All cases
Window Smashed in St. Michael's Church
July 10, 2022, GermanyBetween the morning of July 9 and the morning of the 10th, unknown people broke the ground-level window of St. Michael's Church, causing material damage that amounts to 300 euros. It appears that the frame was kicked with a foot which caused the pane to break. The police was alerted and are now looking for witnesses who might have information on the case.
Church's Entrance Door and Façade Sprayed with Graffiti
July 10, 2022, GermanyOn the 10th of July, unknown vandals sprayed the entrance door and a wooden shed of a church with two white paint graffiti inscriptions. The property damage caused has not been assessed yet but the police have been alerted and are looking into the case.
Church Facade Smeared With Hateful Symbols and Writings
July 10, 2022, GermanyDuring the night of July 10, unknown vandals damaged the facade of the evangelical church in Moers with hateful red tags. The sexton could not make sense of the writings left by the vandals. He believes this act was meant to target the church, although he was "not sure if the perpetrators even knew that this is a Protestant church". The writings included the words "Pontifex" and "F*ck Masonry", among others. The case was reported to the police who handed the investigation over to State Security, due to the possibility of the attack having a political background.
Serbian Orthodox Cemetery Desecrated in Mostar
July 10, 2022, Bosnia and HerzegovinaDuring the night of July 10, an Orthodox cemetery was desecrated in the Bosnian city of Mostar. Writings on the walls of the cemetery contained threats against Serbs, leading them to report fearing for their safety. This attack was reported to the police and to the Ministry of Internal Affairs by Archpriest Nebojša Radić.
Serbian Cemetery in Mostar Tagged with Hateful Graffiti
July 10, 2022, Bosnia and HerzegovinaDuring the night of 9-10 August, unknown perpetrators vandalised the walls of the Serbian cemetery in Vikhovitchi, Mostar, and wrote on them Ustasha symbols and threats in Croatian against Serbs.
A Church Window in Vöhringen was Vandalised
July 9, 2022, GermanyBetween the 9th and 10th of July an individual kicked out a window of the church in Vöhringen, causing €300 of damage. An appeal for witnesses has been launched.
Church in Innsbruck Vandalized by Two Teenage Girls
July 8, 2022, AustriaOn the 8th of July, two young girls, aged between 12 and 15, vandalized a church located on Innsbruck's Spingeser Strasse. According to the police report, the two "destroyed bibles, candles, and sacrificial box candle jars". They further shattered flower pots, ripped seat cushions from the benches, and threw a statue from a pedestal. The total amount of the damages caused has not been accessed yet, but the case was reported to the police who started an investigation.
Parish Break-In Attempt Causes Damage to Door
July 8, 2022, GermanyOn July 8, an unknown burglar tried to break into the Grafenau parish church. A sacristan found this out when he attempted to lock the church door and was not able to because the lock had been damaged. According to the investigations, the burglar tried to pry open the door, eventually succeeding, but he left the scene without taking anything. The police are investigating to find the perpetrator.
Sacred Objects Stolen From Church in Fulda
July 8, 2022, GermanyOn July 8, unknown thieves broke into the Catholic Church of St. Joseph and searched the rooms inside the building. They stole several sacred objects, "including a crucifix, monstrance, and chalice", causing a still unknown amount of property damage. The case was reported to the police who opened an investigation to find the perpetrators.
Spain: First Fines For Praying Outside Abortion Clinics
July 7, 2022, SpainAfter the law that criminalizes pro-life activism outside abortion clinics entered into force, the first fines have been issued. One of the fined people was a woman that claims to have received a letter from the Government Delegation, stating that she was fined 600 euros for allegedly "organizing an illegal gathering". A young man also received a fine of 600 euros simply for praying the Rosary on his knees outside an abortion facility. The Christian Lawyers have promptly offered legal assistance to these people, claiming they intend to fight these accusations in court and have no intention of paying the fines.
Radical Left Group Attacks Procession of San Fermín
July 7, 2022, SpainOn July 7, during the procession of San Fermín in Pamplona, a group linked to the nationalist radical left, carrying slogans such as "hypocrites out" and "you will go to hell", attacked the procession that was already returning to church. They mainly targeted the politicians, spitting, booing, and using physical violence against the mayor and his entourage. Moreover, the attack also exhibited a Christianophobic character.
