Christians in Europe Face Growing Intolerance: The ECLJ Calls For Stronger Protection

Across Europe, Christians are increasingly targeted for their faith. While freedom of religion is a foundational value in the European Union, believers face increasing hostility: churches are vandalized, individuals are attacked, and Christian expression is increasingly censored. Yet, this reality remains underreported and largely ignored by European institutions.

In April 2025, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) submitted a contribution to the United Nations to draw attention to these disturbing trends. The contribution responds to the Secretary-General’s call for input on combating religious intolerance and urges stronger, equal protection for Christians in Europe.

A wave of anti-Christian attacks across Europe

In 2023 alone, over 2,400 anti-Christian hate crimes were recorded across 35 European countries. These included threats, harassment, physical violence, and attacks on churches and religious symbols. In France, liturgical books were torn, candles crushed, and altars desecrated. In Germany, a church was defiled with human waste. And over 750 thefts in churches were recorded in just one region of the country.

Far from being isolated incidents, these acts reflect a broader normalization of hostility toward Christianity. The main perpetrators identified include radical left-wing and anarchist groups, radical Islamist actors, and satanist networks. The ECLJ warns: this ideologically driven violence is no longer confined to the margins, it is becoming part of the landscape and is too often met with silence.

A silence from institutions

Despite the data, the European Union has yet to take serious action. While it has appointed special coordinators to address antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, no such role exists for combating anti-Christian hatred. This disparity sends a message: Christian concerns are treated as less legitimate.

The ECLJ, alongside the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU (COMECE) and Members of the European Parliament, is calling for the appointment of an EU Coordinator on anti-Christian hatred. Such a position would help bring visibility, coherence, and political focus to address this rising form of intolerance.

Christians silenced for their beliefs

Beyond physical violence, Christians in Europe face growing legal and social pressure to remain silent about their faith. Traditional beliefs on life, family, and marriage are increasingly met with hostility. In the UK, a woman was fired for stating that marriage should be between a man and a woman, a belief she later successfully defended in court. But her case is not unique. Expressing Christian convictions can lead to job loss, legal scrutiny, or public backlash, creating a chilling effect even where the law technically offers protection.

In some countries, laws establishing “buffer zones” around abortion facilities have raised concerns over freedom of expression. These zones prohibit any attempt to “influence” abortion decisions near abortions facilities. In the UK, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was approached by police and asked to leave for silently praying near an abortion clinic. Although no charges were brought, the incident sparked a debate about whether people can be penalized simply for their thoughts. “Every person has a right to stand in a public space and think what they want,” she later said. “The officer told me that my mere presence was offensive, that’s nothing short of viewpoint discrimination.”

A 2022 global study on faith and media confirmed that religion-related issues, especially anti-Christian incidents, are frequently underreported. This invisibility deepens public indifference and weakens the political will to act.

The ECLJ calls for action

The ECLJ makes a clear call: Europe must take anti-Christian intolerance seriously. Christians deserve the same protection, recognition, and political support as any other religious group. This includes appointing a dedicated EU Coordinator on anti-Christian hatred, defending the freedom to peacefully express one’s faith and values, safeguarding places of worship, and ensuring greater visibility for anti-Christian incidents in the media.

Religious freedom is not a privilege, it is a right guaranteed to all. Europe, a continent shaped by Christian heritage and committed to human rights, must not turn its back on those who are increasingly targeted for their faith.