All cases
Vandalism in Münster church leads to restricted opening hours
July 10, 2025, GermanyAs reported on 10 July, St. Bonifatius Church in Münster will remain closed outside of services due to a series of troubling acts of vandalism. According to the local pastor, Dr Heike Köhler, the building has repeatedly been defiled with faeces and littered with broken beer bottles. There have also been incidents of arson. Most recently, photographs of baptism candidates were deliberately set on fire.
Incitement to burn churches and priests
July 9, 2025, ItalyOn the morning of 9 July, graffiti inciting violence against churches and priests was discovered on a house next to the Basilica of San Domenico in Perugia. The slogan read: "Churches should be burned down, but with the priests inside; otherwise it's not enough". An anarchist and transgender symbol was placed next to the quote.
Vandalism in Velen church
July 8, 2025, GermanyRepeated acts of vandalism at St. Andrew's Church in Velen, in the Borken district. The church has been left in a state of disarray, with overturned candles and firecrackers set off next to the high altar. The most recent example: The icon of 'Our Lady of Perpetual Help' was sprayed with wax, and the damage is estimated to be in the mid-three-digit range.
Arson at the pilgrimage chapel in Friedberg
July 8, 2025, GermanyUnknown individuals deliberately set multiple small fires inside the Maria Alber chapel in Friedberg-West. On the evening of 8 July, several pieces of partially burned paper, including church leaflets, newspapers and torn pages from the chapel's prayer book, were found under pews and near the candle stands. Parish officials have reported growing unease among community members, as this is not the first arson attack in recent weeks.
Hostilities erupt outside church in Langenau
July 7, 2025, GermanyViolence by pro-Palestine demonstrators against the congregation of St Martin's Protestant Church in Langenau, in the Alb-Donau district, has escalated. During an unannounced gathering outside the church, two protesters reportedly became physically violent and verbally abusive. Due to the repeated demonstrations becoming increasingly violent, many parishioners have stopped attending services out of fear.
Vandals Wreck Church Hall
July 7, 2025, United KingdomA Church Hall in Northern Ireland was left in ruins after a nighttime break-in. Windows were smashed, religious texts thrown out, and food smeared across the interior—prompting community outrage and a police investigation.
Knife-Wielding Man Threatens Worshippers in Rennes Chapel
July 6, 2025, FranceA man armed with a knife threatened worshippers inside a chapel in Rennes, disrupting those present during a religious gathering. The individual was restrained by attendees and later arrested.
Altar of church in Lido vandalised
July 6, 2025, ItalyUnknown individuals entered the church of Tarquinia Lido, Maria Santissima Stella del mare, and overturned and damaged all the objects on the altar. According to reports, the vandals entered through a window at the back of the church and then targeted the side chapel where the consecrated hosts are kept.
Arson attack in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Helpers Stop Arsonist
July 6, 2025, GermanyOn the afternoon of Saturday, June 29, 2025, a 28-year-old man allegedly set fire to several altars in the Catholic parish church of St. Martin in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. According to police, the man intentionally ignited altar cloths using a lighter and caused damage estimated in the high four-figure range. Two church visitors extinguished the flames before the fire department arrived and overpowered the suspect, who has been temporarily placed in a psychiatric clinic by court order.
Attempted Arson at Sierck‑les‑Bains Chapel
July 6, 2025, FranceTwo adolescents attempted to set fire to the Marienfloss Chapel in Sierck-les-Bains. Thankfully the fire did not spread and caused only minor damages.
Salsasio church closes to public due to repeated vandalism
July 3, 2025, ItalyFollowing repeated acts of vandalism and harassment of the faithful, the parish of Salsasio has decided to close the church on Via Novara to the public, keeping it open only for religious services. Parish leaders denounced the incidents as showing “contempt for a sacred place and for Christianity,” and expressed serious concern for the safety of the church and its sacred objects.
Arsonists Ignite Five Fires in Lavesum’s Antonius Church
July 2, 2025, GermanyOn Friday, July 2, 2025, unknown individuals set multiple fires inside the Antonius Church in Lavesum, causing significant damage. Among the destroyed items was the canopy (baldachin) above the altar, and church officials suspect arson.
Sacristan struck down with cross
June 30, 2025, GermanyOn June 30, a man attacked the sacristan of the Catholic St. Nikolaus parish in Rodgau, using a crucifix as a weapon. The attacker, who is born in Syria and holds Lebanese and German citizenship, initially confronted the church worker after being approached about loud music coming from his parked car. He kicked the sacristy door, punched the sacristan, and then tore a 1.6-meter crucifix from the wall, striking the victim so forcefully that it broke. According to reports, he then tried to use the broken pieces of the figure of Jesus as a stabbing weapon and shouted to a passerby, “Help me kill him.”
