All cases
Armed Men Storm Church in Violent Manner
February 25, 2022, UkraineArmed men, dressed in military uniforms and balaclavas, broke into the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Mariupol during the administration of a baptism. They physically harmed an employee, a security guard, and the priest; and then took money from the church safe, stole food, and household items. They then concluded their rampage by fleeing in two of the clergies cars. Due to their state of shock, those who observed the act were unable to identify the criminals.
Montpellier Church Vandalised with Tags Inciting Violence
February 25, 2022, FranceThe parish of Sainte-Bernadette in Montpellier has been graffitied with threatening tags directed at the church and Father Benoît on 25. February. The phrases were mainly intifada and anarchist related and included "the only church that illuminates is the one that burns." Father Benoît was distressed by the act and planned to file a complaint.
Church in Niederndodeleber Vandalised
February 24, 2022, GermanyThe church of St. Peter and Paul in Niederndodeleber, Germany was vandalised on February 24. Pastor Martin Zander found "numerous destructions" and smears, reported the Volksstimme as well as paper scattered everywhere. The devastation reflected a lack of respect for religious spaces.
Vases at Alter in Thizy-les-Bourgs Broken
February 24, 2022, FranceSeveral vases at the alter of the Thizy-les-Bourgs church were broken on 24. February. It was not known who committed the act but an investigation was started.
Urn Broken in the Moux-en-Morvan Church
February 24, 2022, FranceAn urn, used for the exchange of payment for lighting candles, was broken in the Moux-en-Morvan church on February 21st. The contents of the urn were also stolen but it was not known who committed the sacrilegious act.
Napoli Church Defaced with Graffiti for the Second Time
February 23, 2022, ItalyAfter being restored for only a few days, the outer wall of the Angevin building at the Saint Marta church in Napoli was once again covered with graffiti. Writings offending the church from the first incident had been painted over but new inscriptions were there to replace them on February 23. The community has been very saddened by this vandalism of the historic church.
Church Tagged with Insults Against Priest
February 23, 2022, FranceDuring the night of February 23rd, unknown vandals spray-painted an insult on the side of a church in Curlu, France. The insult was directed towards the parish priest Sylvain Mansart, who commented: "At least I'm not alone in this problem. (...) We comfort each other". Priests in neighbouring churches have received similar abuse. The local police confirmed these claims and are investigating.
Religious Freedom severely restricted in Donbas region
February 23, 2022, UkraineThe organisation Forum 18 has been monitoring the human rights of Christians and other religious communities in the area of eastern Europe, and they recently published a survey on the situation in the Luhansk region in Ukraine. They state that freedom of religion is severely restricted in the rebel zone occupied by the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), which makes up a third of the Luhansk region. In this area, all Protestant and non-Moscow Patriarchate Orthodox communities are rendered illegal, there are repeated denials of permission to a Catholic priest to live in the region, Evangelical and Catholic literature is being banned and there is an overall fear about discussing these — among other — human rights violations.
16 to 18 Year Old Girls in Spain may no Longer Need Parental Consent to Abort
February 23, 2022, SpainIrene Montero, Spain's equality minister, has told Congress's Equality Commission that 16 to 18 year old girls should be allowed to access abortion without consulting their parents. This would allow for the daughter of Christian parents to complete an abortion without them knowing or being able to advise her on this life changing event. This change has no set date yet but will greatly affect the lives of minor girls if enacted.
Repeated Abuse and Vandalism to Church in Poinger
February 23, 2022, GermanyAnonymous donors of the Seliger parish church in Poinger, have offered a 1000 euro award for information about who has been committing the repeated acts of vandalism in the church. Someone smashed signs in the church and then tried to light them. Pages were also torn from the hymn books to be used as toilet paper. Pastor Philipp Werner said "I'm sad that a church is treated with such disrespect."
Religious Statue Removal to be Decided in French Court
February 22, 2022, FranceBack in 2020, a group called The National Federation for Free Thought requested that The statue of the Virgin Mary, in the village of La Flotte-en-Re France be removed. They claimed it was not in accordance with the separation of church and state. This case has now gone to court and will be decided on March 3rd. The statue was only targeted after it was hit by a car and was later rebuilt identically.
Satanist Tags on Notre-Dame de Coutances Cathedral
February 21, 2022, FranceSatanist inscriptions were found on the façade of the Notre-Dame de Coutances Cathedral on the 21st of February. They were painted in black and included the words "I'm back" with a star after it and the number 666, symbolizing the devil. A complaint has been lodged about this hateful attack.