Attempted Arson on Church in Montchanin
July 7, 2022, FranceIt was a passer-by who saw the smoke coming out of the church. An attempted arson attack on the church in Montchanin, was foiled on 7 July. An investigation has been opened. "The Creusot fire brigade was called to the church in Montchanin late on Thursday morning. The fire had been set in a bookcase. The fire was quickly stopped and fortunately did not spread. The first investigations of the gendarmes assumes that another fire had been set, namely in a flowerpot".
1000 Theft of Electronic Devices From Church
July 6, 2022, GermanyBetween July 3 and 6, a church located on Landauer Strasse was broken into by unknown thieves. They entered a meeting room and stole electronic devices, causing damages estimated at 1000 euros. The police were alerted and are looking for clues and witnesses to find the perpetrators.
Plants in Churchyard Damaged by Vandals
July 6, 2022, ItalyOn the 6th of July, the parishioners of the Consolation church noticed the damage caused to some plants in the churchyard and Don Santo Salamone reported the case to a newspaper. Unknown people damaged a small green area that has been under the care of citizens, members of the brotherhood, and the Lycopean parish.
Candle Cylinder Stolen From Church
July 6, 2022, GermanyOn the 6th of July, when an employee from the church was on his way to lock the building, he noticed that a candle cylinder and its contents from a brass stand were missing from the Basilica of St. Martin. Using the surveillance system he determined that a theft had taken place, but the identity of the perpetrators is still unknown. The case was reported to the police.
Vandals Pour Sugar From Food Donations Into Holy Water
July 5, 2022, GermanyBetween the evening of July 4 and the morning of July 5, unknown vandals poured a kilo of sugar into the Holy Water font of the Church of St. Joseph. The sugar was taken from the pantry with food donations in Lindlar - the baskets had been put up in the Church for a while so donators can place the food there. This has not been the first distasteful prank taking place in the Church of St. Joseph in recent months. Heinz Otto Höher says, even though nothing was stolen "we want to know who is behind it", now considering installing a surveillance system in the church, to avoid the recurrence of similar cases. Nonetheless, a good thing came out of this bad situation: "After it became known in Kirchdorf, we received numerous food donations that more than compensate for the loss of sugar".
Polish Graves in Belarus Profanated by Belarusian Authorities
July 5, 2022, BelarusThe headquarters of the Home Army Polish soldiers who died in 1944 was destroyed by Belarusian authorities. None of the 22 crosses that stood on the memorial remain standing. Nasz Dziennik, the government plenipotentiary for Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad, considered this vandalistic act a provocation to escalate the relations between Poland and Belarus, fearing that this might only be a "prelude to further disgusting acts of provocation". He added that the Belarusian regime means to distance itself from the family of European Christian States, but that the desecration of the graves and destruction of the memorial site will be received with equal indignation both by Poles in Belarus and by Belarusians.
Destruction of Another Roadside Shrine in Sowina
July 5, 2022, PolandOn the night of July 5-6, unknown perpetrators destroyed a roadside shrine located in the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sowina. In the roadside chapel of Przymiarki, the glass of the enclosure in which the statue of the Virgin Mary is placed was broken. Flower pots were also knocked over.
Wipperfürth: Church Vandalised Several Times within Three Months
July 5, 2022, GermanyDuring the night of 4-5 July, a kilo of sugar "taken" from the donations of the faithful to the solidarity grocery shop of St. Joseph's in Wipperfürth, was emptied into one of the church's holy water fonts. Parish members report that this is (at least) the third case of vandalism in a few months, the Easter candle and the church's sound system having been damaged in the past.
News: New EU Commissioner for Religious Freedom Appointed
July 4, 2022, BelgiumThe Italian Mario Mauro was appointed the new EU Commissioner for Religious Freedom after the position was vacant for 9 months, ever since the previous Commissioner, Stylianides, resigned. Before Stylianide's appointment, the post was vacant for 10 months, which indicates that it is not a priority for the European Commission. It only attempted to fill the vacancy after some politicians, and other figures pressed the issue.
Pitsmore Christ Church in Burngreave Fell Victim to Suspected Arson, No Services Available
July 4, 2022, United KingdomPitsmore Christ Church in Burngreave, a district of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, is no longer able to hold services after being damaged in a fire on the night of 3 to 4 July. The authorities and the parish consider the fire to be arson. An investigation has been launched.