Crucifix set alight and 40 headstones smashed
June 29, 2025, United KingdomA large wooden crucifix was set on fire and around 40 headstones were smashed in a serious act of vandalism at St Conval’s Cemetery in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, Scotland, in the early hours of Sunday, June 29, 2025. The Catholic community has expressed deep sorrow over the attack, which Bishop John Keenan described as “destructive violence.” A 39-year-old man has since been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
Salerno Church doors smeared with excrements
June 28, 2025, ItalyOn the morning of June 28, 2025, vandals defaced the Church of Sant’Anna al Porto in Salerno by smearing feces on both the main entrance and sacristy doors. This marked the second consecutive day of such an attack, discovered by Monsignor Claudio Raimondi and several parishioners.
Police investigate Arson at Northampton Church
June 27, 2025, United KingdomOn the evening of June 27, 2025, a fire broke out at St Mary’s Church on Towcester Road in Northampton. Emergency services were called to the scene, and police are treating the incident as arson.
Confessional Destroyed in Arson Attack: Krefeld Church Closed for Months
June 27, 2025, GermanyA church in Krefeld was damaged after a confessional was set on fire. While the cause was initially unclear, the incident has since been confirmed as arson.
Vandal attacks parish staff when caught
June 27, 2025, GermanyOn June 27, a 26-year-old man vandalised the floor of a church in Traunreut with a felt-tip pen and punched a church representative in the face when confronted. The suspect fled the scene but was later temporarily arrested by local police
Church in Peine target of arson
June 25, 2025, GermanyOn the morning of 25 June, a Catholic parish church in Peine, Germany, was targeted in an attempted arson attack. The fire, likely started using accelerants, caused minor damage to the entrance door but was quickly extinguished by a church employee before it could spread.
Church in Orne desecrated
June 24, 2025, FranceThe tabernacle of the church in Mortagne-au-Perche (Orne) was desecrated on Tuesday, 24 June 2025. The religious building has been temporaily closed and will reopen on Saturday, 28 June for a Mass of Reparation.
Cross Vandalised on Mountain in Haute‑Savoie
June 21, 2025, FranceIn mid‑June 2025, only a few days after it was installed atop the Pointe du Sur Cou, a newly erected cross in Haute‑Savoie was defaced with a tag invoking France’s 1905 law on secularism. Antoine Valentin, mayor of Saint‑Jeoire, condemned the act as a calculated attempt to attack the Christian presence in France rather than a random act of vandalism.
Church Entrance Vandalised at Santissimo Salvatore Church in Noto
June 21, 2025, ItalyIn the early hours of June 20, 2025, unknown vandals damaged a historic Baroque stone column at the entrance of the Santissimo Salvatore Church in Noto, Sicily. The incident was quickly addressed, with authorities and church officials securing the area to prevent further harm. This act of vandalism follows earlier incidents at the same location, including graffiti and minor property damage.
British Catholic Hospices Face Closure Following Assisted Suicide Vote
June 20, 2025, United KingdomBritish Catholic hospices and care homes for the elderly face potential closure after the controversial Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was approved at Third Reading in the House of Commons on 20 June, passing by a narrow majority of just 23 votes. This bill, if enacted, would compel Catholic palliative care institutions that refuse to participate in assisted suicide on the basis of Christian teachings to either comply or face closure, raising deep concerns over the protection of institutional conscientious objection.
Arson Attack on Evangelical Street Preacher’s Trailer in Gütersloh
June 20, 2025, GermanyIn the pre-dawn hours of June 20, 2025, unknown assailants set fire to a vehicle trailer belonging to street preacher Henning Heinrich Westrup in Gütersloh, North Rhine‑Westphalia. The trailer, emblazoned with the message “Jesus saves”, suffered extensive damage to its protective tarpaulin and exterior in what authorities are investigating as a deliberate act of arson.
Liturgical Gospel Book Ripped Apart in St. Ulrich bei Steyr Church
June 19, 2025, AustriaBetween Monday 17 and Wednesday 19 June 2025, an unknown individual severely damaged a liturgical gospel at St Ulrich's parish church in Steyr, Austria. Parish staff found the Gospel, which had been left open on the side altar, completely vandalised — every single one of its 300 pages had been torn down the middle.