Chapel Tagged with Anti-Christian Phrases in Les Lèches
February 21, 2022, FranceThe chapel of Tresséroux in Les Lèches was tagged with anarchist or radical feminist graffiti on the night of February 21st. Phrases such as: “Neither god nor master nor boss nor husband” and, “destroy the patriarchal and religious state," were written. The mayor was "appalled" by the act and asked for volunteers to help clean it up. This was the first time this chapel has been defiled and a complaint was filed with the police.
Easter Candle Stolen from Munich Church
February 20, 2022, GermanyAn Easter candle was stolen from the Apparition of the Lord Catholic church in Blumenau, Munich. The police were searching for the individual who was wearing an orange hooded sweatshirt and black vest, attire often worn by the Harley rider group. The thief caused 100 Euros of damage.
Man Shouts "Allah Akbar" During Church Service
February 20, 2022, FranceA man, who was Caucasian and possibly Chechen, entered the Saint - Gervais church in Avranches during the morning mass on February 20th. He walked around the building shouting "Allah Akbar" while play rap music with his phone. The authorities were notified and began searching for him.
Police Open Investigation into Theft of Silver Crown from Church
February 20, 2022, SpainThe silver crown from the Virgin of the Rosary of Glory was stolen from the Church of San Pablo in Cordoba. The National Police have opened an investigation to clarify the theft.
Property Damage and Theft in St. Gallen Church
February 20, 2022, SwitzerlandA church in St. Gallen was targeted by thieves who caused property damage to 1000 Swiss francs in the process of stealing a small amount of cash on the 20th of February. They forced their way through a window and once inside, searched rooms and broke open several containers. The case was recorded by the police.
Theft at Sacred Heart Church in Einswarden
February 19, 2022, GermanyIn a theft at the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, candlesticks and holy water holders were stolen by unknown perpetrators. Located in Einswarden, this church and the surrounding land have been bought by the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Consecrated Hosts and Candle Stolen from Church
February 18, 2022, ItalyAn unknown thief stole a pyx filled with consecrated hosts and a candle from the San Giovanni Battista in Careggi. Don Marco Fantappiè called the police and an inspection was carried out but few conclusions were made. This was not the first attack against this church and Marco Fantappiè was quite distressed at how little help he has received to prevent sacrilegious acts such as this.
Holy Water Font Defiled in Sedelsberg
February 18, 2022, GermanyChips and cigarettes were found in the holy water font at the St. Peter Canisius Church in Sedelsberg. The incident happened on February 18th and the unknown vandal showed complete irreverence for the place which is sacred to many.
Freedom of Conscience endangered by Belgium's Expansion of Euthanasia Law
February 17, 2022, BelgiumOn 17. February, Belgium's Constitutional Court in Brussels advanced amendments that made it illegal for health care institutions to withhold euthanasia on the grounds of faith. This has adversely affected Christian doctors whose faith does not permit this practice. Human Rights experts have expressed concerns over this challenge to freedom of religion and conscience.
TikTok Influencers Desecrate French Church on Viral Video
February 16, 2022, FranceTwo TikTok influencers, Benjamin Ledig and "Queen Paul", filmed themselves wearing a crop-top and twerking (dancing sexually) in front of a crucifix at the Parisian church of Saint Paul on February 16th. They later posted this video on social media where it received some 20 million views despite it being repeatedly removed. Ledig claims he did it to protest the "homophobia" of the church while "Queen Paul" apologized for his behaviour.
Anti - Christians Graffiti on Church in Velten
February 16, 2022, GermanyThe façade of a Protestant church in Velten, was defaced with large amounts of graffiti. Although most of it seemed to be contentless, some phrases read "Satan" or the "Devil is here," giving the act a definite anti - Christian bias. Pastor Reimers has reported the incident and several volunteers have offered to assist with the removal of the paint.
Thrown Rocks Broke Churches Stained Glass Windows Landéda
February 16, 2022, FranceThe rose stained glass windows of the Saint-Laurent de Tromenec chapel in Landéda were broken by vandals for the second time. Rocks were used to inflict the damage and the openings had to be covered with plexiglass until the glassmaker came. The police compiled a file of these incidents.
Crypt of Church in Flers Covered with Red Paint
February 15, 2022, FranceThe inside and outside of the Saint-Germain church crypt in Flers, was tagged with red paint and crosses were drawn on 15. February. This was done by an unknown perpetrator who also broke a window to get in, smashed a wheelchair, and knocked a cross to the ground. The sacrilegious crime has been reported and the police are investigating.
Arson at Entrance of Church in Wangen
February 15, 2022, GermanyThe wooden staircase in the Evangelical church in Wangen was set on fire by a stranger on February 2nd. It was thought that the arsonist used disinfectant to facilitate the fire but it was still relatively unsuccessful. Pastor Martin Sauer could only shake his head as the material damage, which was manageable, but the emotional damage was devastating. Police were investigating the crime.
