Germany becomes European leader in church arsons
A wooden roadside crucifix in Bavaria. Photo: AC Wimmer/EWTN News
On 16 November 2025, the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe published a report noting a sharp increase in attacks on Christians and acts of vandalism against churches across the continent.
The report documents 2,211 hate crimes against Christians in 2024, including 94 church arsons – almost twice as many as the previous year. One-third of all arsons occurred in Germany, placing the country at the top of the list. A significant number of anti-Christian incidents was also registered in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Austria.
The report describes some of the most severe cases, including the murder of a 76-year-old monk in Spain and the destruction of the historic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer, France, which burned down after an arson attack in September 2024. In addition to attacks on churches, last year recorded 274 assaults against Christians, including threats and physical violence.
The authors of the report emphasize that official statistics underestimate the scale of the problem: surveys in Poland and Spain show that almost half of priests have faced aggression, yet most never report it to the police.
The organization also notes a rise in legal and social pressure on Christians – from prosecutions for praying in “buffer zones” near abortion centers in the United Kingdom to court cases for alleged “hate speech” over quoting the Bible.
The report calls on the European Union to strengthen the protection of freedom of religion, appoint a dedicated coordinator to combat anti-Christian hatred, and ensure systematic data collection on attacks against Christians in European countries.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that a European Parliament committee had called for adding abortion to EU health policy.
Read also
Shell hits UOC church in Kherson, rector’s wife injured
As a result of shelling, a side chapel was destroyed and the church dome was damaged at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Kherson. There are also injured.
OCU accuses UOC-KP members of “crimes against canonical order”
The leadership of the OCU has asserted its exclusive right to the Kyiv Patriarchate brand and threatened punishment against Nikodym Kobzar and his associates.
Moldovan bishop tells UN of pressure on the Church
Speaking at the UN, Archbishop Markell said the authorities are putting pressure on the Orthodox Church of Moldova and threatening the seizure of churches.
UOC clergy deliver aid to frontline monasteries and parishes
Clergy of the Kyiv Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church delivered aid to frontline monasteries and parishes that provide daily support to refugees and the needy.
Vinnytsia region bans religious processions and pilgrimages until December
Vinnytsia’s Defense Council has imposed strict restrictions on believers ahead of the Easter holidays.
Nicaraguan authorities release 1,200 prisoners for Holy Week
In Nicaragua, more than a thousand inmates were released from prison during Holy Week and sent home under a “family cohabitation” regime, with an appeal to begin a “new life.”