Man Threatens Guard at Cathédrale de La Major
June 19, 2025, FranceA man was arrested at La Major Cathedral in Marseille after allegedly trampling on graves while shouting “Allahu Akbar” and threatening the site’s security guard.
Church in Lingen Suffered Heavy Vandalism
June 18, 2025, GermanyOn the afternoon of Saturday, June 18, 2025, unidentified individuals broke into the Romanesque-Gothic St. Alexander Church in Lingen-Schepsdorf, leaving a trail of destruction. Several religious statues were vandalised—one completely destroyed, others defaced with melted wax—deeply shocking the local community, especially as this is not an isolated incident.
New Law on Religious Leadership Risks Criminalising Religious Practice
June 18, 2025, RomaniaIn June 2025, the Romanian Parliament adopted a legislative amendment to the country’s Law on Religious Communities, criminalising the “unauthorised exercise” of clerical or priestly functions. The new provision effectively grants the state and officially recognised religious denominations exclusive authority to determine who may lead religious communities. The amendment raises serious concerns regarding the protection of religious freedom.
Profanation of Church in Provins during Festival
June 14, 2025, FranceDuring the medieval festival Médiévales, held on 14–15 June 2025, the Collégiale Saint-Quiriace in Provins was desecrated. This Gothic collegiate church, which is a historic landmark in the Diocese of Meaux, was open to both pilgrims and festival exhibitors. However, several stalls displayed occult and neo-pagan items, including books on Satanism, inside the sacred space. Witnesses also reported seeing a shirtless man dressed as a satyr, wearing horns, parading through the nave, alongside erotic imagery placed among the church’s pillars. The local bishop denounced this violation of the church's spiritual dignity.
Witness Suspects Arson at Saint-Pierre Church in Pontlevoy
June 11, 2025, FranceOn the afternoon of June 11, 2025, a small fire broke out inside the Église Saint-Pierre in Pontlevoy, southwestern Loir-et-Cher, France. The blaze started on a curtain near the sacristy and produced heavy smoke that filled the church, though damage fortunately remained limited. A passing resident, who attempted to extinguish the flames, alerted the fire department—leading investigators to suspect the incident may have been deliberate.
Arson Attack at Market Drayton’s St Mary’s Church
June 9, 2025, United KingdomSt Mary’s Church in Market Drayton, Shropshire, was the target of a deliberate arson attack. Firefighters from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service were alerted on the morning of 9 June, arriving to find the large oak rear door of the church engulfed in flames. The fire was threatening to spread to nearby curtains and wooden roof timbers. Thanks to their swift emergency response, firefighters contained the fire before it could cause more extensive damage.
Vandals Cause Extensive Damage to Great Yarmouth Minster Windows
June 9, 2025, United KingdomAccording to a BBC article, published on June 9th, the historic Great Yarmouth Minster, the largest parish church in England, was targeted by vandals who hurled stones at its leaded windows, shattering dozens of diamond-shaped panes and severely damaging one large stained-glass window. The attack occurred in broad daylight, while church wardens were still cleaning up earlier damage. During the cleanup, another stone was thrown through a window, prompting staff to run outside and spot two teenage boys fleeing the scene.
Vandalism St. Anna Basilica in Altötting: Pentecost Service Relocated
June 8, 2025, GermanyOn the night before Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2025, a 19-year-old man vandalised the pilgrimage church of St. Anna in Altötting, damaging and soiling numerous sacred objects. Police estimate the resulting property damage to be in the mid-five-figure range. The violent incident disrupted morning Pentecost services.
Orthodox Chapel in Olbia Desecrated on Pentecost Sunday
June 7, 2025, ItalyOn the night of June 7th–8th, 2025, during Pentecost celebrations, the Orthodox chapel of Santa Croce in Olbia, Sardinia, was desecrated in a deeply disturbing attack. The door of the chapel, which is under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, was broken open, sacred objects were defiled, and an icon of Christ Pantocrator was destroyed. Parish priest Fr. Nikolay Volskyy described the incident as painful and explicitly anti-Christian, while Don Gianni Satta of the neighboring Catholic parish condemned the act as a cowardly offense against religious faith.
Repeated Vandalism and Desecration Target Church in Trento
June 7, 2025, ItalyA church in Trento was targeted in a fourth attempted break-in, amid a series of incidents involving vandalism and degrading behaviour affecting multiple nearby church sites.
