All cases

Beloved Priest Murdered in Francophone Parish in Berlin

February 22, 2018, Germany

Father Alain-Florent Gandoulou, the head of the Catholic French-Speaking community, was murdered in his office around midnight.

Government Sponsored Festival whose Poster Depicted Church in Flames

February 22, 2018, Spain

The Lugo City Hall, governed by PSOE, sponsored a music festival in February 2018 whose promotional poster depicts Christian church in flames. The three-day festival called “A Candeloria” was organized for the 15th consecutive year. All participating musical bands shared in common "combative music" with "corrosive lyrics about the system and its institutions."

Strasbourg Cathedral Tagged

February 22, 2018, France

A facade and the double door of Strasbourg Cathedral were tagged during the night between February 20th and 21st with the anarchist message “Neither god nor master” ("Ni Dieu, Ni Maître").  

10 Churches in the French Regions of Loire-Atlantique and Morbihan Desecrated

February 21, 2018, France

During February at least ten churches in the French Region of Morbihan and Loire-Atlantique were desecrated or robbed, according to media reports. After police investigation, two men were arrested.

Church Desecrated in Erdeven

February 21, 2018, France

The tabernacle was desecrated in the church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul in Erdeven (Morbihan).

"Jesus Magazine" Mocked by French Daily Host

February 20, 2018, France

On the daily television program Le Quotidien, host Yann Barthès mocked the publication of a magazine called "Jesus" and comedian Vincent Dedienne joined in by singing "I have holes in my hands and in my feet." Eric Célérier, founder of the website Top Chrétien, publicly denounced this by noting that "mocking Jews is anti-Semitism and punishable by law. Mocking Muslims is Islamophobia. But strangely, it seems that making fun of Christians and Jesus is... humor."

City Hall Renovation Eliminates Christian Mosaic

February 20, 2018, Spain

Under the pretext of the restoration of the city hall's headquarters, the government of the town of San Fernando in Cadiz decided to remove the mosaic of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that had adorned the main facade of the building since 1941.

Alpes-Maritimes: Mission Cross vandalized in Grasse

February 18, 2018, France

On the morning of February 18th, municipal services workers discovered that the "Mission Cross" in Grasse had been vandalized during the night. The nearly 500 kg wrought iron cross was bent and the pedestal was deliberately moved into the roadway. The cross, dating from 1894, had been completely renovated by Jean-Marie Rouvier, of the Compagnons du Patrimoine en Pays de Grasse, in June 2016. Mayor Jérôme Viaud condemned the vandalism and launched a police investigation.

Christian Convert Attacked Outside Pentecostal Church

February 11, 2018, Sweden

A Christian Afghani asylum seeker was attacked after attending a worship service at a Pentecostal church in Karlstad.

Newspaper Publishes Journalist's Vulgar Tirade Against Catholics

February 10, 2018, Spain

The on-line journal Público published a writer's insult-and-expletive laden criticism of Catholics, priests, and a Catholic confraternity following a court judgment against a young man for posting an image mocking Jesus Christ on Instagram.

Council Votes in Favor of Buffer Zone around Abortion Clinic

February 7, 2018, United Kingdom

In a vote that would create the second so-called "buffer zone" around an abortion clinic in the UK, the Richmond Council voted in favor of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) around a clinic run by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service. If it receives final approval at the next council meeting, the PSPO would make it a crime to hold prayer vigils near the clinic. The broadly-worded PSPO would also prohibit any form of interaction with staff or visitors to the clinic.

Vulgar Graffiti Sprayed on Brzeszcze Church

February 4, 2018, Poland

CCTV recorded a man and a woman spraying the door of a church with vulgar messages in English. Police began an investigation.

Teacher Fired for Sharing Biblical Views; Loses Discrimination Lawsuit

February 2, 2018, United Kingdom

Following a one-day trial, an Employment Tribunal dismissed a discrimination claim by a Christian teacher who was fired for answering students’ questions about her Christian beliefs.

Universities in Germany Excluding Christian Groups

January 28, 2018, Germany

The climate at Germany's universities has become increasingly anti-religious. The German Student Mission (SMD) collected and documented dozens of cases of discrimination against student-run religious groups, including Christian groups. Discrimination has included denying the groups the use of campus facilities, prohibitions on flyers, and denial of accreditation by student councils. For Christian groups, accreditation has been denied both because "religion has no place on campus" and objections to the groups' moral stances on controversial topics.

Manchester Votes to Ban Pro-Life Protests outside Clinics

January 24, 2018, United Kingdom

Manchester became the second local authority in England to vote to ban pro-life protests and prayer vigils outside clinics. Councillors in the city agreed on January 24th to "take all necessary actions within its powers" to stop what it said was the harassment by protesters against women using the clinics. After this vote, protests would not be banned, but the city will investigate whether a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is warranted.

Professor Threatened Priest and Others in Nice

January 23, 2018, France

"Frank C.," a German philosophy professor, made death threats against a priest, a lawyer, a police officer, Christian Estrosi (the mayor of Nice), and magistrates in Nice. He was arrested and remanded for trial in Grasse.

Five U.K. Retailers Accused of Insulting Christianity in Five Months

January 22, 2018, United Kingdom

Five major U.K. retailers were accused of using advertising or packaging offensive to Christians in as many months. Ocado, an online supermarket, Fortnum & Mason, a luxury goods retailer, the bakery chain Gregg's, Domino's pizza, and Lidl all faced criticism for insulting Christians or Christianity.

Paris March for Life Crowds Underreported by Media

January 21, 2018, France

French media largely ignored the March for Life, and those who reported about it underestimated the number of participants, saying there were "more than a thousand" marchers. Police estimated 8,500 participants, while organizers reported that over 40,000 people marched.

Donation Box Stolen from Church in Mantes-la-Jolie

January 21, 2018, France

Shortly before starting Mass on January 21st, the priest of Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Mantes-la-Jolie discovered that one or more individuals broke a window and two doors in order to steal the church donation box. The priest filed a complaint with the police.

Arson in Saxony Church

January 21, 2018, Germany

A passerby discovered smoke was rising from the funeral chapel in Annaberg-Buchholz on January 21, 2018. The police and fire departments were called. The police suspected arson and initiated forensic investigations.