All cases
Christian Therapist tricked by Undercover Journalist and Gay Activist
May 23, 2021, United KingdomLesley Pilkington is a former Christian counsellor that was tricked by an undercover journalist to provide counselling for his "unwanted same-sex attraction". Approached by Strudwick during a Christian conference, the Chrisitan counsellor with over 20 years of experience agreed to help the man. After a few sessions, the man filled a complaint against Lesley to the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) to get her 'struck off'. However, the Appeal Panel lessened the original sanctions against her and reversed much of the original decision.
Church in Munich Threatened with Arson
May 21, 2021, GermanyThe Church Saint Wolfgang in the Parish of Haidhausen, Germany has received a threat of arson. Vandals sprayed onto the church walls "The only illuminated Church, is the one, on fire". A slogan often used by anarchist or radical left groups attacking the church. Father Alfons Friedrich discovered the act and reported it immediately to the police. The case might have happened sometime between 16 May and 18 May. This is not the first attack on the Sait Wolfgang Church. It has been reported that in Fall 2019 unknown perpetrators broke into the church and destroyed the churches pipe organ - built in 1907 - causing over 6,000 Euros damage. The Police are investigating, charges against "unknown" have been pressed.
Church in Warsaw Vandalised by Radical Feminists
May 19, 2021, PolandThe Saint Alexander's Church in Warsaw has been vandalized by the Women's Strike group. The perpetrators painted a lightning bolt onto the churches facade, which is the groups' symbol, and poured paint onto the same. A video posted on Twitter shows the extent of the vandalistic act. Inscriptions were also painted on the pavement in front of the church. The attack shows that their primary intention was to disfigure the church located in Warsaw's Trzech Krzyży Square.
The Church of Notre-Dame in Altkirch Damaged and Closed
May 19, 2021, FranceOn 8 May, the church of Notre-Dame in Altkirch in the Haut-Rhin region, has been damaged. This has not been the first act of vandalism. Due to the repetitive attacks, the church has closed its door to the public until further notice. A complaint has been filled to the police.
Statue of the Virgin Mary Vandalized and Her Belongings Stolen
May 18, 2021, SpainIn the early hours of June 18, vandals broke the glass and threw to the ground the Statue of the Virgin in the chapel of Nuestro Padre Jesús de la Salvación. The perpetrators have stolen the crown, the dagger, and a brooch, as well as causing serious damage to the image. The brotherhood regrets what happened, especially because the image had recently been restored. The neighbors and devotees were shocked by this event.
Anti-Catholic Slogans and Vandalism in Glasgow
May 18, 2021, United KingdomFootball Hooligans vandalized the city of Glasgow after a game on the 18th of May. They smashed the windows ft the St Maria Goretti church in Cranial and draped a banner with anti-Catholic slogans was across railings in time for evening mass of another church, which wants to remain unidentified. There were further reports of abusive heckling within church grounds. Two incidents were reported to Police of Scotland.
Man Severely Vandalises Church in Kitzingen
May 16, 2021, GermanyA 38-year-old caused a considerable amount of damage in the Saint John Church in Kitzingen. At around midday, the perpetrator is said to have climbed over the boundaries of the altar, where he threw down all the candlesticks which were partially damaged. He is also accused of having damaged the microphone system and the painting of Saint John from Jacques Grassmann with a sharp object. The 2 x 3-metre high altar painting was stabbed various times. The damage is summed to several thousand Euros. Police could identify and arrest the culprit.
Palm Tree Set on Fire in Front of Church Virgin Stella Maris
May 14, 2021, ItalyMaristella, Italy. Unknown perpetrators are said to have attacked the church of the Virgin Stella Maris, in the village of Maristella in Alghero. It is reported that the attack happened on the night of 14 May. The perpetrators have allegedly put one of eight palm trees which are located near the entrance of the church on fire. The immediate action of municipal police and firefighters stopped the fire before it could affect the Church. It is also assumed that they destroyed a tablet at the Stella Maris' entrance. A fire in the nearby forest was also reported and brought under control by firefighters. The fire is assumed to have caused a yet unknown sum of damage. Police are investigating.
Life Size Cross Stolen in Newcastle
May 13, 2021, United KingdomA life-size crucifix has been stolen sometime overnight between 12 May and 13 May 2021. The six-foot-high crucifix has been stolen from the All Saints' Church in Gosforth, Newcastle. The crucifix, which has been on display since 1965 "was situated in a consecrated area where many ashes are buried." said Rev Canon Andrew Shipton, from the All Saints' Church. He added, " It was a great shock to find that it had gone and a cause of considerable sadness". The police are asking the public for any information about the crucifix' disappearance and its possible whereabouts. The police are asking the perpetrators to return the crucifix, as it is also of immense sentimental worth.
Trust Fund CEO Fired over Rented Space for Traditional Church.
