All cases
Priest Spoke out About Church Vandalism
April 7, 2020, United KingdomThe Church of St. Edward was found vandalized with graffiti on the 7th April. The Priest of the Church, Father Callum Brown, expressed his concern.
Police Cancelled Rooftop Palm Sunday Mass
April 6, 2020, SpainOn Palm Sunday morning, the local police interrupted a Mass celebrated on a rooftop by the priest of the Church of the Paúls in Triana. The members of the community had improvised an altar and lectern. The priest used a speaker to reach the nearest residential blocks. While some residents informed the police saying the rules were being violated, other citizens were angry at the officers for interrupting the Mass. The priests said there were only eight of them on the rooftop, and they all lived in the same house. There was a confrontation between the neighbors supporting the Mass and the ones against it.
Priest Fined and Arrested For Processioning a Crucifix Alone
April 6, 2020, ItalyOn April 6, a the Priest Father Domenico Cirigliano was fined and arrested for 14 days by the police, as he was carrying the miraculous Crucifix from the Church of Blessed Virgin Mary in Rocca Imperiale. He was doing a personal procession through the streets, keeping enough distance from other individuals and his assistant. The Father had told the parishioners he would bless the city in this form of reduced procession. The police reported the act as public departure, not motivated by employment, need or health reasons and had made a demonstration or religious act affecting the streets. In other cities the processions were allowed by the civil authorities.
Model Of Basilica Of San Simplicio Di Olbia Vandalized
April 5, 2020, ItalyThe model of the basilica of San Simplicio in Olbia, a meticulous reconstruction and a symbol of the city, was damaged by vandals. Unknown perpetrators broke the roof and the top of the facade. This incident occurred while the city was on lock-down due to the corona virus. It was not the first time the monument had been vandalized.
Vandalism and Theft in Saint-Laurent Church in Lambezellec During the Lockdown
April 5, 2020, FranceOn Sunday 5th April, Father Jean Baptiste Gless noted the degradation and theft at the Church Saint-Laurent of Lambezellec in Brest. The candlesticks and candles were overturned and the lamp of the tabernacle was stolen. The parish priest refuses to close the doors of the church due to the degradation, because he says the perpetrators shall not win, he always leaves the door open in the morning, so that people can meditate and pray. During the Lockdown, the priest also prayed for the people of the town, and he hung a sign on the facade saying "Take care of you all, we pray for you".
Parish Offices of the Church of Amabilina Vandalized
April 4, 2020, ItalyUnknown intruders vandalized the parish offices of the San Giovanni Maria Vianney of Amabilina church in Marsala. The printer and the drawer of the photocopier were opened and the electrical wire was cut. Nothing was stolen because money and valuables had been removed while the church remains closed due to corona virus precautions.
Golden Cross Stolen from Osnabrück Chruch
April 3, 2020, GermanySometime during Holy Week unknown perpetrators broke open a glass case in the St. Joseph Church in the Miquelstraße in Osnabrück and stole a golden cross. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
The Police Evacuated A Church Even Though the Regulations Allow Mass in Churches
April 3, 2020, SpainOn 3. April, the national Police evacuated the church of San Servando y San Germán, in the district La Laguna of Cádiz. The Police said that the security measures for the Covid-19 Pandemic were not being held at the mass. The parish priest wrote afterwards an open letter, assuring that the fifteen parishioners in the Mass were taking the right measures, and that the evacuation was not justified.
Hateful and Stigmatised Speech Against Evangelical Christians
April 3, 2020, FranceFollowing the incident where The Open Doors Church was unfairly accused of spreading the Covid-19 infections, Christians have experienced intolerance and hate-speech all around France. Thierry Le Gall, from the national evangelical Council, mentions that in the last weeks they collected a lot of violent comments on social media, saying that the Christians should be erased or that they should not be in the country. Also, Pastors have received threats through letters and phone calls. Le Gall believes these attacks are because of ignorance about religion, intolerance and a scapegoat mechanism.
Window Smashed at Protestant Church
April 1, 2020, GermanyAn unknown person smashed a window of the evangelischen Gemeinde Mainz-Laubenheim with a stone between April 1st and 2nd. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
The Police Reported a Priest Who Was Celebrating Mass With 5 People
March 31, 2020, SpainOn the 31. March two police agents knocked on the door of the Church in Valldoreix and said to the priest "It's prohibited to open the Church and you are a murderer." They denounced the priest, although there were only five people present including the priest, and the Mass was celebrated with the regulations and on a legal basis.