Church in Sindelfingen Vandalised
June 7, 2025, GermanyA church situated on Liebenzeller Straße in Sindelfingen, Baden-Württemberg, was targeted in a spree of vandalism. The damage was discovered later that day, with police confirming that unknown individuals had overturned liturgical furnishings, breaking off several candle holders, removing floral arrangements, plant pots, shelving, and other church fixtures, and relocating them to the building’s entrance vestibule.
Germany: Anti-Christian Hate Crimes rise by 22%
June 6, 2025, GermanyThe German Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) recorded 337 politically motivated anti-Christian hate crimes for 2024, an increase of 21.66% from 277 crimes in 2023. This represents a continuation of the negative trend observed in the previous year, during which anti-Christian hate crimes increased by 100%.
Swastika Graffiti Defaces Church in Altmannstein
June 6, 2025, GermanyA church in Altmannstein was vandalised with a swastika, indicating an ideologically charged act targeting a place of worship.
Desecration of Crucifix in Rudy Raciborskie Forest
June 5, 2025, PolandA wooden roadside crucifix in Rudy Raciborskie, Poland, was deliberately vandalised in a shocking incident. The perpetrators sawed off the arms of the figure of Jesus, turned it upside down and draped rubbish over the desecrated image. Locals say this was timed to coincide with a significant celebration at the nearby sanctuary marking the 25th anniversary of the coronation of Our Lady of Pokorna. Residents described the incident as a deeply symbolic and intentional assault on their place of prayer.
Nocturnal Vandalism at Monthey Church: Confessional Left in “Appalling Condition”
June 5, 2025, SwitzerlandA church in Monthey was affected by repeated acts of nighttime vandalism, including misuse of liturgical objects and damage inside the building. The incidents prompted the parish to restrict access.
Vandalism Defaces Fresco in Baveno Church
June 4, 2025, ItalyAs reported on June 4th, the Church complex of Gervaso e Protaso in Baveno, on Lake Maggiore, saw intentional vandalism to one of its Via Crucis frescoes and the toppled external cross. The community reacted with sadness and concern, prompting calls for reflection and collective response.
Religious Statue Stolen from Church in Ashby de la Launde
June 2, 2025, United KingdomA church in Ashby de la Launde was targeted in a theft involving religious objects, including a statue of St Francis of Assisi. The incident has prompted concerns within the local community and led to increased security measures.
Vandalism at St. Michael's Church in Sonthofen
June 1, 2025, GermanyA church in Sonthofen was vandalised with graffiti accusing the institution of abuse. The wording of the message points to a defamatory and accusatory motive beyond material damage.
Spanish Evangelicals banned from using funeral chapels
May 31, 2025, SpainIn May 2025, the Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities of Spain (FEREDE) filed a formal complaint with the Spanish ombudsman, denouncing discrimination against the evangelical community in Spain, including a ban on using funeral chapels.
St. Anton's Church in Vienna Vandalised With Anti-Religious Slogans
May 31, 2025, AustriaThe Church of St. Anton of Padua in Vienna’s 10th district, Favoriten, was once again defaced with graffiti, marking the third such incident within a short period. This time, the perpetrators spray-painted a mix of meaningless phrases and clear slogans with religious connotations on the church walls.
Rushmoor Council Withdraws Proposed Ban on Christians Street Preachers
May 31, 2025, United KingdomIn March 2025, Rushmoor Borough Council applied for a court order that would have significantly restricted public expressions of Christian faith—including prayer, singing, and the distribution of religious literature. Following public backlash and engagement with local churches and legal representatives, the Council withdrew the proposed injunction.
Vandals Assault Parishioner And Destroy Church Window During Choir Practice
May 30, 2025, United KingdomOn 30 May, 2025, a choir member was physically assaulted and a historic stained-glass window was broken during an evening rehearsal at St. Mary the Virgin Church in West Derby, Liverpool. This attack deeply shook both the choir members and the wider parish and raises concerns about personal safety in this sacred space.
Swastika Carved Into Church Door
May 28, 2025, GermanyA church in Berlin was vandalised with Nazi symbols, including a swastika and SS runes. Authorities are investigating the incident as ideologically motivated act targeting a place of worship.
Catholic Building Defaced With anti-Catholic Slogan
May 28, 2025, SpainA Mairena del Aljarafe association of Catholic faithful was targeted in a vandalism incident when the exterior of its premises was defaced with the anti‑Catholic slogan "The most beautiful church is the one that burns the most."".
Altar Destroyed in Vandalism Attack on Shrine in Atri
May 26, 2025, ItalyThe Sanctuary of Santa Rita shrine in Atri was vandalised, with the altar overturned and liturgical objects damaged, leaving the faithful and the entire religious community dismayed.