May 13, 2021, United KingdomThe CEO of Scotland's largest grant-making trust, Kenneth Ferguson, has been fired for allowing the Stirling Free Church to rent Trust premises. Robertson Trusts Chairwoman Shonaig Macpherson is accused of having shammed and humiliated the organisation's CEO, over his link to the Stirling Free Church and their biblical views on marriage. A ruling in the case is expected soon.
Repeated Acts of Vandalism and Desecration in Tailfinger Church
May 13, 2021, GermanyThe church of Saint Francis on Langenwand has been vandalised multiple times. Unknown perpetrators have entered the church where they graffitied the walls, tore off the barrier tapes to delimit the seats and left cigarette burns on the seat cushions and the kneelers. The altar has also been desecrated when the culprit(s) cleared the sacred goods away. The police have been informed.
Catholic MP's Twitter account temporarily suspended for Tweeting "Man can't get pregnant"
May 12, 2021, SpainCatholic MP Francisco J. Contreras in Spain got his Twitter account suspended for 12 hours after posting a Tweet saying that man can't get pregnant since they have neither an ovary nor a uterus. Twitter claimed that tweet to be 'inciting hatred'. Contreras published the tweet in response to an article claiming that a man gave birth to a child. The suspension fueled an already sensitive discussion.
Historical Cave Church in Turkey Destroyed
May 11, 2021, TurkeyThe Marta Shimoni Church in Mehri, Turkey has been desecrated by currently unknown perpetrators. Since the Church is built into a cave and thus cannot be destroyed like any other church, the nature of the attack must have been severe. Footage obtained by the International Christian Concern (ICC) Organization shows items and relics inside the Church being destroyed, amongst others pictures of Jesus Christ, rosaries and crosses. It is unknown whether the incident was reported to the police or not.
Historic Statue of the Virgin Mary in Chapel in Uzbornia Forest Destroyed by Vandals
May 9, 2021, PolandOn 9 May 2021, unknown perpetrators destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary. The over 100-year-old statue was ripped from its pedestal and then shattered. The statue was placed in the historical chapel in the Uzbornia forest in Poland which was built in 1880 and renovated in 2013. The city council, Mariusz Zając and other parishioners abhor the act. The police are investigating.
School Chaplain Reported to Terrorist Watchdogs after Giving a Sermon on Christian Values Sues School
May 8, 2021, United KingdomTrent Colleges' school chaplain Reverend Dr Bernard Randall held a sermon at the schools chapel in June 2018, in which he encouraged students to respect and debate upon 'identity beliefs' and 'identity ideology'. Rev Dr Randall was afterwards reported to the governments' anti-terrorist unit 'Prevent' and forced out of his job. The school claimed that the sermon was "harmful to LGBT+" Students, and Rev Dr Randalls views were extremist. The former chaplain is now taking Trent College to court for unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment and victimization. A hearing is awaited for June 14, 2021.
Doctor wins legal fight over total ban on public worship in Switzerland
May 7, 2021, SwitzerlandA swiss Court in Geneva ruled the ban of public worship as unlawful. As safety precautions regarding the spreading of COVID-19, Geneva banned religious services and events except for funerals and weddings with restricted capacity. Although religious gatherings were banned, public gatherings were still allowed to take place. Dr Sommeruga, who was assisted by ADF International took the ban to Court. He is "delighted to celebrate this win for religious freedom".
Bellevue Church Vandalized with anti-Christian Tags Again
May 7, 2021, FranceSimilar hateful tags to the ones in January appeared again on the walls of the Church in Bellevue, Fort-de-France. One tag said "Church of the Devil". The incident was reported to the police.
Stolen Baptistery Found in Frankenberg
May 6, 2021, GermanyA baptistery stolen from an evangelical church in the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg in Germany has been found. The baptistery from the 17 century has been found and brought back to its rightful place. According to the local authorities, the baptistery made of brass has been stolen from the evangelical church back in March of 2021. The police did not give any information about how they discovered the baptistery due to ongoing investigations. It is to be assumed that since the incident the church has not been able to carry out any baptisms.
Finnish Bishop-Elect Charged for 'Hate Speech' for Editorship of Booklet on Homosexuality in 2004
May 4, 2021, FinlandThe designated bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, Dr Juhana Pohjola, has been charged for 'incitement to hate speech against a certain group of people' by the Finnish Attorney General's Office. Similarly to the case of Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen, the reason for the charges placed against Dr Pohjola is his editorship of a booklet published by the Luther Foundation Finland (ELMDF) in 2004 and written by Räsänen. Beforehand, all charges have been dropped by the Helsinki Police because they could not identify any broken law by the booklet since same-sex marriage was only legalised in Finland in 2017.
17th century statue of Christ stolen from Saint-Nazaire church
May 3, 2021, FranceThe historic statute of Christ, classified as a historical monument since 1949, has been stolen from the church of Saint-François in Saint-Nazaire. The wooden statue, disappeared between 3rd and 10th April 2021. There is a high probability that the statute has been stolen during the opening hours in the middle of the day. A complaint has been filed to the police and an investigation has been underway.