Repeated Burglary At Catholic Church
March 30, 2020, GermanyOn March 30th between 09:00 and 19:45, unknown perpetrators broke into the Catholic church in the Brüder-Grimm-Straße in Vellmar. They opened the door of the sacristy, the organ control panel, the cover of the baptismal font, the safe, and searched several cupboards before fleeing in an unknown direction. The total damage amounts to 1.000 euro. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Fire at Catholic Church in Rohrbach
March 29, 2020, GermanySunday afternoon unknown perpetrators set fire to the catholic church in the Sudetenstraße in Rohrbach. A stacks of newspapers caught fire at the rear entrance of the church. The firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, so only the church walls and the door were slightly affected. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Police Raids on Italian Churches Raise Religious Freedom Concerns
March 29, 2020, ItalyAn unclear regulation about churches caused difficulties between churches and police. The Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti of Perugia, president of the Italian bishops' conference, asked the government to clarify these rules. During the Lockdown, the churches were allowed to be opened, but the assistance of a Mass was not declared as a vital necessity. The police raided several Mass being celebrated by small groups of people separated throughout the church and some bishops received reports of hundreds of euros for organising a mass.
Polish Village Shocked over Vandalism in Cemetery
March 28, 2020, PolandDuring the night between the 28th and 29th of March unknown people vandalized several tombstones, knocked over plaques and crosses, and broke many candles in the parish cemetery in Wysoka, despite the corona virus lockdown measures in Poland. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Vandalism at St. Remigius Church
March 28, 2020, GermanyOn the afternoon of March 28th, an unknown perpetrator broke into and damaged the organ case of the church Saint Remigius in Ingelheim. Furthermore, one page of the Gospel book, which has been laid out and opened, was set on fire. Just before this criminal incident a witness noticed a "strange" man, who pretended to want to play something on the organ. The police are investigating and searching for more witnesses.
Theft of Statue of the Virgin Mary in Dorsten
March 27, 2020, GermanyOn March 25th a statue of the Virgin Mary was stolen from the St. Antonius church in Dorsten. CCTV captured a couple entering the church and stealing the relic. The police is investigating and asking the public for help to find the statue, as it has a high ideational value for the parish.
Significant Vandalism in St. Michael Kirche
March 26, 2020, GermanyBetween 6:00 and 7:20 pm on the evening of March 26th, an unknown perpetrator vandalized the St. Michael Kirche on Kämpenstraße in Versmold. A shelf with Easter candles was knocked over, and the candles were scattered throughout the church. A large glass sanctuary lamp with the eternal flame candle was destroyed and a microphone was torn out of the ambo. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Protestant Church In Dreieichenhain Vandalised
March 25, 2020, GermanyBetween Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon, three windows of the Protestant church in the Fahrgasse in Dreieichenhain were damaged by an unknown perpetrator. Two windows had a hole and the glass of the third one was cracked. The damage amounts to 500 euros. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
An Angel Statue Vandalised
March 25, 2020, PolandIn the night of March 25th, two wooden statues; one of an angel and the other of a woman, were damaged in Kadzidlin. An unknown person cut off the wing of the angel standing by the building of the Municipal Library as well as the upper part of the woman`s figure. The whole damage amounts to 4.000 zlotys. A 43-year-old was caught and admitted the crime using a petrol saw. According to the Criminal Code, the crime committed by the 43-year-old man for unknown reasons is punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
Offensive Graffiti on Church Door in Poznań
March 25, 2020, PolandThe main entrance door of the church on Dąbrówki Street in Poznań was smeared by an unknown perpetrator during the night of March 24th to March 25th. An anarchist "A" symbol was sprayed on a pillar and the phrase "zdejmij suknię śmieciu" This roughly translates to: "take off your dress, punk" in blue paint was sprayed on the church. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Graffiti On Door Of The Church Saint-Hermeland
March 25, 2020, FranceIn the night between March 25th and March 26th, a graffiti with the slogan "Vive le marriage libre" (Long live free marriage) was sprayed on the door of the church of Saint-Hermeland in Loire-Atlantique. The police immediately identified the perpetrator, a well-known militant in anarchist circles.
Anti-Christian Graffiti On The Church of Bouguenais
March 25, 2020, FranceOn 25th March in Bouguenais, graffities were discovered on the walls of the city and the entrance of the church with hostile phrases saying "Save a Life, cough up a policeman", "Hang the Priests and Hang the Counts" and "No God, No Father, No Mother".
