All cases

Priest dead after stabbing at Polish Benedictine Convent

September 24, 2026, Poland

A Catholic priest has died following a stabbing at a Benedictine convent in Jarosław, Poland, on 24 September, and a total of five victims were stabbed in the attack. Government officials have responded in horror at the attack, and sympathy for the members of the community. Following the attack, Rzeszów Cathedral stated that the community was filled with "great sadness" at the attack.

Christian influencer assaulted in Vienna

September 22, 2026, Austria

On 22 September, an 18-year-old Christian content creator was assaulted by two youths near an underground station in Vienna. According to his account, one attacker threatened him with a knife and he suffered injuries to his ribs, hips, and nose. The incident was reported to police, and the victim expressed the belief that the attack was related to his Christian social media content.

Cross and vestments vandalised in Grein church

September 22, 2026, Austria

On 22 September, unknown perpetrators vandalised the Stadtpfarrkirche in Grein, scattering items from the confessional, prayer books, devotional images of saints and seat cushions throughout the church. The baptismal font was damaged, while a broken cross and two of the priest’s stoles were placed in the holy-water basin.

Church near Brussels closes due to slew of vandalism

September 19, 2026, Belgium

According to a report from 19 September, St. Anne's Church in Auderghem has decided to close its doors and cease services after repeated acts of vandalism. The church council made the decision due to the incessant attacks on the historic building over the spring and summer of 2026. The measure is very shocking to the community, who relied on the church as an accessible and open place of worship.

Tabernacle forcibly removed and consecrated hosts scattered outside church in Guitiriz

September 19, 2026, Spain

On 19 September, unknown individuals forcibly removed and opened the tabernacle of the parish church of Santa Maria de Lagostelle in Guitiriz, stealing the ciborium containing consecrated hosts. The hosts were subsequently scattered outside the church, while the silver ciborium remained missing. The incident constitutes desecration and sacrilegious theft and was condemned by the Diocese as a direct affront against the Eucharist and the centre of the Catholic faith.

ISIS Supporter Arrested over Planned Attack on Bremen Church

September 17, 2026, Germany

In Brandenburg, federal prosecutors have arrested a man on suspicion of planning a serious act of violence against a church in Bremen, allegedly acquiring a firearm for this purpose. The 24-year-old individual is believed to be a supporter of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organisation, and was arrested by the Federal Criminal Police Office and was brought before the investigating judge on 17 September under suspicion of attempting to establish a terrorist organisation, preparing a serious crime endangering the state, and violating weapons laws.

Attack on Catholic Clinic in Flensburg

September 17, 2026, Germany

According to a report from 17 September, a Catholic clinic in Flensburg has been targeted in an attack by unknown protesters who have smeared the entrance of the hospital with a pro-abortionist inscription, as well as vandalising an information board. The perpetrators also left hangers at the entrance, which is used as a political symbol by pro-abortionists. The report identifies all the actions as directly targeting the attitude of the Catholic hospital, since it no longer performed abortion procedures.

Crosses broken and Catholic graves targeted at Moselle cemetery

September 15, 2026, France

An unprecedented act of vandalism occurred on the night of 14 to 15 September, where a woman vandalised almost 100 gravestones in Maizières-lès-Metz Cemetery in Moselle. Gravestones were defaced, with countless crosses and crucifixes found broken and tossed onto the surrounding property. Police are investigating whether the gravestones of Catholics were specifically targeted on the basis of religion. The local community, officials, and diocese expressed deep sadness and outrage at what they believed to be a direct attack on the respect due to the dead, a religious site, and communal unity. On 25 September, the Diocese of Metz organised a time of prayer for all the deceased whose graves were desecrated.

Church in Haar is attacked during slew of arson attempts

September 14, 2026, Germany

As reported on 15 September, there have been five serious cases of attempted arson in Munich, where unknown individuals have thrown fireworks into several buildings, including the Church of St. Boniface, in Haar, wherein children were being blessed at the time of the incident. Police are now investigating potential suspects.

Vandals smash statue of Virgin Mary at historic chapel

September 14, 2026, Poland

A report from 15 September described two incidents of vandalism targeting the same historical chapel at the intersection of a public street. The unknown perpetrators smashed and poured paint over a statue of the Virgin Mary, damaging the pedestal, the interior of the nice, and the glass. Local residents and the parish priest were left shocked by the incident, which they described as a clear act of blasphemy.

