All cases
Thousands of Pounds of Damage to Church Windows in Kenilworth
September 18, 2018, United KingdomAn "identified suspect" damaged several windows with rocks at the St. Barnabas Church in Kenilworth on the 18th of September, causing thousands of pounds in damage.
Neuroscience Professor Investigated for Telling Students Men and Women are Biologically Different
September 17, 2018, SwedenGermund Hesslow, a neurophysiology professor at Lund University, is under investigation for "anti-feminism" and "transphobia" for telling his students there are biological differences between men and women.
Arson in Bavarian Church
September 16, 2018, GermanyEarly in the evening of September 16th, a witness noticed smoke coming from the St. Michael church in Heroldsbach and contacted the authorities. Police discovered burning scraps of paper and initial estimates amounted to at least 2,500 euros in damage. After a criminal investigation, officials concluded that the fire had been intentionally set and asked for assistance from any potential witnesses.
State Protection Office Investigates Graffiti on Parish Church
September 16, 2018, GermanyIn September 2018, in the night before the festivities of St. Hildegard, the slogans “F*ck the Pope” and “Deutschland den Muslimen” (“Germany to the Muslims”) were sprayed on the Parish Church in Eibingen, a district of Rüdesheim. Police and the State Protection Office are now investigating and believe the perpetrators to be German citizens.
Fires Set in Kobern Church
September 16, 2018, GermanyThe sacristan of St. Lubentius in Kobern discovered that several small fires had been intentionally set in the church. She observed that the altar cloth had been burned at the altar of the Virgin Mary, damaging both the cloth and the altar. A second altar and cloth, as well as the bible on the lectern, were similarly burned.
Perpetrator Confesses to Arson of Evangelical Church
September 15, 2018, AustriaA 58 year old man confessed to setting a fire that heavily damaged the Johanneskirche am Lendkanal on September 15th. The altar cross, a gift of British soldiers and of great sentimental value, was missing after the fire but later found near the church.
Pro-Life Charity Banned from Three UK Universities
September 14, 2018, United KingdomStudent Unions in Manchester, Warwick, and Liverpool rejected the Life charity's application to appear at their Freshers' Fairs. The Warwick Students' Union rejected Life because its members "voted to adopt a pro-choice stance." Manchester said the Fair was an inappropriate platform, while Liverpool said the charity would not offer "impartial advice" to students. Life said its displays inform students that help is available if they get pregnant. The charity filed a complaint to the Office for Students (OfS) citing discrimination and restrictions on freedom of speech. It noted that the Chair of OfS had earlier promoted the protection of freedom of speech.
Unknown Vandals Damage Way of the Cross in Morbach
September 14, 2018, GermanyUnknown vandals damaged elements of a Way of the Cross leading to the Fatima Chapel in Bischofsdhron sometime between the 12th and 14th of September. They perpetrators pushed three of the thirteen sandstone crosses from their bases and tilted back into the adjacent embankment. The crosses themselves were unharmed, but the bases were heavily damaged. Repairs were estimated at €600. Police began an investigation.
Christian Sued Scouts after being Ousted over Islam Complaint; Settled Case
September 9, 2018, United KingdomA man from Bristol whose membership to the Scout Association was cancelled took legal action, claiming he has been discriminated against on account of his Christian faith.
Fire in the Church of Santa Maria della Roccella
September 9, 2018, ItalyPolice began an arson investigation after a fire broke out in a basement of the cloister of the Church of Santa Maria della Roccella. The flames affected some unused materials and various forms of waste that had piled up in a basement of the cloister. The fire brigade intervened and found four LPG tanks near the fire which they removed and secured promptly. Fortunately there was no damage done to the building and no one was hurt.
Burglars Hit Church in Lörrach
September 9, 2018, GermanyPolice investigated a break-in between September 9th and 10th at the Protestant Church in Lörrach. Unknown perpetrators tried to pry open several doors, finally accessed the church building through an unlocked door. Inside they broke into the sacristy and a storage room, pried open two doors on the upper floor and ransacked several rooms.