Vandalism in Cemetery of Wysokie: Broken Crosses and Plates
March 25, 2020, PolandAround the end of March, a 22-year-old perpetrator entered the cemetery in Wysokie and devastated three graves. He destroyed plates, torn off the crosses and broke them and damaged the flacons, he also smashed the candles all over the cemetery. The total damage was estimated to be over 4.700 Zlotys. The police officers arrested the young man. In Niepolomice, the officers detained also a 28-year-old man in Podłęże for a similar crime.
Church and Oratory Vandalized and Desecrated In Two Consecutive Days
March 24, 2020, ItalyOn the 24th March, the ancient precious monstrance and a chalice were stolen from the local church in Ariano. The thieves attacked the religious building by smashing the windows and doors, overturning the crucifix and throwing consecrated hosts on the floor. The unknown perpetrators broke in through the side entrance after failing to use the main entrance. The community of Crociara was in shock after this incident. On the next day 25th March, the municipality of Corbola was also attacked, the sports field was damaged and the Oratory of Corbola was raided. The scene was similar as in Crociara, the windows and doors were broken and burglary took place.
Evangelical Church Dorfkirche Vandalized
March 24, 2020, GermanyIn the afternoon of March 24th, a 43-year-old man broke into the evangelical church Dorfkirche in the district of Karow in Berlin and destroyed the interior. The man climbed up to the organ loft and shouted incomprehensible words, probably in a foreign language. When the police tried to arrest him he pushed them back, threatened them with a wooden plank and went on vandalizing the church. The police reinforcement was finally able to arrest the man and took him to a psychiatric hospital. The reason for this crime is unknown.
The Church in The District of Pankow Vandalized
March 24, 2020, GermanyOn Tuesday 24th March, a 43-year-old man devastated a Church with wooden slats and hit the police officers. The man first damaged the interior of the building and then went to the organ balcony, and shouted incomprehensible words. When the police approached, he hit them with the wooden slat and continued to destroy the church furniture. The officers called reinforcements and were able to arrest the man and took him to a psychiatric hospital.
Religious Statues Stoned by Vandals
March 23, 2020, ItalyAround March 15th, unknown perpetrators stoned the statues of the Virgin Mary and Pope John Paul II placed next to the entrance of the church San Martino in Magnago.
Theft from Church in Mantes-La-Ville
March 23, 2020, FranceWhile France is subject to lockdown measures related to the coronavirus, thieves stole three video projectors and the money collected during Masses from the safe in the church of Sacré-Cœur in Mantes-la-Ville on March 23rd.
Small thefts from the Church of Mantes-la-Ville During the Confinement
March 23, 2020, FranceOn the 23rd of March, unknown thieves stole video projectors and money during the quests. The amount of the theft remains unknown.
Two Churches In Laubenheim Vandalised
March 22, 2020, GermanyTwo window panels and one element at the back window of the protestant church in Laubenheim have been broken. A lead glass element at the Catholic church and a large pane at the community center have been damaged too. The perpetrator had shared the committed crime on Facebook before being arrested by the police. The damage was repaired within two weeks, but the costs were tremendous.
A Historic Chapel in Wachtberg-Werthoven Defaced
March 22, 2020, GermanyAround the 20th March, the Jakobus Chapel in the Village of Wachtberg-Werthhoven was defaced with graffiti by unknown vandals. Hate messages like "ACAB" (All Cops Are Bastards) or "Fuck AfD" were written on the walls and the door. There were also combinations of numbers and other signs. The oak door of the Chapel had been repaired by volunteers the year before. The police started investigating, as similar acts took place in neighbouring villages.
Dąbrowa Górnicza Church Desecrated
March 21, 2020, PolandOn March 21stM a drunk 41-year-old man broke into the church of Dąbrowa Górnicza and profaned the historic altars of Our Lady of the Angels. The man was stopped by priests and put under arrest by the police.
After Arson In 2015 Luther Church Targeted by Criminals Again
March 21, 2020, GermanyIn the night between March 21th and March 22th, unknown perpetrators tried to break into the Luther church in Altena. They were able to unhinge the large and heavy oak door, but the criminal act was disturbed by the security alarm. Nothing was stolen, but the police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Fire Set in Saint Anna Church
March 21, 2020, GermanyAn unknown person set fire to the seat cushion of a wooden prayer bench in the Catholic Church of Saint Anna in Blieskastel-Biesingen. This incident happened between the evening of March 21st and the afternoon of March 22. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Nativity Figures Stolen from a Church
March 21, 2020, GermanyUnknown perpetrators broke into the Evangelical church on the Ringstraße in Aldekerk, Kerken through a broken window between the evening of March 21st and the morning of the 22nd. They searched several cupboards and stole two nativity figures, before fleeing in an unknown direction. The police are investigating.
