All cases
Cemetery Desecrated in Pondrôme
June 18, 2017, BelgiumDuring the afternoon on June 18, 2017, the cemetery of Pondrôme in Belgium was vandalized. Unknown vandals entered the cemetery and desecrated several graves, destroyed crosses, plaques and other memorial items on the burial sites. The reaction of the villagers of Pondrôme was one of anger and incomprehension. The Mayor Marc Lejeune filed a complaint with the police after being informed of the vandalism and said citizens should not be quick to assume the vandals came from the Fedasil refugee accommodation, which is next door to the cemetery.
Cathedral Saint-Jean of Besaçon Vandalized with Anarchist Graffiti
June 15, 2017, FranceDuring the night of June 14-15, 2017 the outer walls of the cathedral were tagged with slogans reading “our lives, our bodies belong to us” and “Down with charity, long live solidarity” (“Nos vies, nos corps nous appartiennent“ and “à bas la charité, vive la solidarité”) . The vandals also painted the anarchistic symbol “A” on front of the door twice.
Church Bulletin Board Set on Fire
June 15, 2017, FranceDuring the night of June 15th, the bulletin board of the Sacré Cœur church in Roubaix was set on fire. A neighbor of the church saw the flames and contacted the authorities.
Church in Tamworth Vandalized
June 14, 2017, United KingdomAnti-Christian messages were scrawled on three different areas of St. Edythe’s Church, the oldest church in Tamworth by unknown vandals. The ancient doors and walls were tagged with statements such as “Lucifer runs this capitalist ruin,” “God has failed,” and “deliver us to evil.” Reverend Alan Gordon and the church community were devastated that the church was targeted by this vandalism.
Photographer and Naked Model Caught in Church
June 13, 2017, FranceA photographer taking pictures of a naked model were caught in the center aisle of the church Saint-Antoine de Compiegne in Oise in front of the altar by two parish members who went to the church to pray the rosary for the Christians of the East.
Break-In and Possible Attempted Robbery of Church in Lyon
June 12, 2017, FranceUnknown perpetrators entered the church of the 5th arrondissement of Lyon during the night of June 11-12th and broke the glass door to the sacristy. Nothing was stolen. The break-in occurred only a month after the crown of the Virgin at the Fourvière Museum was stolen.
Ramadan Prayer in front of Virgin Mary Statue
June 10, 2017, SpainBefore breaking their daily Ramadan fast, a prayer was held in the Jardines del Triunfo (Gardens of Triumph) in Granada, Spain. This prayer event was sanctioned by City Hall but caused outrage among some Catholics in the area as the Jardines del Triunfo is the site of a cherished statue of Virgin Mary.
Priest Assaulted in Church Sacristy
June 9, 2017, MonacoFather Jean-Christophe Genson of the church of Sainte-Dévote in Monaco was assaulted by an unnamed assailant as he prepared for Mass on the evening of June 9, 2017.
Three Acts of Vandalism in Jongieux
June 8, 2017, FranceSeveral statues of the Virgin Mary were vandalized in the village of Jongieux between June 8-13, 2017.
Mass Desecration of Serbian Orthodox Graves
June 6, 2017, KosovoDuring their annual visit to the Serbian Orthodox Cemetery in Mitrovica Kosovo, relatives discovered that 90 percent of the graves had been desecrated. Tombstones had been destroyed and broken on the ground. The grieving families were shocked and deeply hurt by this destruction and desecration.
Political Campaign Graffiti on Church
June 6, 2017, FranceThe church La Chapelle du Rosaire in Saint-Louis was vandalized with political graffiti during the night on June 6th, 2017. The political tags were related to the legislative campaigns in France. The mayor of Saint-Leu has condemned the vandalism and stated that he will ensure that the building is restored.