Door of Church Burned in Santa Maria di Licodia
September 7, 2018, ItalyDuring the night between the 6th and 7th of September, the door of the church of Madonna del Carmelo was set on fire. In the early morning hours residents became aware of the fire and extinguished it. The police investigated and found that the fire was started by lighting paper and plastic. The perpetrators damaged the base of the door and blackened the upper part. Fortunately, the flames did not spread into the inside of the church. The priest filed a complaint.
Parish Church in Gutau Vandalized
September 7, 2018, AustriaUnknown perpetrators vandalized the facade of the parish church in Gutau with red and black paint sometime between 6 pm and 10:45 pm on September 7th.
President of Czech Republic Sides with Communist Party on Taxation of Church Restitution
September 6, 2018, Czech RepublicThe president of the Czech Republic, Milos Zeman, wavered from his neutral position and backed the communists and government coalition parties' plan to tax outstanding restitution payments to churches and religious communities whose property had been confiscated during the communist regime. In a TV interview he said is was "angry" to some extent because church institutions have continued to demand compensation and filed complaints against municipalities despite the decisions that were made in the 2013 restitution laws.
Chester Cathedral Damaged by Intruder
September 6, 2018, United KingdomA man was arrested after four stained-glass windows were smashed and other property was damaged at Chester Cathedral. The incident occurred just after midnight on September 4th and money was stolen from the premises. The damage caused to the cathedral is likely to exceed £10,000. The Cathedral's acting dean said the damage to the four stained-glass windows which date back to 1920 was very upsetting, in particular, the damage caused to a window depicting St. Werburgh, the Patron Saint of Chester.
Police say 'Disgusting Attack' on Manchester Cathedral was Hate Crime
September 6, 2018, United KingdomOfficers are treating the spraying of abusive graffiti onto the wall of the landmark late on September 6th as a "religiously aggravated attack." The language used was "too offensive to be published," according to media sources.
Anarchist Graffiti on Monument to the Virgen del Rocío
September 5, 2018, SpainSometime in the early morning hours of September 5th, vandals sprayed the anarchist "A" on the well-known monument. After city workers were unable to remove the paint using water, the monument's sculptor himself, Elías Rodríguez Picón, arrived to remove the paint. Local residents and officials expressed their outrage over the incident. Police began an investigation and reviewed security camera footage to identify the perpetrators of vandalism.
Chapel Vandalized in Péré
September 3, 2018, FranceParish announcements and a lectionary were burned in the small chapel Saint-Jean in the district of Péré, the lower town of Saint-Sever. Additionally, the monstrance was broken and a cross was thrown into a confessional. The vandalism occurred on the same day as the school fire of Toulouzette Park school in Saint-Sever. Police investigated a connection between the two incidents.
Senior Scottish Judge Criticized Asylum Tribunals for Disregarding Evidence of Christian Conversion
September 3, 2018, United KingdomAn appellate court ordered a rehearing by immigration tribunals after Judge Lord Glennie, one of the appeal judges, found that the asylum judges had disregarded churchgoer's evidence of the Christian conversion of two Iranian asylum seekers who have been attending Tron Church in Glasgow and had been predisposed to rejecting their claims.
Criminal behaviour at two churches in Greiz
September 3, 2018, GermanyA 35-year-old tried to pry open the door of the Herz-Jesu-Kirche in Greiz at 22.35 Monday evening. A witness filmed him while doing it. The perpetrator fled the scene but the police was able to track him down and find him at home. He has been charged with attempted burglary. The same evening, at 17.30, several windows were damaged at the church in the Friedhofstraße in Greiz and there was an attempt to set fire to the wooden door. The police has started an investigation.
Catholic Bookstore Vandalized by Anarchists
September 3, 2018, FranceThe Notre-Dame-de-France Catholic bookstore was vandalized during the night from the 2nd to 3rd of September. The perpetrators sprayed the word "FACHOS" ("fascists"), an anarchist A symbol, a communist symbol, and other words onto the windows and facade of the bookstore.
"Jihad" and "Dead" Graffiti Sprayed on Church
September 3, 2018, SwedenIn the morning of September 3rd church staff discovered that the Alhem Church in Skellefteå had been sprayed with black graffiti, including "Jihad" and "Dead" with a Nazarene symbol for Christians. The police stated in a statement that they took this form of hateful attacks against churches very seriously, and that they do not equate them with regular hip-hop graffiti and so-called "tags."