Church Window Broken With A Whisky Bottle
March 21, 2020, GermanyAn unknown perpetrator threw a whisky bottle at a window of the protestant church Mainz-Laubenheim and broke it. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Burglary In Catholic Sacristy in Reichenbach-Steegen
March 21, 2020, GermanyBetween Saturday 21th evening and Monday 30th morning unknown thieves stole cash and chalices from the sacristy of the Catholic church in Reichenbach-Steegen. The chalices are sacred and used for holding religious services. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Vandalism of Church in Italy Despite Quarantine
March 20, 2020, ItalyThe coronavirus quarantine did not prevent the vandalism of a church: during the night between March 20th and March 21st, the church of Santa Restituta in Sora was defaced with black and red spray paint.
Chick-fil-A Closes its Reading restaurant
March 20, 2020, United KingdomIn October 2019, the American restaurant Chick-fil-A signed a six-month lease and opened a franchise in The Oracle shopping center in Reading. LGBT protesters promptly began a "Get the Chick Out" boycott campaign, due to the company's previous support of a Christian charity which opposed same-sex marriage. The company indicated that the closure was part of its strategy of opening "pilot license locations“ with limited menus in partnership with local organizations to test the waters while expanding.
Smashed Window Of Family Church
March 19, 2020, IrelandBetween March 19th and March 21thm some children broke the window of the Family church in Youghal into pieces. This act of vandalism is a disappointment for the local community.
Heavy Damage after Break-in at Schwalbach Church
March 19, 2020, GermanyAt around two in the morning on February 19th, two perpetrators broke into a church in Schwalbach am Taunus and leaving at least 5,000 euros in damage. They destroyed a glass pane in the rear area, pried open the main entrance and broke open several doors and cupboards made out of wood and glass. It was unclear whether anything was stolen. A witness reported observing two men fleeing the church (about 1.70 meters tall, Mediterranean looking and darkly dressed). The police are investigating.
Man Arrested for Norway Church Fires
March 19, 2020, NorwayPolice arrested and charged a man in his 20s for a church fire in Dombås and attempted arson at a church in Sel. The man admitted criminal charges. "He has stated as a reason for the actions that he was angry and cursed because [he heard that] a Norwegian man set fire to the Koran without the police having done anything about it," Hedmarken district court wrote in the ruling.
Glasgow: Anti-Catholic Words Hurled at Nurse
March 19, 2020, United KingdomA nurse in Glasgow, was met with the words "f****** Catholic," from the woman she was trying to help. The incident happened at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and was heard of in the Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Swastika Sprayed On Church Walls In Germany
March 18, 2020, GermanyA swastika, various words, and symbols were painted on the walls of the Luther church in Oberfrohna with a sharp point pen and red paint spray between March 18th 7:15 am. and March 19th 1.30 pm. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
All Saints Church Vandalised
March 18, 2020, United KingdomBetween 4:00 pm on Wednesday and 8.20 am on Thursday, an unknown perpetrator broke into the popular All Saints Church and damaged the interior. Crockery was broken, a leaflet table was turned over, and bandages from a first-aid box were laying all over the floor.
Graffitis Sprayed On The Jakobus Chapel
March 18, 2020, GermanyIn the night of Wednesday, unknown perpetrators sprayed several Graffitis in red and black paint on the walls of Jakobus chapel in Wachtberg-Werthhoven. Combinations of numbers, curious characters, letters like "A.C.A.B." and "Fuck AfD" were sprayed on the walls and on the door of the religious building. The damage is high, and the police are investigating.
Saint-Laurent Church Stained Glass Windows Smashed
March 17, 2020, BelgiumOn March 17th unknown people threw stones at the stained glass windows of the Saint-Laurent church in Piétrebais and broke them. According to reports, the church's windows have been targeted by vandals during the school holidays over the past four years, resulting in more than 16,000 euros in damage.
Parent's of 13-year-old Girl Complain to School For Mentoring Their Child Into Thinking She Is Transgender
March 17, 2020, United KingdomThe Parents of the 13-year-old girl accused the school of allowing mentoring sessions with the Head of the LGBT group, trained by Eikon Organization. The girl showed no signs of gender dysphoria until September 2019, and was comfortable in her body. By November, she had cut her hair and said she identified as a boy. In the school, she was then called by male pronouns and allowed to use men’s bathroom. The parents were not informed about the identity change of their child, until they accidently found out in a meeting. The teaching assistant also gave the teenager a YouTube website of a trans activist, where he showed his mastectomy scars and told how well the operation had gone. The girl was then sent to a psychologist, who also didn't approve the mentoring of the school.
