All cases

Unknown Perpetrators Damaged Protestant Church in Usingen

March 16, 2020, Germany

Between 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, Germany

In 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, Germany

A 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, France

On 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, Germany

During 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, Germany

On 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, France

The 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, Germany

An 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, Germany

Between 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, France

An 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, Italy

On 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, Sweden

The 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 Kingdom

When 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, Italy

The 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, France

During 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, Norway

In 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, Germany

Since 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, Spain

On 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, Spain

In 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, Germany

Alerted 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, Germany

Unknown 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, Spain

On 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, Spain

On 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, Spain

On 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, France

Around 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, France

On 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, Spain

On 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, Spain

The 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, Germany

During 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, France

The 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, Germany

On 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 Kingdom

Sometime 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, France

In 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, France

On 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, Austria

A 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, Switzerland

On 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, Germany

On 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, Switzerland

On 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, Spain

According 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, Greece

News 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, Netherlands

Media 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, Finland

On 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, Germany

Due 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, France

In 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, Greece

On 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, France

During 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, Germany

A 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, Italy

The 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, Germany

On 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.

Theft And Desecration n Kędzierzynie Church

February 29, 2020, Poland

On February 7th to February 8th 2020, an unknown person broke into a polish church in Kędzierzynie. The monstrance and the mass chalice were stolen and the tabernacle has been opened. Additionally, the Blessed Sacrament and consecrated messages were poured onto the altar. The damage amounts to 10.000 zlotys.