Graffiti on Valencia Church
September 1, 2018, SpainThe facade and windows of the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in la Plaza de Benimaclet were smeared with paint and graffiti and on the sidewalk in front of the church, the anarchist slogan "NI DIOS; NI PATRIA; NI AMOS" was written in paint. Local politicians expressed their regret, saying it was "dirty" and "damaged one of our most emblematic monuments." They also added that they are tired of "uncivil and intolerant people." A councilman in the city of Valencia, Alberto Mendoza, publicly denounced this act of vandalism and called for more security cameras to be put in place.
Repeated Vandalism in Ansbach Churches
August 31, 2018, GermanyOn the 31st of August, police reported that between August 17th and 30th, 2018 there were several incidents of vandalism in the Kirche St. Ludwig. Confessionals and offering boxes were damaged in the amount of 700 Euros. A church in Eyb was also vandalized between the 20th and the 30th of August. A window was smashed and several meters of copper sheets (window panels, gutters), valued at about 2000 euros, were stolen. The material damage was about 300 euros. The police began an investigation.
Precious objects stolen from the sactristy of Simorre
August 31, 2018, FranceDuring the night from Thursday to Friday, 31st of August 2018, people broke into the Church of Our Lady of Simorre. The intruders cut the gate leading to the magnificent collection of objects kept in the sacristy using a portable deburring machine. In addition to that they burst the glass behind which rare valuable pieces, some of them dating back to the 16th century, were presented. The burglars were able to steal four 19th century objects before alarms went off and the thieves fled. The incident was reported to the police by the person in charge of opening the church the follwing morning. An inventory of the objects was undertaken and the premises was secured better than before.
Spanish TV Cuts Holy Mass Broadcasts
August 30, 2018, SpainAccording to reports, RTVE, the Spanish national public radio and television service, will stop airing a weekly Sunday Mass, ending a tradition of almost 40 years. Although it is the most-watched program on the channel, the decision was explained by the government, which presented the proposal in March 2017, as necessary to become a "neutral" public television station that does not favor any belief or religion.
Man Arrested for Fires at Methodist Church and Sikh Temple
August 29, 2018, United KingdomA 49-year-old man was charged on suspicion of arson in connection with two fires that were set in Edinburgh in the early hours of the 28th of August 2018. One fire was set with a petrol bomb at 5am at the Sikh temple Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Sheriff Brae, which is situated in the building of a former church, and the other was set at 7am at the Methodist Church in Junction Place. No one was injured, but the temple suffered smoke damage. The man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, 30th of August 2018.
Church Saint Giuseppe Timpuni defaced by spray cans
August 29, 2018, ItalyThe rupestrian church of Saint Giuseppe Timpuni in Modica was defaced in the night by unknown people using spraycans. They thereby caused damage to an ancient building that can hardly be repaired.
Stones Thrown at Lutheran Church
August 29, 2018, GermanyWitnesses called the police at about 9pm on August 29, 2018 to report six teenagers throwing stones against the facade and windows of the building of the St. Simeon Lutheran church in Kreuzberg, Berlin. The group fled the scene crying "Allahu akbar!" According to the police the building was damaged. It is not the first time this church has been subjected to such acts. Furthermore, a window was broken the following Sunday. The chuch is a so-called "Refugee Church" as it has opened its doors to refugees and runs multiple projects to assist them. The police opened an investigation, assigning the department dedicated to politically motivated crimes.
Man Sentenced to Prison for Terrorist Threats against Reims Cathedral
August 28, 2018, FranceOn the night of the 21st of July 2018 after the light show "Rêve de Couleurs," on the facade of the cathedral, a drunk individual shouted "Allahu Akbar! Long live Daech! I will butcher you!" at all the people he met in front of the cathedral. He further threatened: "I'm going to attack! I'm going to blow up the cathedral!" A passerby who tried to interfere was slapped. The perpetrator has been identified as 19-year-old Tony Brébant from Reims who recently converted to Islam. He was sentenced to fourteen months in prison on the 28th of August 2018.
Image of Madonna Defaced
August 26, 2018, ItalyThere was an act of vandalism in the small church of Madonna Addolorata di Lopi in the municipality of Castiglione del Lago on August 28th, 2018. The face of the Madonna in a seventeenth-century painting was smeared with black paint. In addition to that, the same paint was used to spray the small squares of the Via Crucis and blasphemous words were written on the walls of the church. The damage done to the painting of the Madonna cannot be repaired. The police were informed about the incident.