Journalist "Jokes" about imprisoning Priests
June 6, 2017, RomaniaThe Romanian journalist Ovidiu Eftimie has stated that he “yearns for the years of communist persecution, where the priest were taken to the canal and stranded in jail” (“tânjește după anii de prigoană comunistă, în care preoții erau duși la canal și înfundau pușcăriile”). He has also stated that he would love to become a new Vişinescu and punch the church leaders. The media has characterized these statements as a joke.
Swastika Graffiti Discovered in Cemetery
June 4, 2017, FranceAccording to a witness, blue swastika graffiti was found on at least four graves in the Causses-et-Veyran Cemetery on June 4, 2017. One of the graves attacked with a swastika was a bas-relief depicting mourners holding Christ after his death on the cross. The grave plaques belonged to the same family, other items from the graveyard were also moved and thrown on the ground.
Spanish Councilor of Culture Hints that Churches Should be Burned
June 4, 2017, SpainAida Ginestar Pau, town councilor for sport and culture of the Spanish city Alzira in the province of Valencia, attacked the Catholic Church and Christianity on social media. On her Facebook page, the left-wing Podemos politician wrote a post that spoke about the Catholic Church, in which she laughed at the institution and in what could be seen as incitement to violence asked "but are there still churches that have not burned all??" In Valencian: "Jajajaja jajajaja!!!! Però queden esglesies encara?? No les han cremat totes???".
School Holidays Changed to Remove Religious Connection
June 3, 2017, SpainThe Ministry of Education in Spain has proposed changing the Carnival and Easter Holidays to a week in late February and May respectively in order to remove the religious connections from the school holidays. This proposal is waiting to be ratified and implemented for the school year 2017/2018.
Man Burst into Church Yelling "Allah is Great"
June 3, 2017, SpainA Muslim man shouting "Allah is great" disrupted a wedding in the Church of San Pablo in the city of Valladolid. He approached the altar with the apparent intention of overthrowing various liturgical objects and assaulting those present, including the priest.
Relic of St John Bosco Stolen
June 2, 2017, ItalyThe urn containing St John Bosco’s brain was stolen from the Salesian Basilica of Castelnuovo Don Bosco in the Piedmont region of Italy. The Archbishop of Turin, Bishop Cesare Nosiglia, has condemned the theft and urged return of the relic.
Rome Bus Stops the Target of Blasphemous Images
June 1, 2017, ItalyUnknown perpetrators placed offensive and obscene posters inside publicity screens of the Roman transport company ATAC on June 1, 2017. One poster, called Immaculata Conceptio - In Vitro was a depiction of the Virgin Mary holding a baby, presumably Jesus Christ, with her hand on another woman's thigh, implying that they were a couple who used in vitro fertilization to conceive the child. Another poster, entitled Ecce Homo Erectus, shows an obscene image of Jesus Christ with a child.
Several Cemeteries Vandalized across France
May 31, 2017, FranceBetween May 24th and May 31st, 2017, four cemeteries in France have been vandalized. The cemeteries have had their graves, including Christian graves, desecrated, crosses, vases and grave plaques destroyed to various degrees. Each cemetery has had their own suspects and three people have been identified and questioned by the local police, two cemeteries suspects remain unknown.
Orthodox Chapel Vandalized
May 30, 2017, FranceFather Archimandrite Amphilokios of the Orthodox Monastery of Saint Michael in Marseille reported an act of vandalism to the French Observatory. An image of the cross which was mounted on the monastery’s wall was torn. The community reacted by posting a sign condemning the act.
Swedish Pro-Life Midwives Fined
May 29, 2017, SwedenEllinor Grimmark and Linda Steen are two pro-life midwives who challenged their employment termination cases in court. Grimmark's case was taken to the Labor Court where she lost the case in April 2017. Due to this loss, she has been ordered pay all the court costs and received an invoice from the Jönköping County in the amount of 1 640 000 Swedish Kronor (€168 634). Linda Steen was denied an appeal in the Labor Court, but she will receive an invoice of 1.2 million Swedish Kronor (€123 391).