Unjust Stigmatization of Evangelicals in France
March 17, 2020, FranceOn Tuesday 17th March, the Prefect of the Grand Est and the Bas Rhin, Josiane Chevalier, questioned on the France Inter Program the responsibility of the Christian Church Open Door in Mulhouse (Haut Rhin) for the propagation of Covid-19. Her speech offended many evangelicals, who did not accept to be stigmatized by his remarks. She implied that the church meetings were irresponsible, although the last big meeting of Christians happened in February, before the lockdown was announced.
Arson at Historic Church of Saint-Apollinaire
March 16, 2020, FranceOn March 16th, unidentified perpetrators set fire to the church Saint-Apollinaire built in the 12th century in Meximieux in eastern France. The fire was extinguished by local firefighters and police arrested the arsonists, but still the church will be closed to the public until further notice.
Unknown Perpetrators Damaged Protestant Church in Usingen
March 16, 2020, GermanyBetween Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th unknown vandals broke a window on the west side of the Protestant Laurentius church in Usingen. They also damaged two glass doors on the tower portal, but they failed to destroy them completely.
Perpetrator Broke Windows of Oerlinghausen-Helpup Church
March 16, 2020, GermanyIn the night between Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th, an unknown person broke two windows of the church in Oerlinghausen-Helpup. The police are investigating.
Conversion Therapy Now iIlegal In Germany
March 16, 2020, GermanyA new law was proposed from the Christian Democrats in February 2020 that prohibits conversion therapy defined as "all therapy carried out on human beings which are aimed at changing or suppressing sexual orientation of self-perceived gender identity". The law is already in use since June 2020.
Arson in the church of Saint-Apollinaire
March 16, 2020, FranceOn the 18th March, the Church of Saint-Apollinaire in Meximieux was set on fire. The parish priest used the Facebook page of the parish to report the incident. Unknown vandals set fire to the press table at the back of the collegiate church. The parish priest filled a complain and the perpetrators got quickly arrested.
Graffiti Sprayed on Göttschied Church Walls
March 15, 2020, GermanyDuring the night between March 15th and March 16th unknown perpetrators sprayed graffiti on the walls of the Protestant Abteikirche in Göttschied (Idar-Oberstein). Police are investigating
Theft In Protestant Church
March 15, 2020, GermanyOn Sunday March 15th, unknown perpetrators broke into the church in the Breitsitterstraße and broke a window and stole 15 euros and five confirmation candles. The damage amounts to 500 euros.
Armenian Genocide Memorial Desecrated
March 15, 2020, FranceThe Armenian Genocide Memorial in Lyon, consisting of 36 columns with inscriptions of poems from Gostan Zarian, was vandalized with anarchist and anti-Macron slogans. The monument is in memory of the 500 000 Armenians who were murdered by the "Young Turks" government. This criminal act is a serious offense against the victims and the humanity. The Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France called for a surveillance system to prevent any recurrence. The police are investigating and looking for the perpetrators.
Church Set on Fire by 3 Children
March 15, 2020, GermanyAn attentive witness told the police that he discovered a burning flyer on a wooden bench in the church. The witness managed to successfully extinguish it. Three children, aged between 12 and 13 years, are suspected to be the arsonists. They were subsequently handed over to their respective legal guardians. Police Kelheim does not yet have any concrete information about the damage caused.
Break In and Damage at Church in Meerane
March 14, 2020, GermanyBetween March 14th and March 21th unknown perpetrators broke into the church am Rotenberg in Meerane. Interestingly nothing was stolen, nevertheless the caused damage amounts to 1000 euros.
Arson At Notre-Dame-Souverainaine-Du-Monde Church
March 13, 2020, FranceAn arson was committed at the entrance of the church of Notre-Dame-Souverainaine-Du-Monde in France by two young people. They started the fire with petrol before fleeing the crime scene. Neighbours instantly extinguished the fire, which led to minor damage.
Vandalism and Arson In Acquate Church
March 13, 2020, ItalyOn March the 14th, the glass of the front door of the church of Acquate in Italy was found broken and the wooden part burned. The perpetrators also knocked an information pillar for tourists on the churchyard over.