Update: 18 Year Old Accused of Arson Attacks on Several Churches in Derby
February 14, 2022, United KingdomJohnny Brady, an 18 year old, has been accused of several acts of arson committed in 2020 to several churches and school buildings in Derby, England. The historic church of All Saints was damaged and some schools, including St Mary’s Catholic School, were burned entirely to the ground. He is due to appear in court on March 31.
Teenagers Try to Set fire to a Church
February 13, 2022, ItalyIn Pesaro, on the 13. February, two teenagers were caught on camera as they tried to cause a fire in the church of San Luigi Gonzaga. They spread hand sanitiser on the ground in front of the altar and then started a fire with a lighter. Luckily the fire went out after around 10 minutes. The parish priest left a sign on the door saying he forgives the boys who did it.
A Man Dismantles the Statue of the Madonna
February 13, 2022, ItalyA man dismantled the statue of the Madonna in Via di Ponte Galeria, Rome, on the 13. February. The residents who heard the noise alerted the police, who were able to arrest the man on the spot. The man threatened the police and tried to attack them, he was allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
Unknown Vandals Destroy Holy Water bottles in Laives Church
February 13, 2022, ItalyAbout 20 bottles of holy water, at the Laives parish church, were emptied and scattered around the churchyard on November 13th. These bottles were at the entrance of the nave for people to pick up and leave a donation. The perpetrators of the crime did not only destroy. the bottles, but they also showed complete disrespect for something of religious sentiment and then left a mess at the church property.
Extensive Fire Caused by Arson at Church in Glasgow
February 13, 2022, United KingdomThe Jackson Church of Scotland in Airdrie, a North Lanarkshire town near Glasgow, was deliberately set on fire on the morning of the 13. February. An investigation has been launched by the police, who are treating the fire as arson. According to the police, the fire was started around 3 am and the fire brigade was called around 4 am. The church building will remain closed and services have been suspended, as Kay Gilchrist, the church's reverend announced on the Twitter account of the church.
Statue Outside Church in Boitzenburg Vandalized
February 13, 2022, GermanyFor the 750th anniversary of the church in Boitzenburg, a woman, with her own money, had a wooden statue of a nun made for outside the church. The figure, which was 1.3 meters high, was found knocked over on February 2nd with its base broken. At first, the culprit was thought to be the recent storm but on further investigation, a white sticky substance was found on it which confirmed the act was done by vandals.
35 Graves Desecrated in the Ciempozuelos Cemetery in Madrid
February 13, 2022, SpainIn the beginning of February 2022, 35 graves were desecrated in the Ciempozuelos municipal cemetery. The perpetrators stole status of Christ, crucifixes and other metal and copper funerary elements that adorned the tombstones, while some of them were found broken and trampled.
Swedish Christian Teacher Fired Over Pronoun Dispute
February 11, 2022, SwedenA Swedish Christian teacher, Selma Gamaleldin, faced accusations of discrimination for refusing to address a student identifying as 'non-binary' with the gender-neutral pronoun 'hen', due to her personal belief.
Church in Königsbrunn Tagged by Unknown Vandals
February 10, 2022, GermanyUnknown perpetrators defaced the courtyard of the church "Maria Unterm Kreuz" in Königsbrunn with several tags on the 10. February. The incident was reported by the police at the weekend, they have estimated the damage caused by the graffiti at about 3,000 euros.
France: Report finds 38% Rise in Anti-Religious Violence
February 10, 2022, FranceInitial findings of a report were presented on the 10. February by French MPs Ludovic Mendes and Isabelle Florennes. They were ordered by the French Prime Minister Jean Castex to conduct a report on anti-religious attacks in France. The report found a 38% rise in anti-religious violence since 2019. Of the 1.659 anti-religious incidents in 2021, 857 were against Christians, which makes them the most targeted religion in France.
3 People Charged with Terrorist Attack Against Orthodox Church
February 10, 2022, GreeceTwo men and one women were charged with terrorism, endangering life, and damage to property after they threw a Molotov cocktail into the entrance of a Greek Orthodox church. They were expected to be part of a group called Organization Anarchist Action who have done similar attacks in the past. Thankfully this targeted attack caused little damage.
Crucifix and Commemorative Plaques Stolen from Grave in Gouvix
February 9, 2022, FranceFour commemorative plaques, a funeral medallion, and a crucifix were stolen from the La Fosse-à-Terre cemetery in Gouvix. It was the grave of a young man who's father, Georges Delannée, found the theft and was heartbroken. He said "this rekindles the pain of a father who lost a child who left too early, in the prime of life." The father has filed a complaint.