Theft of Hosts and Sacred Object from Church in Baigts-de-Béarn
July 3, 2022, FranceThe parish of Baigts-de-Béarn reports the theft of hosts and a monstrance offered by the Empress Eugénie during the reign of Napoleon III (1851-1870) from the parish during a burglary on the night of 2 to 3 July. The door of the sacristy was broken open and "88 hosts in two boxes" were stolen, among other sacred objects. It is important to not that the Hosts are the most holy for Catholics because they embody the real presence of Christ. They are often stolen by Satanists to perform satanic rituals.
Security fencing shall stop church vandals
July 1, 2022, United KingdomDue to repeated vandalism and criminal damage the local council has been forced to install fencing and warning signs around All Saints Church in Ridgmont, Bedfordshire. Furthermore, the area around the church is now patrolled by the police.
Historic Crown Stolen From German Church
June 30, 2022, GermanyUnknown thieves stole a historic 17th-century crown from a church in Weikersheim. According to the information provided by the police, the thieves also stole two cable drums from the church. The total amount of the valuables stolen is in the five-digit range. It was the 3rd reported theft at the church only in the month of June and the police "are examining a connection between the crimes". In the previous thefts, the unknown perpetrators stole construction equipment and building materials.
2,000 Euros of Property Damage in St. Pantaleon Church
June 29, 2022, GermanyOn the 29th of June, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., unknown people entered the church of St. Pantaleon in Walpertshofen and vandalized it. First, they damaged the entrance door of the church and inside tore a tile out of the wall. Then, they ripped out the pages from the hymn and prayer books and scattered them through the church. The vandals continued to damage the church by lighting candles and spreading the wax on the floor and on the pews, in addition to knocking over chairs and flowers. They fled the scene leaving significant property damage behind, which is estimated to amount to 2,000 euros. The case was reported to the police who started an investigation to find the perpetrators.
Ancient Christian Cemetery Desecrated, Human Remains Scattered
June 29, 2022, TurkeyOn June 29, an ancient Christian cemetery was found desecrated by local Christians. The graves were damaged, human remains were found scattered, and funerary objects were discovered tarnished across the cemetery complex. It is believed that the perpetrators acted with a bad intention, considering that June 29 is a day dedicated to "the liturgical memory of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, to whom the cemetery chapel was dedicated upon its construction in 1967". The fact that this location was targeted specifically at this time appears to be with the aim of maximizing the impact on local Christians. The vandalistic case was reported to the police and the local Christians hope that they find the vandals and bring them to justice.
Calls For Buffer Zone at Abortion Clinic in Bournemouth
June 28, 2022, United KingdomThe abortion clinic in Bournemouth has been calling for a buffer zone around the facility, due to the daily vigils outside the clinic that have been taking place over the years, in order to prevent pro-life protesters from approaching the women going to the clinic, as well as the staff that works there. Rachel Clarke, from the mentioned clinic, said "[Bournemouth] is one of the worst-hit clinics in the country". A buffer zone could undermine the freedom of assembly and freedom of speech of pro-life activists.
Catholic Church in Leubsdorf Sprayed with Graffiti
June 28, 2022, GermanyAccording to the Leubsdorf police, between June 23 and 28, unknown vandals daubed and sprayed the catholic church building with black paint graffiti and by smearing it with rowan berries. The police were alerted and are looking for witnesses to help them identify the perpetrators.
Attempted Arson in the Cathedral of Malaga
June 28, 2022, SpainOn the night of the 28th of June, an unknown person attempted to set a fire in the Cathedral of Malaga, by placing flammable liquid in the corners of the old wooden door. Fortunately, it did not produce the outcome desired and did not cause any significant damages thanks to the rapid action of young people who called the emergency services. The only visible damages were on the door jambs, "in which the stone and wood have been blackened". The police opened an investigation and started analyzing the surveillance cameras to find the perpetrator.
Spain: "Trans Law" Approved, Restricts Parental Rights and Free Speech
June 27, 2022, SpainOn the 27th of June, the Spanish Cabinet approved the so-called 'trans law', despite controversy. Now it goes to the Spanish Parliament "where an intense debate is expected". According to the government, the purpose of this law is "to advance in the depathologisation of transsexuality and gender self-determination". The law has been criticized, as it criminalizes content that questions the trans ideology, including anything that might be understood as "conversion therapy", and it undermines parental rights.