Man arrested after shouting Islamist slogan outside a Church

September 11, 2026, France

A 35-year old man was arrested following an incident at a church in Moselle where, armed with a knife, he entered the building and shouted "Allah Akbar." The man was sentenced to six months imprisonment with a suspended sentence on 11 September.

Arsonist Destroys Historic Crucifix in Lucka

September 11, 2026, Germany

A historic crucifix was set on fire with the figure of Jesus being completely destroyed in a Lutheran church in Lucka. Many parts of church furnishings were severely damaged, in particular around the sanctuary and including the altar, which was defaced with swastikas and other symbols. The person suspected of setting the fire was identified quickly after the crime occurred and an investigation into the crime is ongoing.

Priest attacked outside of parish church in Prato

September 9, 2026, Italy

On 9 September, a priest of the Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso was threatened and attacked outside the church. According to the report, several non-EU citizens had been staying on the steps of the church, and at first threatened him, then proceeded to physical violence with a chair. The bishop of Prato has responded in condemnation to the "regrettable and serious" and expressed deep concern, underlying the gravity of the incident.

Desecration in Noia

September 7, 2026, Spain

According to a report from 18 September, a Mass of Reparation and Atonement was held in Noia after five unknown perpetrators entered the Church of San Martiño, opened the tabernacle and stole two ciboria containing consecrated hosts. Both the parish priest and the bishop expressed deep pain of the community over the attack on what is considered most sacred to the Catholic faith, yet appealed to respond with fatih, worship, love, and prayer for the perpetrators.

Protestors disrupt Holy Mass during pro-life prayer

September 5, 2026, United Kingdom

On September 5, pro-abortion activists entered Westminster Cathedral during the opening Mass of the annual March for Life and interrupted the religious celebration in front of worshippers. The intrusion, which included holding banners and shouting pro-abortion slogans in front of the church sanctuary, occurred amidst an already hostile atmosphere outside the cathedral, where pro-abortion protesters reportedly heckled participants, shouting anti-Christian slogans, and disrupting the major Catholic pro-life event with many notable members of the church present.

Greek Catholic Parish targeted with arson and anti-Ukrainian graffiti

September 5, 2026, Poland

On 5 September, unknown individuals set fire to vegetation on the grounds of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish in Legnica, damaging part of the property. At approximately the same time, anti-Ukrainian inscriptions were also reported nearby, prompting the Ukrainian Consulate to ask authorities to investigate the motivations behind the incidents, and emphasising that attacks on Ukrainians, religious groups, and places of worship are unacceptable. The incident, which is not the first to target the Ukrainian Catholic community, caused significant emotional distress to the community.

Priest appeals for help as crucifix is defaced

September 2, 2026, Italy

As reported on 2 September, the crucifix in the Church of the Nativity of San Giovanni Battista in Mezzolombardo was recently defaced. The parish priest announced the defacement which caused bitterness in the community, and appealed for the creation of a new crucifix as a sign of unity.

Crucifix in the Chapel of Santa Croce broken to pieces

September 1, 2026, Italy

On 1 September, the Chapel of Santa Croce al Piano in Colognola ai Colli was subjected to a serious act of vandalism that caused damage to furnishings, religious images, and sacred art; most notably to a crucifix which was found smashed. A man was detained in connection with the serious incident, which affected a place of worship particularly dear to the local community, arousing "indignation" over the acts.

Vandalism and Harassment of the faithful Leads to Church Closure

September 1, 2026, Italy

According to reports from 1 September, a group of young people repeatedly caused disturbances at the church in Lunetta, including entering the building and blaspheming at the faithful who were praying; littering and causing damage to the churchyard. The parish responded by closing the church during the mornings until the reopening of schools, citing the need to protect the faithful and prevent further vandalism.

Two suspected arson attempts at Saint-Martin Church

September 1, 2026, France

According to reports from 1 September, two fires were deliberately started inside the Saint-Martin Church in Templeuve-en-Pévèle, Nord on 31 August. The fires caused only minor damage, according to the available reporting, but the circumstances indicate a deliberate arson attempt targeting of the church. A social media post described the incident as an attack on a place of worship that insults the common identity and history of the community.