All cases
Ukraine: Orthodox Priests Tortured By Russian Forces
July 16, 2022, UkraineDymytrij Rudyuk, the Lviv Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OKU), accused the Russian army and the Moscow Patriarch Cyril of being responsible for torturing Ukrainian Orthodox priests. In an interview, he claimed that "the majority of OKU priests had to flee the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. Those who stayed are often tortured. Five Orthodox priests were shot and a priest-monk was cruelly tortured to death".
Evangelical Church Signs Targeted By Vandals
July 16, 2022, GermanyThe Protestant Gethsemane Church in Berlin-Prenzlauer-Berg was vandalised (again) by unknown perpetrators. The police announced on Thursday that unknown persons graffitied the display case at the church in Stargarder Straße in the night from 15 to 16 July and damaged several posters on various political topics. The police is looking for witnesses for the investigation. In the past, the church has repeatedly been the target of attacks in which, among other things, posters with political content were destroyed.
Two Men Detained For Stealing Sacred Objects from Chapel
July 15, 2022, PolandOn July 15, two men, aged 28 and 29, suspected of having broken into a chapel in the Brody commune were detained by the police. In addition to the break-in, they stole liturgical objects worth nearly 500 euros, which the police were able to recover.
Swedish Church Vandalized With Swastikas and Penises
July 15, 2022, SwedenDuring the night between July 15 and 16, unknown perpetrators vandalized Rydboholm's church in Borås with swastikas, penises, and the word 'Hitler'. The security company was the first to notice the graffiti on the church's facade. When Pastor Sven-Erik Olsson arrived at the church, he noticed how much worse the case actually was: "There is graffiti on windows, on doors, flower pots and even on the stone stairs in front of the gate. It's outrageous, it's the whole community's church". The police were alerted and are looking into the case.
Three Men Vandalize Church and Heavily Beat up Passing Witness
July 15, 2022, ItalyOn the 15. July during the night, a 60-year-old restaurant chef witnessed how 3 men were vandalizing the St. Augustine Church in the centre of Cagliari and reprimanded the perpetrators to stop throwing bottles at the church. The three men then attacked him, beating him up and spraying pepper spray on him. The victim was taken to the hospital, he had three broken ribs and a chest injury. The police identified one of the perpetrators through the victim`s testimony and surveillance cameras.
Perpetrators Break Into Church in Seguro Damaging Doors
July 14, 2022, ItalyOn the 14th of July, unknown perpetrators broke into the parish of Seguro. Apparently, the burglars did not steal anything but they damaged the entrance door structures by breaking in.
Lithuanian Orthodox Clergy Asks The State To Stop Interfering In Church Affairs
July 13, 2022, LithuaniaFollowing the Russian occupation of Ukraine, a group of the clergy of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church started to work to introduce the Patriarchate of Constantinople into the country. The Lithuanian Orthodox Church is recognized as having canonical jurisdiction in Lithuania, which has caused animosity towards Orthodox Christians. Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and other Lithuanian authorities openly supported this initiative to move the jurisdiction to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. In response to this, the Lithuanian Orthodox clergy and faithful appealed to President Gitanas Nausėda to stop meddling in Church matters.
Several Burglaries of Sacred Objects and Damage in Several Churches
July 12, 2022, GermanySince the end of June, there have been three similar burglaries targeting valuables from churches and chapels, in the Main-Rhön region. In the three cases, the perpetrators broke into the buildings and, according to the police, stole "whatever was possible". They took valuables such as gold-plated candlesticks, host bowls, and cash from the offering boxes. Additionally, and overall, the thieves caused property damage amounting to 2100 euros. Due to the similarities between the cases, the police believe the crimes are related.
Consecrated Hosts and Sacred Objects Stolen From Church of San Giorgio
July 11, 2022, ItalyThe priest of the church of San Giorgio, Don William Maggioni, discovered on the morning of the 11. July that two pyxes, containing hosts inside, were missing from the tabernacle behind the altar. The burglars also forced the tabernacle of the altar of the Madonna open, which was found empty. In addition, the golden crown of St. Valentine was robbed as well. Don William alerted the police who started an investigation to find the perpetrators.
Windows of Karthaus Monastery Smashed
July 11, 2022, GermanyBetween July 9 and 10, unknown vandals broke and damaged several windows at the Karthaus monastery. It is suspected that minors threw balls and gravel at the windows, breaking them as a result. The case was reported to the police who are looking for witnesses to identify the perpetrators. The police stated that this kind of damage caused to church buildings is "no trivial offence", and called on parents from the area to talk to their children about it. Since this is not the first vandalistic attack against a church in the vicinity, the police added that they will be more present and vigilant in the area.
Burglary and Break-In into Church
July 11, 2022, GermanyOn July 11, unknown burglars broke into a church on Meislahnstrasse. After entering the building they broke a room's door and searched it, however it is not yet clear if they stole anything. The police were alerted and are investigating the case.
Free Evangelical Churches Appeal Against Ban On Baptisms In Public Beaches
July 11, 2022, SwitzerlandTwo free evangelical churches have appealed to the Geneva Court due to the denial of their requests to perform baptisms on public beaches. On July 8, the Swiss canton of Geneva banned baptisms organized by evangelical churches in Lake Geneva, but the same baptisms are allowed in Vaud, an area that covers the northern shore of the Lake. The Swiss Evangelical Alliance wrote in a media release that they were shocked that Geneva, the human rights capital, would take such a "restrictive and exclusionary approach to religious freedom".
Vandals Destroy Organ, Vandalize and Rob Pilgrimage Church
July 10, 2022, GermanyBetween the 9. and 10. July, unknown vandals broke into the pilgrimage church "Maria Hilf", in the city of Batzhausen, and stole 30 organ pipes and 16 gold-plated candlesticks. According to the police, the damage caused by the burglary amounts to 24,000 euros. Unfortunately, they did not stop here and caused even greater property damages: they broke the church doors open and ripped out the organ pipes, causing damage that adds up to 40,000 euros. It seems like the organ was in fact destroyed, it is unclear if it is possible to repair it or not.
Window Smashed by Vandals in St. Stephen's Church
July 10, 2022, GermanyOn July 10, unknown people smashed the window pane of St. Stephen's Church. Traces of blood were found at the scene meaning the perpetrators injured themselves by breaking the window. The motive is not clear since nothing was missing from the church. The case was reported to the police who launched an investigation.
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.