Offensive Graffiti on Information Panel of Church
August 26, 2018, ItalyVandals wrote offensive slurs on the information panel on the facade of the church of Grottaglie.
Belgian Minister of Culture calls for Ban on Religious Broadcasting after Bible Reading
August 26, 2018, BelgiumVerses from Paul's letter to the Ephesians were broadcast on radio and Flemish TV station VRT from a Catholic Mass in the town of Grimbergen. A lay reader quoted Ephesians 5 22-33: "Women, be submissive to your husband as the husband to the Lord. For the man is the head of the woman as Christ is the head of the church." This sparked a row over whether religious broadcasting should be stopped and caused the Belgian Minister of Culture, Sven Gatz to tweet "No outdated, woman-unfriendly statements ... please. What if, for example, an imam would have said this?" He told the newspaper Het Nieuwsbald " The fact that they come from an old book is not an argument for letting them go to our people. This is not of this time, and that it is broadcast on the VRT for the whole of Flanders is already completely crazy."
Mayor Offers Reward to Catch Church Vandals
August 25, 2018, ItalyAfter tourists used black and red spray paint to deface the white wall of the 14th century church Madonna del Soccorso on the island of Ischia, the town's mayor offered a reward to 500 euros for anyone who provides useful information to find those responsible for the vandalism. This incident caused sadness and indignation among the people who live in the village.
Police Investigate Vandalism of Brussels Church
August 25, 2018, BelgiumThe walls of Saint-Antoine de Padoue Church in the district of Forest in Brussels was sprayed with obscene graffiti during the summer holidays between mid-July and mid-August 2018. The house opposite was also vandalized. As of late August, the graffiti remained on the buildings, as the municipality was required to wait for authorization from the police before it could proceed with clean-up.
Córdoba Parish Vandalized with Anarchist Graffiti
August 25, 2018, SpainThe phrase "De tumba en tumba y tiro por que toca. Fachas" was discovered written exterior wall of the Iglesia de la Trinidad, along with an anarchist 'A' symbol.
Statue of Virgin Mary Destroyed at the Grotto of Maupas
August 24, 2018, FranceThe acts of vandalism were discovered by a visitor who regularly comes to the grotto of Maupas (a replica of the grotto of Lourdes) to light candles. The face of the statue of the Virgin Mary was completely destroyed. The news spread quickly in the village and left many people dismayed and upset. The president of the association Saint-Ours, one of the organizations that manage the cave, has filed a complaint with the police.
Statue wearing Cross Vandalized
August 24, 2018, FranceA small statue of a woman wearing a cross around her neck carved into a stone wall dating back to the 13th century was defaced. Workers building a bridge discovered the damage, the same day the mayor had ordered protection for the site. The face was completely disfigured and the bust and the cross necklace were marred. The municipality filed a complaint for property damage.
Fire Set in Mühlheim Church
August 23, 2018, GermanyOn the 23rd of August, 2018, the chaplain of the church in Mühlheim discovered that unknown perpetrators had moved an umbrella stand into the vestibule of the church and set a fire in it. However, the fire was immediately extinguished and the only damage was to a carpet in the amount of 150 euros. The police opened an investigation.
Robbery at Church of Mondéjar
August 20, 2018, SpainIn the early hours of the 20th of August there was a robbery at the church Santa María Magdalena of Mondéjar. The parish priest discovered the theft when he went to the church the next morning to prepare for Mass. The thieves had entered the church through a side door after breaking the lock. They broke three other door locks until they were able to enter the sacristy. They left the sacristy looted and stole more than 400 euros as well as three large sacred artworks of bronze. The artifacts date back to the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. The civil guard was notified and investigated.
Statue of Virgin Mary and Child Decapitated in Noirmoutier
August 19, 2018, FranceDuring the night of the 18th to 19th of August, the 3.5 meter public statue of the Virgin Mary and Child was decapitated. Residents were shocked and searched the nearby forest for the missing heads but found nothing. Parishioners were dismayed, as the statue has stood in the community since 1949. The priest, who called the incident violent and shocking, filed a complaint with the police.
