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.

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