All cases
Fire in the Youth Centre at the Thomas Morus Church
June 30, 2020, GermanyOn the evening of June 30th, a fire broke out in the youth centre, which is part of the Thomas Morus Church in Münster. The cause of the fire is still unclear but the investigation department of the police opened a case. No people were harmed during this fire.
British MP Receives Death Threat after Voting against Abortion Law
June 30, 2020, United KingdomIn June, a British MP received a death threat and other online abuse after voting in accordance with her pro-life convictions. Dr Lisa Cameron, SNP MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, was sent the threat just days after voting against a pro-abortion bill, which limits support/protest near abortion clinics.
Catalan Priest Attacked With A Glass On The Neck
June 30, 2020, SpainOn July 30th in a parish on Consell de Cent Street, a priest came to the aid of an old lady in the church after overhearing an argument between her and an unknown man. The priest confronted the aggressor directly, who then attacked him with a glass and cut his neck. The perpetrator tried to run away but was stopped by a witness. The police arrived and arrested the individual, who has a violent robbery history.
Suspected Arson at San Girolamo Church in Rimini
June 29, 2020, ItalyOn June 29th, firefighters were called to the San Girolamo Church in the city of Rimini shortly after 3:30 in the afternoon. A pedestrian reported smoke emanating from the storage room of the church building where old furniture and plastic chairs formed the basis for the fire. Fortunately, the firefighting team was able to quell the blaze. A forensics team investigated whether the fire had been intentionally set, noting that nothing indicated that short circuits or similar faults were the cause of the fire.
La Dominelais Church Ravaged by Fire
June 29, 2020, FranceOn Monday, June 29th a fire which began behind the altar of the church of La Dominelais, south of Rennes, caused significant damage. Smoke and heat blackened the walls of the building, which had been renovated some twenty years ago.
Church Fire in Réaumont Investigated
June 29, 2020, FranceShortly before 7 p.m. on June 29th, the fire brigade was dispatched to a fire in the Réaumont church. The firefighters were able to contain the damage of the fire to the sacristy. The fire produced high volumes of smoke, which caused most of the damage in the sacristy. Fortunately the rest of the church remained intact and no sacred objects were damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the gendarmerie.
Crystal Glass Pyramide Protecting the Statue of Antonfrancesco Farsetti Vandalized
June 28, 2020, ItalyOn June 28th the crystal glass pyramid, which is supposed to protect the statue Antonfrancesco Farsetti, founder of Ilsa della Donazella, was smashed by unknown vandals.
Repeated Acts of Vandalism and Theft in Bergamo Church
June 27, 2020, ItalyIn the week before June 27th, the church of Sant’Andrea in Bergamo was the victim of two crimes. The first incident was the vandalism of the liturgical chair which was discovered upside down in the middle of the church and wet with what the priest suspected was urine. The second incident was the theft of the offerings, accomplished by severely damaging the valuable offering boxes. This series of events led to the closure of the church except for Sunday Mass, until funds have been raised to install comprehensive security measures.
Robbers Cause €100 in Damage to Steal €5 from Sulzbach Church
June 26, 2020, GermanyPolice report that between June 26th and June 28th unknown perpetrators stole money from the offering box of the evangelical Church of Sulzbach. While the damage to the church property was estimated to be one hundred euros, the thieves fled with five euros.
Fire Devastated Catholic Parish Hall; Apartment
June 26, 2020, GermanyAAround 10:30 p.m. on June 26th, the Hemmingen fire brigade was called due to a report of smoke in an apartment. Upon arrival, they discovered that that the adjacent caretaker's apartment in the attic of the Catholic Church of St. George parish hall was on fire. The fire brigade had to put out the fire and prevent it from spreading to the church, which is just a few meters away. According to the Ludwigsburg police, the caretaker's apartment was completely burnt out and is now uninhabitable. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Disturbance in the Church of Oppau in Ludwigshafen Suspect Fled
June 23, 2020, GermanyOn June 23rd, the priest of the Catholic church in the Oppau district of Lugwigshafen heard a loud noise inside the church around 12:30 p.m. While investing the noise, he discovered a young man fleeing and found several objects in the church toppled over. The damage caused is estimated to be around 500 euros. The police are investigating.