Repeated Vandalism on Eight Churches in Vicinity of Péronne
February 9, 2022, FranceEight village churches in the vicinity of Péronne were tagged in February and March 2022 - four of them on the night of 9-10 February alone - by an individual who appeared to be blaming the priest for personal reasons.The latter was finally identified and arrested, according to the local press.
Money Stolen and Organ Smashed in Church
February 8, 2022, United KingdomUnknown vandals broke into St. Mary's Church in Higham Ferres where they stole money from a large glass jar, scattered the prayer candles, and smashed the organ alter. A crowbar found in a hedge the next day was thought to be used for the ransacking. The act showed a complete disregard for the religious objects in the church.
Russian Church Painted with Z-Symbol
February 8, 2022, NetherlandsThe notice board and fence of the Saint Nikolaas of Myra Church in Amsterdam was painted several times with the pro - Russian symbol Z. The incident happened on March 8th and the service had to be cancelled due to security concerns. The Saint Nikolaas of Myra Church is Russian Orthodox but several nationalities including Ukrainians are part of the congregation. The church has raised funds for Ukrainian refugees but has remained neutral toward the war.
Unknown Vandals throw Stones at Church windows in Bernitt
February 8, 2022, GermanyStones were thrown at the church in Bernitt on February 8th. Windows on the house of worship were broken in what could only be called a vandalistic attack that caused over a thousand Euro damage. The police is investigating.
Sanctuary in Strassberg Ransacked
February 8, 2022, GermanyAs it was reported on the 8th of February, unknown perpetrators set a flower basket and several song paper sheets on fire and then spread the smouldering remains throughout the chancel of a church in Strassberg. The perpetrators also damaged the altar in the act. They caused around 100 euros worth of damage and then left with a large altar candle.
Unknown Vandals Overturn the Car of a Priest in Ibiza
February 7, 2022, SpainOn February 2nd, the car of priest Pedro Miguel López was overturned in a parking lot beside the church. It was the second time his car had been attacked, but this time, much more damage was done including seriously damaged bodywork. The police were notified of the crime.
Decapitated Sculpture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in San Fernando
February 6, 2022, SpainIn the early hours of February 6th an act of vandalism took place in the town of San Fernando Cádiz. The sculpture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, located in the square of the parish of Nuestra Señora de la Oliva, was decapitated. After the attack the sculpture had to be removed from its usual place. The parish, and some municipal political groups alerted the police and asked the authorities to arrest the offenders and compel them to pay for the damages caused.
Painting of a Church Defaced in Italy
February 5, 2022, ItalyA painting that was inside the church of Monterosso Calabro was defaced in the Vibonese area. The work had been donated to the parish by Professor Giuseppe Farina, a renowned artist, in memory of the baptism of his nephew and all the children of the community. The unknown perpetrator scribbled over the name of the nephew that was written on the painting around the 5th of February. The municipal administration, led by Mayor Antonio Giacomo Lampasi, strongly condemned the gesture.
Sacrilegious theft in church in Brescia: Pyx with consecrated hosts stolen
February 5, 2022, ItalyThe parish priest of Santa Maria Vittoria church in Brescia's Via Cremona reported that someone had stolen a pyx from the church tabernacle on 5 February. According to the priest, this grave incident was done by someone that knew how to move inside the church and where the tabernacle keys were saved.
New Control Mechanism for French Religious Associations to Access Subsidies
February 4, 2022, FranceA current tool has been implemented under the french anti-separatism law, which aims at reinforcing "respect of republican principles." This is the Republican Commitment Contract (CER), which was approved in 2020, and it needs to be signed by all associations, including religious ones, to have access to subsidies. While the National Council of Evangelicals (CNEF) and the Protestant Evangelical Committee for Human Dignity (CPDH) welcome the contract that seeks to uphold freedom of association and freedom of conscience, thought and religion, as well as the fight against violence, they are concerned about the practical application and interpretation of these measures by public authorities or administrations, as "some terms could be misinterpreted."
Church Door Damaged in Poland
February 4, 2022, PolandOn the night of 3 to 4 February in Bierutow, unknown perpetrators destroyed the door to the St Joseph the Spouse church in Bierutow. It is possible that the intention was to break into the church. The police are investigating who may be behind the act. The parish posted a picture of the damage on Facebook.
Theft and Vandalism in Ireland Church
February 4, 2022, IrelandOn February 4th, the police arrested a man who broke into the Sacred Heart Church in Limerick. He smashed the offering box and then stole the money that the faithful had put there as well as breaking some statues.