Grimmark And Steen Lost Case Of European Court Of Human Rights
March 12, 2020, SwedenThe European Court of Human Rights had refused to consider the case of two fully trained midwives who had been denied employment in Sweden over their refusal to perform abortions. The midwives, Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen, claim that this necessity to carry out abortions was violating their freedom of conscience, dictated by their Christian faith. The European Court announced that the two Swedish cases were inadmissible.
British Supreme Court Rejects Hearing Ms. Dulgheriu`s Case against Prayer Ban
March 12, 2020, United KingdomWhen Alina Dulgheriu got pregnant she received help from a now-banned pro-life group in front of an abortion centre. She now fights against a Public Protection Order (PSPO), which prohibits any kind of pro-life activity including peaceful protests, the offer of counseling and silent prayer within 100-meters around an abortion facility in the London Borough of Ealing. But the British Supreme Court has now announced that it will not hear appeal on clinic buffer zone. She is now considering all her options including an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Statue of Virgin Mary Vandalized
March 11, 2020, ItalyThe statue of the Virgin of the Church of Rio Salso in Tavullia was vandalized with a fake joint and cartridge taped on the figure's mouth and hand on March 11th.
Twenty Bronze Candelabra Stolen
March 11, 2020, FranceDuring November 26th 2019 and March 5th 2020, about twenty bronze candelabra from several churches in Valence, Loriol and Bourg-lès-Valence were stolen by a 25-year-old man from Lorolese. He was arrested on March 10th by the police, admitted the crime and brought before the magistrate from the Valence public prosecutor's office on the morning March 11th.
Organization Barnevernet: Children Taken Away From Parents Because of Religious Teaching
March 10, 2020, NorwayIn Norway 16th November 2015, the Norwegian-Romanian family Bodnariu was forcefully separated, all five children were sent to different foster homes, because of the parents' Christian faith. The school teacher expressed concern to the Child Protection Organization Barnevernet, that the children were taught at home that "God punishes sins". There was no family review or court judgment. The Norwegian Authorities interrogated and intimidated the parents during the process. Two hundred and ten days later, the family could finally be reunited. There are several cases of forced adoption and family separations in Norway, influenced by the Organization Barnevernet. There have been protests against this organization, which has "destroyed many families" according to the victims. In another family, Merlita and Terje, whose son was taken away for 12 years, won the case against Norway after taking it to the European Court of Human Rights. Norway was convicted to human rights violations.
Crimes Against Christians, Jews and Muslims Are on the Rise in Germany
March 9, 2020, GermanySince 2018, the numbers of attacks against Christians have more than doubled, the assaults against Jews have quintupled, and the crimes against Muslims have tripled in Germany.
"8M" Painted On The Walls Of Church San Nicolás
March 9, 2020, SpainOn March 9th 2020, a graffiti of "8M" (8th March: women´s Day) was found on one of the walls of the church San Nicolás in Avilés. The painting has been done with chalk.
Virgin Maria Mocked By Graffiti
March 8, 2020, SpainIn the evening of March 8th, (women’s day) an insulting graffiti was sprayed under the ceramic altarpiece of the Virgin del Buen Fin on the wall of the church of San Martin. The tag said: "The Virgin Mary would also have had an abortion". The graffiti was removed from the facade of the church.
Vandalism in Güthersloh Church
March 8, 2020, GermanyAlerted by loud noises coming from the St. Pankratius church, a witness discovered a vandalized entrance, a broken window, and that the altar cover and a tablecloth had been set on fire. A 62-year-old resident of Güthersloh, was considered a suspect.
Broken Windows Of A Convent
March 8, 2020, GermanyUnknown perpetrators broke two windows of the convent in Herzebrock. Furthermore, bus stops at the Postweg and more windows at the Schomäckerstraße were damaged. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Feminist Graffiti On Church Walls In Spain
March 8, 2020, SpainOn International Women’s Day (8th of March), the walls of Church San Roque in Sevilla were smeared with feminist graffiti. This criminal act is one of many against this church.
"The Virgin Would also have an Abortion" Graffiti on Church
March 8, 2020, SpainOn March 8th (International Women`s Day), perpetrators painted the walls of the church of Santa Maria de Sants in Barcelona with a graffiti which says: "The virgin would also have an abortion".
Service Interrupted By Feminist Demonstrators
March 8, 2020, SpainOn the Day of the Lady Worker, a group of feminist demonstrators with feminist and anti-church slogans went into the monastery of Sant Cugat during the 12 o`clock service. They disturbed the mass and named the reconstruction a "machismo, sexist and patriarchal institution". Before entering the church, they did a performance in front of the church and put a banner on the walls.