Religious Objects Looted from Church of Caniac-du-Causse
June 26, 2022, FranceBetween June 20 and 26, the Reliquary of St. Namphaise was stolen from the church of Caniac-du-Causse, along with several other valuable objects, such as the ciborium containing the consecrated hosts. Father Michel Cambon, Chancellor of the Diocese of Cahors, was the one who noticed the theft and alerted the police, who started investigating. It is the 14th church of the vicinity reported looted, in only a few months.
Anti-Christian Tags on Church, Statue of the Virgin and War Memorial
June 26, 2022, FranceUnknown vandals tagged the walls of the church of Saint-Martin-duTouch, the statue of the Virgin, and the war memorial with insulting writings. On the wall of the bell tower, they wrote "fuck Jesus", and on the Statue of the Virgin obscene writings and signatures were found. Jean-Jacques Bolzan, the neighborhood mayor and deputy mayor of Toulouse said this was a severe attack and commented: "with our CCTV cameras, I hope we can identify the authors of these tags. Of course, we will not stop there".
Man Sets Fire to Church to Prevent His Wife From Making Donations
June 26, 2022, RussiaIn the city of St. Petersburg, on June 26, a man decided to set a fire to the Church of Saint Basil the Great, after having an argument with his wife about the amount of money she donated to this congregation. According to a Russian newspaper "He always worked, they have four children and his wife works in the church. Everything he earned, she took to the temple. That's why they had a conflict".
Evangelical Christian Preacher, Hatun Tash, arrested again at Speakers’ Corner
June 26, 2022, United KingdomThe evangelical Christian preacher and member of the Free Speech Union, Hatun Tash, was arrested on the 26th of June, at Speakers’ Corner. It was her third arrest in two years. Apparently, she was dragged by a group of police officers, who took her to the police station, "strip-searched, interviewed, kept overnight in a cell and then released without charge". She was released the next day, interestingly, on the 150th anniversary of Speakers’ Corner.
Unknown Perpetrator Destroyed a Shrine in Gogołów
June 26, 2022, PolandOn June 26th, an unknown perpetrator destroyed the chapel of Jesus Crucified in Gogołów. The perpetrator smashed the statue of Christ hanging on the cross and destroyed the fence of the shrine.
Priest's Car and House Vandalised
June 26, 2022, FranceThe French Observatory reported that individuals kicked in the bottom of the door of a priest's house. The priest, Abbé Guépin, who lives in the rue d'Allonville, also recalled that on the night of 23 to 24 June, his car was also attacked. The perpetrators broke into the car and stole two bags, one of which contained objects to celebrate a baptism and communion.
Man Arrested for Repeatedly Smashing Stained Glass Windows of Churches in Leipzig Area
June 24, 2022, GermanyA 38-year-old man was arrested in early July after he was linked to the destruction of stained glass windows in an evangelical church in Stötteritz, Leipzig on 24 June - two windows were smashed with cobble stones causing 15,000 euros worth of damage. The police are trying to link him to two other stained-glass windows destroyed in two Leipzig churches, one of which was St Thomas.
Wooden Cross Set on Fire in Riccall Church
June 24, 2022, United KingdomAn arson attack took place at the St. Mary's Church in Riccall on Friday 24. June. A wooden cross that was attached to the front entrance of the church was set on fire and destroyed. Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime, as the religious symbol was directly targeted.
Another Arson Against the St. Nikolai Church in Caldern
June 23, 2022, GermanyOn June 23, unidentified young vandals set fire to the altar bible at the St. Nikolai Church in Caldern. Because of the massive damage caused by the fire, the Church will remain temporarily closed. This is the second time that the church has been targeted by arson.
Update! Sweden: Liberal Party Wants To Ban the Establishment of New Religious Independent Schools
June 22, 2022, SwedenThe Liberal Swedish Party wants to completely ban denominational independent schools, within the framework of the Swedish school system. Previously, they intended to block the opening of new religious schools but now they claim that the existing ones should also be closed in the next term. The chairman of the Christian Free School Council, Jan Rosman, says this "would definitely be a violation of religious freedom".