At Least Five Pakistani Priests Denied Visas for World Meeting of Families in Ireland
August 19, 2018, IrelandChristians from Pakistan and Iraq were denied visas to attend the 2018 World Meeting of Families in Dublin, including at least 5 priests, due to "insufficient connections" to the event. A priest from Karachi received a letter rejecting his application in which the officer said there was "no evidence of a valid reason to travel to Ireland" and that the Catholic priest lacked "sufficient connection" to the World Meeting or to the Pope to justify attendance.
Church Facade Defaced with "W l'Islam"
August 18, 2018, ItalyThe newly renovated wall of the Chiesa del Santissimo Rosario in the center of Avellino was defaced with "W I'Islam" in black paint. The parish priest reported the incident to the police who will investigate whether there were religious or political motives behind this act of vandalism.
Church in Badwell Ash Damaged by Pellets
August 18, 2018, United KingdomDuring the night between the 17th the 18th of August there was a spate of vandalism in west Suffolk. According to the police, the unknown perpetrator damaged St Mary's Church in the village Badwell Ash and several vehicles in the area. It is believed that the offender used an BB or pellet air rifle to smash the church windows as well as 12 vehicles parked in the village. The police continued their investigation.
Churches Close due to Vandalism
August 17, 2018, GermanyThree churches were closed in Euskirchen due to repeated vandalism. The Herz-Jesu-Kirche, the Martinskirche and the Kirche St. Matthias will only be opened for Mass for the rest of the summer holidays as a provisional measure. The altar of St. Martin's church was smeared with dog excrement and urine was found in the stoup for holy water. Parishioners were outraged and stunned by the closure of the churches. These incidents were a change from the regular drug use that the churches had seen for some time.
Church CCTV Damaged by Vandals
August 17, 2018, United KingdomVandals damaged a CCTV camera from St. Mark's Parish Church in Raploch just one day after it was installed. The church had been subject to repeated acts of vandalism and a couple of CCTV cameras were installed in order to deter anti-social behavior. While one camera was damaged, the other cameras were already doing their job as they identified those responsible for the incident, enabling the police to trace them and take action.
Tourist Information for Italian Church Destroyed
August 16, 2018, ItalyTourist information that explains the history of the Greek church of Santa Maria degli Angeli was knocked down and torn from the sidewalk. The church has repeatedly been subjected to acts of vandalism.
Bishop of Liège Threatened and Robbed at Home
August 15, 2018, BelgiumDuring the night between the 14th to the 15th of August, thieves broke into the bishop's home through a toilet window on the ground floor. They assaulted both Bishop Jean-Pierre Delville as well as his godson who was also present in the house. They demanded cash, believing that the money collected from the churches was kept there. Having no cash in the house, the bishop and his godson had to resort to the money the godson had kept saved up for a trip abroad. They further asked for gold and valuable paintings, a Picasso in particular. The bishop gave them three chalices and pointed them towards four pieces of art from the 17th century that decorated the council chamber. After hitting one of the victims and threatening to kill them, they locked the bishop and his godson in a bathroom, where they were found the next morning. The thieves were described as "masked and professional" and explained they needed money to cure the 5-year-old daughter of one of them. They spoke German, as well as an unidentified foreign language and only spoke French poorly. The damage has been estimated to amount to 20 000 euros. An investigation is ongoing.
Vue Cinemas Breached Contract by Refusing to Screen 'Voices of the Silenced'
August 15, 2018, United KingdomAfter Vue Cinemas cancelled the screening of the film 'Voices of the Silenced' at the last minute in February, the film's producers launched a legal challenge against Vue. In August, Vue agreed to pay a nominal amount for breaching the contract. A spokesperson from Vue has said, however, that they stand by their decision of not screening the movie as it was "in direct conflict with its values." 'Voices of the Silenced' is a film by Christian organization Core Issues Trust about people who have left behind same-sex attraction practices.
Man Arrested for Defacing Church
August 15, 2018, United KingdomA man was arrested after spraying graffiti on several buildings in Andover including St. Mary's Church where the anarchist symbol was painted on the church door and the number 666 was left in red on the steps outside. The incident is suspected to have taken place some time between the 8th of August and the early hours of the 10th of August.