A recent survey conducted by the Institute of Statistics of the Catholic Church (SAC) has uncovered a worrying rise in aggression against Catholic priests in Poland. Based on 996 responses, the findings show that nearly half of surveyed clergy (49.7%) experienced some form of aggression in the past 12 months—most commonly verbal abuse, online harassment, and in some cases, physical or property-related attacks. Notably, the vast majority of incidents remain unreported.
Keep updated about the latest developments and receive helpful information!
In response to current trends of rising religious intolerance in Europe, religious freedom experts met at the European Parliament on December 4, 2024, to discuss the necessary steps and means to protect believers and safeguard religious freedom. The panel was chaired by MEP Dr Paulius Saudargas and consisted of religious freedom experts from different backgrounds: Dr. Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator for Combating Anti-Semitism and Promoting Jewish Life; Dr. Gudrun Kugler, Austrian Member of Parliament and Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly; Alessandro Calcagno, COMECE Adviser on Fundamental Rights and Article 17 TFEU; and Anja Hoffmann, Executive Director of OIDAC (Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe), presented pressing issues and meaningful responses to current challenges in the area of religious intolerance and discrimination.
In its “Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe Report 2024” OIDAC Europe identified 2,444 anti-Christian hate crimes which were documented by police and civil society in 35 European countries in 2023, including 232 personal attacks on Christians, such as harassment, threats and physical violence.