, unknown perpetrators entered the protestant church on Schachleiterstrasse in Walldürn and broke open the donation box. They not only emptied the money but also a statue of Christ was found damaged by fire near the groin.
Man sentenced for series of arsons in Pau
June 5, 2024, FranceOn June 5, Fataharhman Awad Allah Abdalkrem, a political refugee, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for a series of arson attacks in Pau between March and May 2022. He had caused fire to the chaplaincy of the Saint-Pierre Church, from which he also stole a cash box containing 300 euros and a computer.
Verbal harassment during mass
June 4, 2024, Bosnia and HerzegovinaDuring the celebration of the Corpus Christi, a group of young men harassed the faithful with inappropriate insults and shouted "Takbir" (exclamation, which in Arabic means "Allah is great"). Similar Incidents were already happening during previous celebrations.
Arson attempt in Tyumen
June 3, 2024, RussiaOn June 3, a 43-year-old man tried to set fire on the Dmitry Donskoy Church Tyumen. He threw incendiary mixtures and fled on his bicycle, as filmed by an eyewitness. The police have now detained the man. The motives are still unknown.
Cathedral evacuated after Bomb Threat
June 3, 2024, FranceOn the morning of 3rd June, the Amiens Cathedral was evacuated after receiving a bomb threat over a malicious call. It is presumed to be a hoax.
Vandalism in Freren
June 2, 2024, GermanySometime between May 31 and June 2, unknown perpetrators caused considerable damage to the staircase of the protestant church St. Andreas und Vitus in Freren. The sandstone slabs on the staircase were destroyed. The damage is estimated to be around 2000 EUR. This is not the first incident in this church.
Paintings vandalised in church in Amt Creuzburg
June 2, 2024, GermanyBetween 1 and 2 June 2024, unknown perpetrators entered a church in Eisenach, Amt Creuzburg, and vandalised two wall paintings. The estimated damage amounts to approximately €1,000.
Multiple vandalism cases from St Gregory’s Church in Suffolk
June 1, 2024, United KingdomOn Saturday, June 1, vandals entered the church of St Gregory’s and smashed the lead-lined windows in multiple places from inside. According to the St Gregory’s parochial church council (PCC), this is not the first incident; last month, vandals broke down the door to gain unauthorized access to the porch.
Vandals urinate into the holy water fountain of Strasbourg church
May 31, 2024, FranceOn the morning of May 31, the priest of Saint-Maurice Church in Strasbourg observed that some people had urinated into the holy water fountain near the entrance. This is not the first incident in this church. There have been a series of thefts and other incivilites over several months.
Vandalism of Chapel in Tawern
May 31, 2024, GermanyOn May 31, unknown perpetrators knocked down two historical statues of saints and the Stations of the Cross in Margarethen Chapel Tawern causing severe damage. The head of the statue of Peter was broken and three reliefs of the Stations of the Cross were torn down from the wall.
Scotland: Most extreme buffer zone law passes first stage
May 30, 2024, United KingdomThe Scottish draft legislation on abortion "buffer zones", which was passed at first stage on April 30, has sparked a debate on the criminalisation of silent prayer in these zones. This bill proposes the creation of a zone extending to 200 meters around abortion clinics in which "influencing" someone in regard to abortion would be illegal. In a parliament debate MSP Jeremy Balfour asked if he would be criminalised for praying at a bus stop inside the zone. He tabled an amendment seeking to exclude silent prayer from the criminal actions within the zone. MSP Gillian Mackay who introduced the Bill responded to Mr Balfour by saying: "If nobody knows someone is praying, and nothing in their conduct is capable of having the effects on women or staff that this Bill seeks to prevent, then it is unlikely that any offence could be committed. If someone stands silently praying for a long time, deliberately looking at women accessing an abortion clinic, or for example with a sign, then they may be committing an offence."
Fire in Pagnano Church
May 30, 2024, ItalyOn May 30, a fire broke out in the church of San Giorgio in Pagnano. Fortunately, the damage is minimal, since the fire which had started from a wooden candle holder was immediately extinguished. While the cause of the fire is currently unknown the priest suspects that someone had deliberately started the fire, since the candle holder was only used to store unlit candles and it was empty. Also, no signs of melted wax were found.
Church in Faubourg-Bonnefoy severely vandalised
May 30, 2024, FranceOn 30th May, the Immaculate Conception church in Toulouse was heavily vandalised by unknown perpetrators. Several objects, boards and furniture were broken and overturned, causing severe damage. Although the altar is located in a protected area behind bars, it was also overturned and severely damaged. The head of the statue of Virgin Mary was covered with a blue cloth.
Man steals statue of Jesus from church
May 29, 2024, ItalyIn the early morning of May 29, in the Santissima Addolorata church in Taranto, a man was caught on camera, carrying a statue of Jesus on his shoulder, which he had taken from the church. The police were able to track down the perpetrator, a 28-year-old convicted felon. He had already been under house arrest, during which he had escaped to steal the statue.
Vandalism of altar in Siedliska
May 29, 2024, PolandOn May 29 at night, unknown perpetrators destroyed decorations on the altar prepared for the Corpus Christi procession in Siedliska. They also tore down decorative trees attached to the Christian community centre, and damaged the stairs of the building. Furthermore, the contents of two garbage bins were spilt next to the altar.
Historic organ in Mockau vandalised during break-in
May 29, 2024, GermanySometime between 26th and 29th May, Stephanus Church in Leipzig was vandalised by unknown perpetrators, after breaking-in a side door with multiple security locks. Several pipes from the 19th century organ were ripped off, also damaging the instrument, though some of them have now been found by the police. The fence was also damaged during the break-in.