All cases
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.
Zagreb Reported for Religious Discrimination After Preventing Red Wednesday Commemoration
July 9, 2026, CroatiaOn 9 July 2026, the Croatian Protestant Conference reported the City of Zagreb to the Ombudswoman for religious discrimination after the authorities’ prolonged failure to decide on its request to commemorate persecuted Christians through a Red Wednesday projection on the Zagreb fountains. The city remained silent even after a national ministry ordered it to issue a decision within 15 days, forcing the organisers to cancel the event. A subsequent parking decision obstructing the entrance to the Conference’s office and a Protestant place of worship raised further concerns about the city’s treatment of the Christian organisation.
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.
Suspected arson at St. John the Baptist Church prompt surveillance
July 5, 2026, GermanyRepeated suspected arson incidents at St. John the Baptist Church in Ichenhausen, Germany, have prompted the installation of a surveillance camera in an effort to identify or deter the perpetrator. According to the parish priest, several small fires were deliberately started inside the church over a period of weeks, causing minor fire damage.
Police Intervention Against Christian Praying and Holing Bible at Brandenburg Gate
July 3, 2026, GermanyA video recorded at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate raises concerns about interference with the right to freely manifest one's religion after police officers told a Christian he could not pray at the site because it was "not a place for praying" and "not a church". Although the Christian was quietly reading from his Bible and praying without using amplification or engaging passers-by, officers treated his conduct as a demonstration because he was publicly holding a Bible. The incident raises questions about the understanding of religious freedom among law enforcement officers and the protection of peaceful religious expression in public spaces.
Saint-Pancrace Chapel targeted in act of vandalism and attempted arson
July 3, 2026, FranceOn 3 July, Saint-Pancrace Chapel in La Palme was targeted in an attempted arson attack accompanied by acts of vandalism. Although the fire did not spread to the historic chapel, the incident caused damage to the place of worship.
Consecrated hosts and sacred vessels stolen from Sacri Cuori Church in Fermo
July 1, 2026, ItalyA profanation was discovered at the Church of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Fermo. Sacred vessels were stolen, the tabernacle was profaned, and consecrated hosts were removed together with the pyx in which they were kept. The incident affected the local Catholic community and prompted the archbishop to call for acts of reparation and a Mass of reparation.
Catholic religion teacher in Belgium receives threats after conversion from Islam
June 30, 2026, BelgiumIn June 2026, Ahmed Yetrib, a Catholic religion teacher in the Charleroi region and convert from Islam to the Catholic faith, reported receiving threats on social media because of his online content sharing the reasons for his conversion. The report concerns alleged harassment which has caused concern for his personal safety, further highlighting the difficulties experienced by individuals converting from Islam to Christianity.
Vandalism and Attempted Arson inside St. Marien Church in Freudenberg
June 29, 2026, GermanyOn 29 June 2026, unknown perpetrators set fire to a wooden bench inside St. Marien Church in Freudenberg and and vandalised the church entrance. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
Tabernacle destroyed and consecrated hosts discarded at Sacré-Cœur Church in Geneva
June 29, 2026, SwitzerlandOn 29 June 2026, the tabernacle of Sacré-Cœur Church in Geneva was stolen and destroyed in an act of sacrilegious theft and desecration. The tabernacle contained consecrated hosts and liturgical vessels, the former of which were later found discarded in a nearby construction dumpster. The incident prompted the celebration of a Mass of reparation for the affected Catholic community.
Attempted Arson at the Church of Saint-Jean de Castelsarrasin
June 29, 2026, FranceOn the evening of 29 June, there was an arson attempt targeting the church of Saint-Jean de Castelsarrasin. The fire was discovered by a volunteer in a trash can inside the building. Thankfully, no material damage was caused. Police opened an investigation into the incident.
Suspected Arson at Former Convent in Downpatrick
June 28, 2026, United KingdomOn Sunday, 28 June, the listed Convent of Mercy adjacent to St. Patrick's Church in Downpatrick is believed to have been deliberately set on fire and was completely destroyed. The loss of the convent has been difficult for the local community after the destruction of a historical landmark.
Artists Burn Crosses During Polish Music Festival
June 28, 2026, PolandOn 27–28 June 2026, two wooden crosses were deliberately set on fire during a performance at a metal music festival in Chwałków. While organisers described the act as an artistic performance, it deeply shocked the local Christian community, which regarded it as a desecration of one of Christianity's central religious symbols. Christian representatives further expressed concern that insults against Christians and the desecration of Christian symbols have become increasingly commonplace and that Christian symbols are being singled out in artistic performances in ways that symbols of other religions generally are not.
