All cases

Theft at the Cathedral St. Sebastian in Magdeburg

June 8, 2020, Germany

Around 3:00 a.m. on June 8, 2020, Sister Adelgitt heard banging on the sidewalk in front of St. Sebastian's Cathedral in downtown Magdeburg. Early the next morning it was clear what she had heard. Unknown thieves had stolen two bronze wings from the 'Angel Gate' which stands in front of the 'Gate of Paradise' at the west entrance of the cathedral. Since this is not the first time that parts of the gate were stolen, the remaining sections of the gate have now been secured by welding them together. A few days later, police received a tip from a witness who had found sawn-up bronze pieces near a garden property in the Fermersleber Elbweg between the two Salbker See lakes. They were later identified as the stolen parts. Narcotics were found on an adjacent property.

St. Johannes in Troisdorf Girls Discover Church Fire - Now The Police Investigates

June 8, 2020, Germany

Although there is no yet concrete evidence of arson, the police are investigating the fire in the church of St. Johannes. Two girls noticed smoke billowing out of the church and alerted the fire department. Apparently, too many candles had been lit on the metal stand in the vestibule.

Report Shows Increase in Violence Against Christian Believers in Spain

June 8, 2020, Spain

The Observatory of Religious Freedom (OLRC) based in Spain, reported a decrease in the attacks towards fundamental rights and an increase in violence against Catholic believers and places of worship (mostly Christian), on June 8th. According to Maria Garcia, President of the OLRC, 80% of the attacks have been directed against Christians. The report also shows political parties like "Podemos", the left party and the PSOE party as clear opposers of religious freedom involved in acts against Christians. The most affected cities are Madrid, Andalucia and Cataluña.

Window Church in Burscheid Smashed For the Second Time

June 6, 2020, Germany

On 6th June, the windows of St. Laurentius Church in Burscheid were smashed again. They were already repaired one week after the first attack. There were four fist-sized holes found on the window, the metal frames were bent, and the stones were found inside the church by the opposite wall. The church remained closed, due to another act of vandalism in New Year's Eve, when a drunk man tried to set fire to the nativity scene.

Church Vandalized with Graffiti in Morlaix

June 5, 2020, France

The group Protège ton Église (Protect your Church) reported vandalism of the exterior walls of the église Saint-Martin in Morlaix during the week of June 5th.

Catholic Church Chapel Vandalized in Dijon

June 5, 2020, France

On the night of the 4th to 5th of June, a Catholic Chapel was vandalized with graffiti by unknown vandals in Dijon. One of the inscriptions says "Death to the Pigs". The same Chapel had already been victim of graffiti and anarchist symbols in February 2019.

Statue of Christ Decapitated and Vandalized

June 5, 2020, Spain

In the early morning hours of June 4, unknown individuals assaulted the monument dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in La Roda de Andalucía and broke the face and hands of the image to pieces.

Catholic Seminary Defaced During "Black Lives Matter Vienna" Rally

June 5, 2020, Austria

A "Black Lives Matter Vienna" protest on June 5th led to anti-church demonstrations and vandalism at a seminary near the US embassy in Vienna-Alsergrund, according to the seminary director. The outer wall was extensively smeared with graffiti and defaced, and he reported the resulting financial damage to the police.

Saint-Joseph Parish Church Vandalized

June 4, 2020, France

At the end of the first week of June, broken glass was discovered in a corridor of the parish church of Schœneck caused by the throwing of a large stone of about one kilo against a church window. The projectile had been thrown from outside the church and loosened the metal frame of the masonry. In front of the entrance to the crypt, the impact of a projectile against a window pane caused a crack that spanned its entire length. Another window was broken in the sacristy. Additionally, the large metal entrance gate at the side of the grotto of the Virgin was damaged, and two crossbars were twisted and torn off.

Fire Set in Bockhorst Church

June 4, 2020, Germany

Unknown perpetrators set fire to an altar cloth and an organ book in the Maria von der immerwährenden Hilfe (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) church in Bockhorst at around 5:00 p.m. on May 29th. The fire was extinguished promptly by the person who discovered the fire. Property damage of several thousand euros was incurred.

Large Altar Bible Stolen from Church

June 4, 2020, Germany

Unknown people stole a large altar bible with a golden cover from the Protestant church on Rüdesheimer Langstraße in Rüdesheim sometime between June 3rd and 4th.

Vandalism and Theft at the Church of Heuilley-Cotton

June 3, 2020, France

Between June 3rd and 4th, one or more people broke into the Saint-Loup church of Heuilley-Cotton to steal the "begging angel" (l'ange quêteur) donation box. It was found outside the church completely broken and emptied of its contents.

Statue of the Virgin Mary Destroyed in Cameri

June 3, 2020, Italy

On the night of the 3rd to 4th of June, the Statue of the Virgin Mary of the Library of Cameri was destroyed by unknown vandals. The Statue rested on the courtyard of the library, in a niche. The perpetrator took it out and threw it out into the street, breaking it into pieces.

Hildburghäuser Church Set on Fire

May 31, 2020, Germany

A child set fire to 47 sites in the cycle path and pilgrim of St. Wigbert church in Häselrieth. Twenty-five emergency personnel of the fire brigade quickly extinguished the fire.

Politician Insulted With References to Christianity

May 30, 2020, Poland

During the night of the 30th May, posters appeared at bus stops in Warsaw insulting the minister of Health, Łukasz Szumowski, his family, and work. On the posters the minister is portrayed wearing the traditional costume of the Order of Knights of Malta and it says, "The Gospel according to Lukasz Szum". On the posters, there were also charges and slogans against the Minister of Law and Justice about false Covid-19 Statistics and regulations.

Devastation and Theft of Crosses in Cemetery in Poland

May 29, 2020, Poland

On the 29th of May, the community cemetery of Wieliczka was devastated by a 28-year-old man. He was found on the next morning driving his bike drunk. The police noticed that his bag contained several metal crosses. The crosses were stolen from the cemetery, where he torn off the objects from the gravestones. He was charged with 8 years of prison.

Church Falsely Accused of Spreading COVID-19 Virus

May 28, 2020, Germany

After many COVID-19 cases have been detected among the worshipers of the Bremerhavan Pentecostal church, the crisis management team warned of discrimination against believers. However, it was made clear that the infections have been through family and social contacts. The church defended itself and stated having a coherent hygienic procedure. The mayor complained, that the accusation was a discrimination act against believers.

Statue of the Virgin Mary Decapitated and Thrown to the Ground

May 28, 2020, Italy

On the 28th May, an unknown vandal or vandals decapitated the Statue of the Madonna in the town of Rosta, Turin. The statue was found thrown on the ground and beheaded. The Mayor himself condemned this act of vandalism.

Four Graves, Including that of a Priest, Vandalized in Village Cemetery

May 27, 2020, France

Four graves in the village cemetery of Saint-Pierre-de-Rivière were damaged during the night between May 26th and 27th by unknown vandals. Among those graves was that of Emile Genès, who had returned his native village after a long priestly life in the Paris region.

St. Martin Church Vandalized

May 26, 2020, Germany

Rioters vandalized and damaged the church and broken into the parish hall several times. The parish of St.Martin in Obsentrautstadt has invested around 20,000 euros in safety technology such as alarm systems and fire alarm to protect the church and prevent further damage.