Huge Damage in The Church In Avranches
March 8, 2020, FranceAround 4 p.m. on International Women`s Day, the Saint Gervais Basilica in Avranches was found vandalised. Part of the marble altar in the choir and a statue of St. Andrew were damaged. This incident was not the first criminal act taking place in this church.
Vandalism in the Basilica of Saint-Gervais in Avranches
March 8, 2020, FranceOn March 8, an unknown perpetrator used one of the church's candelabra to hit the marble altar and a statue in the Basilica of Saint-Gervais in Avranches. The municipal officers took charge of the reparations.
Church of Saint Agnes in Barcelona Vandalized by Radical Feminists
March 8, 2020, SpainOn the 8th of March (The Women's Day), radical feminists allegedly threw white paint on the doors of the Church of Saint Agnes in Barcelona.
Tibidabo Church and Other Churches in Barcelona Vandalized on March 8th by Radical Feminists
March 8, 2020, SpainThe Church of Tibidabo was targeted by radical feminists on the 8th of March. Other churches vandalized on this day were the Sagrada Familia and Saint Agnes, among others. There were phrases displayed against Christians, stating that Christian values are oppressive and blasphemies about the Virgin Mary.
Homeless Man Vandalized German Church
March 7, 2020, GermanyDuring the night between March 6th and 7th, a man broke into the church of Ellenberg in Guxhagen and destroyed the inside of the church. The damage amounted to 10,000 euros. The rioter threw hymn books on the floor and damaged and knocked church pews over. Furthermore the painting above the pulpit was damaged with a pointed object and the carpet was ruined. The alleged perpetrator, a homeless 49-year-old man, was arrested on the morning of March 7th.
Theft of Statue of an Angel in Lingolsheim
March 7, 2020, FranceThe founder of the Mercy Center and the moderator of the Gallican Apostolic Union, Bishop Raphael Steck, reported a theft of the status of Padre Pio in Lingolsheim. Last year, numerous statutes of angels have also been stolen. There have also been repeated acts of vandalism in 2018.
Bible set on fire in Krefeld Church
March 6, 2020, GermanyOn March 6th, fires were set in the Catholic church Maria Waldrast in Krefeld. Between 10:00 and 6:00 p.m. someone set fire to a bible under a prayer bench in the nave of the church, as well as the paper displays in the entrance. The damage was minor. A week earlier, someone set a basket on fire in the church. The police began an investigation and sought witnesses.
Burglars Smash Stained Glass Window at Leicester Cathedral
March 4, 2020, United KingdomSometime between 6 p.m. on March 4th and 7:20 a.m. on March 5th, burglars smashed a stained glass window in the chapel of Christ the King at the eastern end of Leicester Cathedral, next to the room where Richard III is buried at Leicester Cathedral.
Profanation and Theft in Saint-Gault Church
March 4, 2020, FranceIn the beginning of March 2020 the church Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais in Quelaines-Saint-Gault became a target of desecration and theft. The tabernacle was opened and the ciborium with the consecrated hosts was stolen. A Mass of reparation was celebrated on March 7th. The police took fingerprints and are searching for witnesses.
Theft And Desecration in The Church of Saint Gervais et Saint Protais
March 4, 2020, FranceOn the 4th March, the Church of Saint-Gervais et Saint-Protais in Mayenne was desecrated and robbed. The perpetrators forced the door of the tabernacle and inside they opened the ciborium and took the hosts it contained.
Religious Discrimination against Christian Seniors Group by Innsbruck's Social Services
March 4, 2020, AustriaA seniors group of Christians from recognised religious communities such as the Catholic Church, the Protestant Church and the Free Churches in Austria (FKÖ) is no longer allowed to use the tax-financed community centre after several years of use. In an e-mail from ISD (Innsbrucker Soziale Dienste), the Christian seniors group was informed that "prayers, devotions, hymns of praise, Bible readings or the like" are no longer permitted in the ISD Community Centre in Wilten with immediate effect. Representatives of political parties and Tyrollean citizens are protesting against this decision accusing of violating religious freedom.
Arson at Swiss Church
March 3, 2020, SwitzerlandOn the afternoon of March 3rd, an arson attack was committed in the Eusebiuskirche in Grenchen. Fortunately, the fire was discovered before major damage was caused. The police are looking for witnesses.
Three Arson Attempts in Church in Germany
March 3, 2020, GermanyOn March 3rd between 2:00 and 4 pm, a girl and a boy of 14 and 15 years old committed attempted arson in the Maria Magdalena church in Goch. They tried to start three fires: one in the small chapel with a candlestick, another one to a stand for prayer books in the nave and the last one at the back of the high altar. All three fires failed and the crime has been recorded on surveillance cameras, the 15-year-old admitted the act of vandalism.