Church Windows Smashed in Leipzig Once Again
June 22, 2022, GermanyBetween the evening of June 22 and the morning of the 23rd, unknown vandals threw paving stones at a total of three church windows in Leipzig. The total amount of damages is estimated to be around 300 euros. The case was reported to the police and a case was opened to investigate the vandalistic act.
Vandal Caught on Church's Surveillance Camera Damaging a Cross
June 22, 2022, PolandOn June 22, a surveillance camera of the church of St. Andrzej Bobola recorded a man entering the vestibule of the building, damaging the cross, and then leaving the church. The video was sent to the police, who published a picture of the unknown vandal. They opened an investigation to gather evidence and witnesses who might be able to identify the perpetrator.
Statue of Mary Ripped out and Stolen From German Church
June 21, 2022, GermanyThe police announced on the 21st of June, that a statue of the Virgin Mary was stolen from the Church of St. Wenzeslaus in Schönsee, by unknown burglars. The statue was apparently ripped out from its attachment to the wall. It is approximately 100 years old, with 75 centimeters, hand-carved, and worth around 5,000 euros. It is not yet known the exact date and time the crime occurred, but the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office is looking into the case in order to find the culprits.
Theft and Property Damage From Lutheran Church
June 21, 2022, GermanyBetween June 21 and 22, unknown thieves stole a video camera and a microphone from the Lutheran Church. The police were alerted and investigations indicate that the perpetrators allowed themselves to be locked inside the church and then forced open a door to exit the crime scene. The items stolen were worth around 200 euros and the property damage is estimated at around 2000 euros.
Attempted Theft in the Church of Santa Maria Monserrato
June 20, 2022, ItalyUnidentified thieves attempted to rob the church of Santa Maria Monserrato, in Palermo. In order to enter, they unhinged the iron gate, enabling their access to the church. However, for reasons still unknown, they gave up and abandoned the scene. The case was reported to the police and an investigation is underway.
Bronze Cross Torn Off and Stolen From Fulda Cathedral
June 19, 2022, GermanyAccording to the diocese of Fulda, on the 19th of June, a valuable bronze cross was stolen from the Bonifatius tomb, in the Fulda Cathedral. It appears that the cross was violently torn from its anchorage, which likely damaged it in the process. The theft was reported to the police, which opened an investigation to find the burglars.
Young Boys Caused Fires and Smoke Inside Church
June 18, 2022, GermanyOn June 18 and 23, two young boys were "playing" with fire in the evangelical church, located on Klosterbergstraße. Fortunately, they didn't cause any considerable damage. On the 18th, they entered the church, in the early evening and it is suspected that they filled the glass candle holders with disinfectant and then lit them on fire. The candle holders withstood the heat, so the fire faded. On June 23, the same young boys went to the church at the end of the afternoon, but on this occasion, they lit a fire under a wooden desk. This time the fire spread a bit, creating a considerable amount of smoke inside the church, but it apparently died on its own. According to preliminary estimates, the material damage caused amounted to several thousand euros. The police were alerted and are now looking for witnesses to identify the young boys.
Attack on Catholic Rectory in Dolice
June 18, 2022, PolandOn the night of 18/19. June, there was an attack on the rectory of the Roman Catholic parish of Christ the King in Dolice. The perpetrator destroyed the gates, entrance doors, thermal insulation and facades of the rectory building and garden infrastructure. Death threats were directed toward the priests, and attempts were also made to provoke a riot.
150 Graves desecrated and Crosses Stolen
June 18, 2022, FranceDuring the night of 17 to 18 of June, the cemetery of Velsy (Eure) was vandalized. Crosses and other objects were stolen from 150 graves, almost the half in the cemetery. The mayor of the village, Annie Lefèvre, and her first deputy Laurent Lucas were on the spot to see the extent of the damage. They have filed a complaint at the gendarmerie.
Church Altar and Organ Smeared With Artificial Snow
June 17, 2022, GermanyAt the end of June, in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bühren, unknown vandals spreaded artificial snow on the altar, the lectern, the wooden floorboards, and the organ. The parishioners were especially concerned about the organ since it dates back to 1824 and is a listed building. However, a specialist company has examined it and it seems like there is no permanent damage, it will be possible to remove the snow but it will be "at great expense". The guest book was also vandalized with right-wing extremist and unconstitutional symbols. The sheet was removed as the pastor claimed that "such signs have no place in our church". The police were alerted and informed about this vandalistic attack.