Transfeminists attempt occupation of Compassionist Convent in Rome
June 27, 2026, ItalyPolice prevented a group of transfeminists from attempting to occupy the area of Sant'Ignazio di Antiochia Parish which houses the Compassionist nuns.
Parish priest faces aggression during break-in at his presbytery in Levie
June 27, 2026, FranceOn 27 June 2026, Fr Pierre Pio reported that three young men forced entry into the presbytery in Levie while he was present inside. The incident involved damage to the building and a direct confrontation with the priest, who described the event as an aggression. The case follows previous acts of vandalism affecting parish property and raised concerns about local safety of both clergy and the faithful.
Marseille Appeal Court Upholds Removal Order of Village Cross in Quasquara
June 26, 2026, FranceOn 26 June 2026, the Administrative Court of Appeal of Marseille upheld a ruling requiring the removal of a cross erected by the municipality of Quasquara in 2022. The court found that the cross, installed on municipal land, violated French secularism laws of 1905 governing the display of religious symbols on public property. The decision concerns a Christian monument that local authorities and residents had defended as part of the village's heritage and identity.
Draft Bill Raises Concerns about Church Governance and Parental Rights
June 25, 2026, United KingdomThe UK Government has proposed new criminal offences targeting so-called “conversion practices” in England and Wales, carrying sentences of up to five years’ imprisonment. Christian organisations have raised concerns about undefined references to “psychological or emotional pressure” and the absence of explicit exemptions for ordinary parenting, prayer, pastoral care and religious teaching.
Altar Cloth Burned Inside Val d'Oust Church
June 24, 2026, FranceIn early June 2026, unknown individuals entered a church in Le Roc-Saint-André, Val d'Oust, deliberately burning part of the altar cloth and several candles. The parish reported the incident to the authorities, and an investigation was opened.
Candles and Missal Set on Fire at Church in La Chapelle-Caro
June 24, 2026, FranceDuring the fourth week of June 2026, unknown perpetrators entered a church in La Chapelle-Caro, where they deliberately burned candles, broke others and set a missal on fire. The incident occurred only weeks after a similar act of vandalism at another church in the same municipality.
Young man arrested after destroying property in Friesoythe Church
June 22, 2026, GermanyIn what has been described as a destructive rage, a 25-year-old man damaged several objects in the St.-Marien-Kirche in Friesoythe the evening of June 22. He caused significant property damage, including damage to the church organ and religious art depicting the way of the cross.
Assault on Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park leaves preacher injured
June 21, 2026, United KingdomA Christian preacher has been assaulted in Hyde Park's famous Speaker's Corner over the weekend. The incident is the latest in a series of aggravations in the same location over the past few years targeting Christian preachers.
Desecration of cemetery and Catholic church near Rouen
June 20, 2026, FranceIn the municipality east of Rouen, Saint-Léger du Bourg-Denis, the Catholic church and cemetery were found desecrated on Saturday, June 20. This event is not the first in the region of Rouen, and follows a series of thefts, vandalism, and desecrations of Catholic churches in the area.
Public Cross in Villeneuve-Loubet taken down and stolen
June 19, 2026, FranceIn June, unknown perpetrators removed and stole a large cross erected on a hill overlooking Villeneuve-Loubet in southern France. The cross had been installed the previous month with the permission of the landowner. Members of the group responsible for its installation denounced the incident as theft and reported it to the authorities.
Christian Artist Reaches Settlement After Being Restricted from Her Own Exhibition
June 19, 2026, United KingdomOn 19 June 2026, a settlement was announced in Christian artist Victoria Culf’s case against Watford Borough Council. The dispute began after she expressed her beliefs about children and gender transition in a private conversation and was consequently restricted from entering her own exhibition. The council now says she will be welcome at the museum when it reopens and considered for future work.
Consecrated Hosts Stolen From Mugron Church
June 17, 2026, FranceThe Church of Saint-Laurent in Mugron was the victim of severe burglary including the desecration of consecrated hosts. This event is part of a broader pattern targeting Catholic churches in the Landes region of France.
Spanish Government's Latest Move Against the Valley of the Fallen Halted by Court
June 16, 2026, SpainA Madrid court has suspended drilling works linked to the government's controversial plans for the Valley of the Fallen, a Catholic monument built after the Spanish Civil War as a place of worship, remembrance and reconciliation, ruling that the intervention appears to have begun without the required permits.
Consecrated Hosts Stolen from Rome Hospital Chapel
June 16, 2026, ItalyA tabernacle containing consecrated Hosts was stolen from the chapel of Aurelia Hospital in Rome, in what the Diocese of Rome described as a sacrilegious act against the Eucharist. The thieves also took offerings from the chapel, prompting the Diocese to announce a Mass of reparation.