Attack Against a Catholic Bishop
May 29, 2017, SpainA Catholic bishop had to be escorted by the police after several dozens of people holding LGTB banners assaulted him at the entrance of the church after a service.
Cemetery Vandalized in Saint-Brès
May 27, 2017, FranceTwo teenagers entered the cemetery of Saint-Brès France and destroyed two graves, crosses, statues, and grave plates. The police were called and the two teenagers were identified through surveillance cameras.
Reparation Prayers for Abortion Banned by Hospital Management
May 27, 2017, SwitzerlandPrayers in reparation for the victims of abortion have been held in the chapel of the University Hospital (CHUV) in Lausanne on the 13th of every month for the past 10 years, organized by the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX). Pierre-Francois Leyvraz, the CEO of the hospital claimed not to have known about the events when the media contacted him. He informed the SSPX that they would no longer have access to the chapel and that the chapel will be closed on the 13th of each month to prevent the prayer meetings. He noted that abortion is legal and they will not permit people opposed to abortion to meet in the hospital chapel.
Cross at General De Gaulle's Grave Vandalized
May 27, 2017, FranceTwo unknown perpetrators were seen entering the cemetery of Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, where General de Gaulle's grave is located. One of the two men was suspected of having climbed on the grave and reversed the cross of the grave. Police are investigating.
ISIS Graffiti on Catholic Church in Sweden
May 24, 2017, SwedenThe Catholic church in Västerås was vandalized in several places with graffiti with the Arabic letter “N,” which stands for Nazarene or Nasrani, the Arabic word for "Christian". In ISIS-controlled areas, this tag has been used in combination with attacks on Christian’s homes and properties. Its use has been used as a signal: convert, pay a tax or be killed. Members of the parish are both frightened and upset about this attack. Cardinal Anders Arborelius has stated that he believes this is the first time a Catholic church has been tagged with ISIS graffiti in Sweden.
Berlin's Left-Wing Politicians Opposed Cross on City Palace
May 20, 2017, GermanyThe Greens and the Left party objected to plans to put a cross on top of the rebuilt Stadtschloss, the future site of the Humboldt Forum, saying the plan endangers the "open cultural dialogue" intended for the site. The Humboldt Forum is an art and culture museum project.
Medical Director's Dismissal Reversed
May 20, 2017, GermanyOn May 19, 2017 the Lüneburg labor court ruled that the termination of Medical Clinic Director Markus Fröhling was unjustified. In February 2017, Fröhling was dismissed after publicly voicing his support for the former gynecology chief physician Thomas Börner, who declined to do abortions in his department. This support caused criticism by both the media and politicians.
Christian Bookshop in Marseille Vandalized
May 19, 2017, FranceThe children’s display case window of the bookshop “La Bible pour tous” (The Bible for All) was found vandalized some time during the night between the 18th and 19th of May with a black paint bomb and graffiti tags reading “neither God nor master” (“Ni Dieu ni maître”), along with the anarchist's "A". The bookstore is adjacent to the church église évangélique Action Biblique Marseille.
Church Vandalized by Graffiti
May 18, 2017, FranceThe church of Saint-Joseph was tagged with the slogan “Down with love, long live solidarity” (“à bas la charité, vive la solidarité”). The graffiti was painted with green spray paint.
Crown of the Virgin Stolen from the Musée de Fourvière
May 12, 2017, FranceThe crown of the Virgin, was stolen from the Museum of Religious Art in Fourviere, shortly before 3:30 am on the night of May 12th. Asking for prayers, the Fourvière Foundation denounced the theft and noted that it was the symbolic value of the crown that made the theft most painful as it was given by families in Lyon to prove their devotion to Notre-Dame de Fourvière.
News Article Used Pro-Life Rally Picture to Illustrate "Religious Extremism"
May 11, 2017, GermanyNews and email website GMX published an article by journalist Mathias Heim about a recently-published study correlating certain head trauma with religious "fundamentalism." Although the article begins with “The problem of the religious fundamentalists has been a topic in science even prior to IS-Terror”, and never mentions Christians or Christianity, the photograph accompanying the article, with the headline “Injuries in the brain can lead to religious extremism”, depicts a peaceful Christian pro-life demonstration. This clearly negatively stereotypes Christian pro-life activists as "extremists".