Statue of Saint Junípero Serra Vandalized with "Racist"
June 22, 2020, SpainThe statue of the Mallorcan friar and saint Junípero Serra in Palma which stands in front of the central convent of Sant Francesc, was vandalized on June 22nd. The word 'racist' was smeared on the base of the monument, and the saint's image was also stained with red paint. The statue was attacked after the Podemos councilor in the Palma City Council, Sonia Vivas, mayor of Social Justice, Feminism and LGTBI, noted the statue of the eighteenth-century Franciscan friar had been attacked in California, USA. She suggested the statue of the saint should be thrown away "peacefully, "calling the saint a symbol of the "oligarchy".
‘Black Madonna’ in Breda defaced
June 22, 2020, NetherlandsOn June 22nd, vandals defaced the image of Our Lady of Częstochowa and painted the letters "BLM" at the base in a park chapel in Breda. The image of Our Lady, which is revered by Poles and also known as the 'Black Madonna', was erected in the park in 1954 in thanksgiving for the city’s liberation from the Nazis.
Unknown Perpetrators Destroyed Forest Chapel In Achel
June 22, 2020, BelgiumOn 22 June, vandals destroyed the small forest chapel at the Prinsenloop on the Witteberg in Achel. The facade was thrown out of the window and the statue of the Virgin Mary was completely destroyed and the debris was found near the chapel. Some tiles of the roof and a flowerpot were also smashed. The police are investigating.
Theft from Bühl Church
June 19, 2020, GermanyA thief caused nearly €200 in damage when he violently tore the offertory box affixed to a table in the Catholic church in Bühl on June 19th. Reports indicate the box only contained a few euros. The Bühl police began an investigation.
Church Devastated, Altar Burned and Crucifix Stolen in Gattinara
June 18, 2020, ItalyOn the night of 17th to 18th June, unknown vandals targeted the small Church of the Madonna of the Consolation. The vandals forced the door open, stole the Crucifix, set fire to the altar, which also damaged the paintings and decorations, and destroyed the statue of the Madonna. The statue was found outside from the building.
The Sanctuary of Carmel of Cesana Brianza Damaged
June 16, 2020, ItalyThe sanctuary of Carmel of Cesana Brianza has been seriously damaged. The parish of Santi Fermo e Rustico reported the incident on Facebook. To report the episode, promptly reported to the authorities, is the parish of Saints Fermo and Rustico who on their facebook page reported the incident: "In the evening, numerous underage teenagers gather, leaving dirt and damage. To the children we say: the sanctuary is a place of silence and prayer, do not ruin it with irresponsible behaviour! This is no place to bivouac! We respect the sacredness".
Theft from the Catholic Church
June 16, 2020, GermanyOn Sunday, June 14th, unknown people broke the sacristy door of a Catholic church in the northern complex. Between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., they entered the church and tampered with the wooden door. Keys were apparently stolen from the room. The property damage is estimated at around 200 euros. Police are looking for clues and witness. Please inform the criminal police in Gießen at 0641 / 7006-2555.
Abortion Allowed up to Birth in Case of Non-Fatal Disability in NI Despite Stormont Assembly Vote
June 15, 2020, United KingdomDespite the opposition by the Stormont Assembly, Parliament of Northern Ireland, the House of Lords in the UK backed the abortion regulations for Northern Ireland, which were made on the time when the Assembly had collapsed. The regulations permit abortions up to birth in cases of severe non-fatal disability, such as the Down-syndrome. Lord Shinkwin, a Peer in the House of Lords, who also has a disability asked how they could deny life to a human being diagnosed with a non-fatal disability.
Government Proposed to Ban Pro-Life Campaigns In Front Of Abortion Hospitals
June 15, 2020, IrelandIn Ireland, the Government proposed creating "free access zones", where pro-life campaigners would not be allowed to stand in front of Hospitals and Abortion centers. Pro Life Campaigner Eilis Mulroy criticises the intended introduction of censorship zones. He claims that these exclusion zones go against freedom of speech and peaceful protests. Also, the Pro-Life movement criticizes the absence of meaningful support or interest in providing other alternatives to abortion in the draft Program for the Government.