Arson on the Organ Loft of a Church in Grenchen
March 3, 2020, SwitzerlandOn Tuesday 3rd March, several individuals placed a burning newspaper on the organ loft of the Catholic Church St. Eusebius in Grenchen. The fire was brought under control by the witnesses before the firemen arrived. The flames left damage on the furniture which is estimated on several hundred francs and the smoke filled the church.
Madrid Municipality Threatens an Evangelical Church with Sanctions for Carrying out alleged Conversion Therapies
March 3, 2020, SpainAccording to the Spanish Ministry, they will consider imposing "significant sanctions" on an Evangelical church in Madrid that exceeds 20,000 euros. In this church, therapies to cure homosexuality were offered and carried out. Now it is to be examined whether the church has thereby violated the Spanish LGBTQ law. "We will not tolerate any regression in our society and in what we have in our hands, which is to impose sanctions, we will not shake hands, we will not take a step back in the fight against LGTBIphobic behaviour," said Alberto Reyero, Minister of Social Policies.
Orthodox Church on Lesvos Vandalized by Refugees
March 2, 2020, GreeceNews reports indicate that the Greek Orthodox church of St. George was ransacked on March 2nd. According to witnesses, the vandalism was caused by refugees residing on the island. This news came as tensions ran high due to the arrival of hundreds of refugees and migrants after Turkey "opened the doors" for them to enter Europe.
Christians Women Portrayed as Harassers at Abortion Clinic
March 2, 2020, NetherlandsMedia portrayed Christian women as anti-abortion activists and harassers. They are also being targeted on the doorsteps of abortion clinics.
MP Interviewed by Police for Questioning Church Leadership
March 2, 2020, FinlandOn March 2nd, member of the Finnish Parliament Päivi Räsänen faced a police interrogation because of a tweet she posted in June 2019. The tweet was directed at the leadership of her church and questioned its official sponsorship of the LGBT event “Pride 2019”, accompanied by an image of a bible text.
German Church Closed Outside Services Due To Vandalism
March 2, 2020, GermanyDue to several weeks of vandalism and misuse, demonstrated by, for example, red wine stains found between pews in the church of Saint Gallus in Rangendingen, the parish will only be open during church services. Also, food remains and broken glass were found in front of the Church door. Not only the Church was victim of vandalism, the mortuary in the cemetery was also targeted. Similar incidents have also happened in the neighbouring city Steinhofen. Anyone who has made observations about the incidents should contact the parish office, Father Artur Schreiber, phone 07476/ 13 32, or any police department.
Two Consecutive Profanations Of The Church Of Ennezat
March 2, 2020, FranceIn the last days, the church of Ennezat (Puy-de-Dôme) was profaned twice. On March 2nd and the week before, prayer books have been gathered in a corner and set on fire, luckily the damage to the church caused by the fire was not severe. Furthermore, candles were broken, fire extinguisher were damaged and the pampas grass contained in a jar was stolen. The church is closed until further notice. The police are investigating.
A Group of Vandals Attacked the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George
March 2, 2020, GreeceOn 2nd March, the small church of Saint George near the village of Moria on the Island of Lesbos was vandalized by unknown perpetrators. Some locals blamed a group of migrants that live at the nearby camp, claiming that it happened when the police prevented a march of migrants demanding to be transferred to Athens. The perpetrators destroyed icons and furniture. According to the locals, the church has been vandalized several times.
Trémorel Church Vandalized
March 1, 2020, FranceDuring the night from March 1st to March 2nd, someone broke into and vandalized the church of Trémorel (Côtes-d'Armor). The tabernacle was destroyed and the consecrated hosts were found scattered on the ground.
Smashed Windows at Church in Bergkamen
March 1, 2020, GermanyA 18-year-old-man smashed several windows and doors of the church of the Resurrection and the nearby Martin Luther house on March 1st, using stones. He was cought by the police on the same day.
Orange Paint All Over Italian Church
March 1, 2020, ItalyThe church of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother in Montesilvano was covered in orange paint on March 1st. An unknown perpetrator painted the walls of the church and over the statue of Jesus Christ in front of this religious building.
Broken Windows in Leipzig Church
March 1, 2020, GermanyOn New Years Eve, 25 windows were broken on the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig by thrown stones. If people would have been inside, it could have been quite dangerous said pastor Britta Taddiken.