Tabernacle Stolen from Chapel
May 10, 2017, FranceThe tabernacle of the chapel of Collognes has been stolen. This theft is not the first for this small chapel, three years ago the statue of Virgin Mary was stolen and the collection boxes have been emptied several times. The parish is very upset and the local police have opened an investigation. The chapel will remain open to the public as it is on the pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela and St. Francis of Assisi and thus has many visitors throughout the year.
Barcelona Church Vandalized
May 9, 2017, SpainA Barcelona church has been vandalized by unknown vandals. The doors were painted with graffiti of the anarchist's A and statements such as “Get your rosaries out of our ovaries” (“Fora els vostres rosaris dels nostres ovaries”). It is estimated that more than 40 churches have been vandalized in Barcelona in recent months.
Attack and Desecration in Catholic Church in Castellón
May 9, 2017, SpainThe parish church of the small town of Teresa - 1 hour by car from Valencia - suffered a robbery and desecration on May 9th after one of the back doors of the temple was forced, the money from the alms was taken and the chalices containing consecrated forms were thrown to the ground.
Man Filmed Attacking Cross in Austria
May 8, 2017, AustriaA group of youths filmed a man as he attacked a life-sized Jesus figure on a cross in the church square of St. Marein. The man, identified by police as a "37-year-old from the Weiz district," first shook the cross to make it fall but when unsuccessful he then proceeded to rip out a wind organ from the ground and hit the cross with it. The man’s rampage continued within the church grounds as he broke the two glass doors of the parish and several flower pots before being arrested. Damage is estimated to be well over €15,000.
Monastery in Alicante Vandalized
May 7, 2017, SpainOn the morning of May 7th the chaplain of the Monastery de la Santa Faz discovered seven intentionally-inverted crosses on the columns of the sanctuary, Satanic symbols on the armored glass case that protects the Santa Faz relics. Additionally, a liturgical prayer book and the diary where the acts of worship are recorded were stolen. Police opened a forensic investigation.
Molotov Cocktail Thrown at Virgin of the Helpless Image
May 2, 2017, SpainA Molotov Cocktail was thrown at the carving of the Virgin of the Desamparados (Virgin of the Forsaken) in the church of Real Convento de Santiago in Vélez-Málaga. The 17th century carving did not burn, but the base, skirt, and mantle were stained by the homemade device containing gasoline. A young man was seen running from the scene and police began an investigation.
Facebook Page Celebrates Arson of Churches
May 1, 2017, SpainA Spanish Facebook page appears to celebrate, and perhaps encourage, church arson by using the anarchistic slogan “The only church that illuminates is the one that burns” (“La única iglesia que ilumina es la que arde”). The Facebook page's profile picture is a burning church. Other photos posted on the page include cartoons mocking Christianity and the Catholic Church.
Defenders of Public Cross of Callosa Threatened
May 1, 2017, SpainResidents of Callosa de Segura opposed the City Council's decision to remove a cross next to the parish church entrance and took turns guarding it to prevent its removal. In response, they became the targets of threatening graffiti. On May 1st, graffiti appeared with a message aimed at the spokesman of the PP parliamentary group Javier Perez: “Javier Perez is dead” (“Javier Perez estas muerto”) and the second read: “A bomb to the cross” (“Una bomba a la cruz”). On May 17, 2017, a high court dismissed Perez's appeal to stop the removal of the cross but the case could still go to the supreme court.
