All cases
Suspected arson at the Catholic Relief Services
September 4, 2023, FranceAt around 4am on 4 September, a fire destroyed the premises of Secours Catholique in the Maison Diocésaine de la Solidarité, next to the church of Sainte Jeanne Antide in Belfort. The police suspect arson and have launched an investigation.
UPDATE: Päivi Räsänen Stands Trial Again For Sharing her Christian Worldview
September 1, 2023, FinlandDuring the 31st of August and the 1st September, Finnish Politian Päivi Räsänen and Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola stood trial at the Helsinki Court of Appeal for the charges brought against them of "inciting hatred" against LGBT people. These charges are based upon a Twitter post made by Räsänen in 2019, as well as a pamphlet and a radio interview. Last year, Räsänen and Pohjola were unanimously acquitted of all charges, but due to the appeal by the prosecutor, they stood trial again. The verdict will be announced in November 30th.
Church in Bodmin Closed to Visitors after Repeated Vandalism
September 1, 2023, United KingdomSt. Petroc's Church in Bodmin was opened to visitors outside of services but on September 1 the church announced that it has been forced to close because of repeated vandalism. A spokesperson of the church said that it hoped to reopen to visitors in time, and that it was working with the police on the issue.
Church vandalised twice in one month
September 1, 2023, GermanyFollowing an attempted burglary in September in which the entrance gate was damaged, the altarpiece of the Protestant Church of the Redeemer in Fürstenfeldbruck in Bavaria, southern Germany, has now been vandalised.
Religious objects and church bell stolen from chapel in Cordoba
September 1, 2023, SpainThe chapel in the Villa Posse district of Cordoba was looted on August. Thieves stole frames and paintings from the sacristy, various objects, the bell and even the lock, as well as electrical equipment.
Youths vandalise cemetery
September 1, 2023, SpainIn September, youths vandalised several graves in a cemetery in Surata. They tore up flowers and smashed gravestones, plaques in the cemetery and a statue of Mary in the cemetery chapel.
UPDATE: Hieromonk Ioann Kurmoyarov sentenced to three years in jail for oposing war in Ukraine
August 31, 2023, RussiaThe verdict of the Court against Fr Ioann Kurmoyarov was given on 31 August and has finally sentenced the hieromonk to 3 years in a penal colony accused of disseminating false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Anti-mafia priest attacked
August 29, 2023, ItalyRome's most prominent anti-mafia priest, known for his efforts to rescue young people from the drug trade was attacked during a march against organised crime by a 28-year-old man on a scooter who was found to be carrying a hammer and cleaver.
Glass Door of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna Destroyed with Hammer
August 27, 2023, AustriaIn the evening of August 27, on the fringes of a Syrian protest, a glass door of the St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna was smashed with a hammer. The police, who were present due to the rally scheduled for the evening, immediately arrested the perpetrator armed with two hammers. The man was taken to the hospital, in case he was suffering from psychosis - the police considered a connection with the demonstration unlikely.
DONE JH: three Romanesque churches covered in tags
August 27, 2023, SpainThree Romanesque churches in the historic centre of Zamora, were covered in tags this summer. On the facade of the church of San Esteban locals found up to 30 graffiti, including upside down crosses, an anti-Christian symbol.