Anti-Christian hate crimes are surging across Europe—and the warning signs are flashing in America too.
The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) released its May 2026 monthly analysis report, documenting a troubling spike in hostility. A total of “37 anti-Christian hate crimes targeting Christian places of worship, religious symbols, religious spaces, Christian institutions and Christian individuals” were recorded, marking an overall increase.
The crimes included vandalism, desecration, physical violence, theft, incitement, vandalism paired with violence, disruption of worship, and arson-related attacks. “With 13 recorded arson-related incidents,” the report notes, “May represents the highest monthly figure recorded so far in 2026.” Though not exhaustive, the countries that bore the brunt of it included Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
OIDAC Europe details how “incidents affecting churches and Christian property whose anti-Christian bias could not be clearly established” were not included in the report, meaning the “statistical total” could be worse than presented. Over 27 additional thefts, 24 break-ins or attempted break-ins, 14 cases of vandalism, damage or graffiti, and nine fires are actively “under investigation or with unclear causes.”
In Greece alone, roughly 96% of “all recorded incidents” involved attacks related to religious sites in the country between 2024 and 2025, according to the May 2026 analysis.
“[A]nti-Christian hostility continues to extend beyond property damage,” OIDAC asserts. “[I]ncidents involving direct violence, intimidation, or serious danger to persons” are steadily becoming a “notable trend.”
For example, according to OIDAC Europe, “A Christian-run café in Leipzig had to close after its operators reported 26 attacks over a period of two and a half years, including repeated vandalism, graffiti attacks, damage caused by butyric acid, and other forms of harassment.” These attacks were allegedly “carried out by individuals associated with the far-left extremist scene and ultimately made the continued operation of the café financially impossible.”
The Barbara Chapel in Penzberg, Germany, was desecrated with “satanic graffiti.” A historic church bell tower was damaged in a shotgun attack in Greece, and Italy faced instances of graffiti that openly called for churches to be burned.
These aren’t abstract numbers, OIDAC Europe concludes, but vivid pictures of believers struggling to live out their faith without penalty. A café forced to shutter after relentless harassment. Worship disrupted by violence. These recorded cases reflect “a broader pattern repeatedly documented by OIDAC Europe in recent years, namely the pressure faced by Christian individuals and organisations that publicly uphold traditional Christian beliefs and values.”
And notably, this wave of hostility isn’t confined to Europe. Similar patterns are increasing sharply in the United States as well.
According to the Family Research Council’s (FRC) own tracking of incidents against churches, the organization identified 1,384 acts of hostility toward U.S. churches between January 2018 and December 2024. Like in OIDAC Europe’s report, these attacks include vandalism, arson, bomb threats and other destructive acts that seek to intimidate faith communities.
FRC’s reports show a clear upward trend in attacks on houses of worship, with annual updates documenting accelerating incidents in recent years. Just as in Europe, these acts often target the physical spaces where Christians gather, while broader cultural pressures mount against those who hold to Biblical convictions on life, marriage and truth.
Bible passages to ponder amid rising hostility:
- Philippians 3:10
- Matthew 16:18
- John 16:33