Three Churches Discovered Vandalized in Three Days
May 1, 2017, SpainUnknown perpetrators broke windows and doors, damaged the altar and scattered objects in church of Santa Maria de Vallvidrera. Nothing was stolen. The parish of Sant Ildefons and the Hermitage of Santa Margarida were vandalized with graffiti, the former stating “the only church that illuminates is one that burns” and the latter “neither God nor country, nor King” (“la única iglesia que ilumina es la que arde” and “ni Dios, ni patria, ni Rey”). In the Hermitage of Santa Margarida the assailants also vandalized the interior by destroying vases, candle holders and other decorative items.
Burning Cross Painted on Convent of Cloistered Nuns
April 30, 2017, SpainThe façade of the church of Santa Magdalena at the convent was vandalized with graffiti of an inverted and burning cross. The Palma Police's Hate Crimes Unit took charge of the investigation and said it appeared the purpose of the graffiti was to try to intimidate the Christian community, particularly the religious women who live in the cloistered convent. Evidence appears to indicate that the graffiti was the work an extreme Leftist group.
ISIS Supporter Jailed
April 29, 2017, United KingdomThe ISIS supporter Akeem Samuels has been sentenced to jail for four years by a court in the United Kingdom. Akeem Samuels posted videos on Instagram where he encouraged terror attacks on Christians.
Christian Prison Preacher to Appeal Tribunal Ruling
April 27, 2017, United KingdomA Christian prison worker who felt he had no option but to resign after being disciplined for quoting from the Bible during a prison chapel service, will challenge an Employment Tribunal's ruling that the prison was right to discipline him. In March 2016, the Employment Tribunal ruled that Barry Trayhorn spoke of God's forgiveness in an "insensitive" way which "failed to have regard for the special nature of the congregation in the prison".
The Head of a Jesus Statue Used as a Toilet in Illegal Migrant Camp
April 26, 2017, ItalyDuring an inspection by Regional Councilor for Agriculture of the Northern League, Stefano Mai, of an illegal migrant camp in Ventimiglia, the head of a marble statue of Jesus was found covered with excrement and urine. The head had possibly been taken from a local cemetery and then used as a makeshift toilet. The discovery caused anger and upset in the local community and Councilor Mai publicly denounced the situation.
Expelled Christian Student Wins Right to Face High Court
April 26, 2017, United KingdomFelix Ngole was expelled from the University of Sheffield in 2016 for writing a post on his private Facebook page in which he quoted Leviticus stating that homosexuality was sinful. Deputy High Court Judge James Lewis has allowed Ngole to take his case to the High Court in London and a ruling is expected after a trial this fall.
Statue of St. Paul Decapitated in Luxembourg; Left on Priest's Doorstep
April 25, 2017, LuxembourgA statue of St. Paul near the church in Dalheim was discovered decapitated. The head was later found left on the doorstep of the local priest’s home. The discovery worried the priest, but the mayor decided simply to have the head re-attached onto the statue, rather than initiate an investigation. When asked if he thought the act was a symbolic gesture, the mayor said it could have been just a "random act." The priest said he was "reassured" but if it happened again, he would have to make his own security arrangements.
Virgin and Child Mosaic Vandalized in Málaga
April 24, 2017, SpainThe ceramic image of the Virgen del Carmen de Huelin located on the seafront of a popular neighborhood of Málaga was damaged by vandals who broke the tiles composing the faces of the Virgin Mary and Jesus.
Syrian Women Vandalized Church in Rennes-le-Château
April 23, 2017, FranceOn the morning of April 23rd, a young Syrian women vandalized the church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. The woman, dressed in a white cloak and face hidden behind a Venetian mask, attacked the holy water font with an ax, decapitated the famous "red devil" (a statue of the demon Asmodeus from the Old Testament), and placed a Quran next to his chopped-off arm. She then lacerated the bas-relief of Mary Magdalene's altar in front of shocked witnesses.
Croatian Theatre Festival Included Play with Jesus Christ Rape Scene
April 22, 2017, CroatiaA theater festival in Split was to include a controversial play which depicts Jesus Christ raping a Muslim woman wearing a hijab. This drew strong condemnation from Croatia's Catholic Church.