All cases
Arson in Church in Puget-Ville
March 12, 2017, FranceThe Church of the Immaculate Conception was vandalized and the victim of arson on March 12th. Father Eloi Legrand, calling it a profanation, reported that the altar linen was set on fire, candle wax spread on the altar and throughout the church, and items of devotion were broken and scattered in the church. The gendarmerie have found a small hand print and Father Legrand filed a complaint.
Man Arrested for Theft from Donation Boxes from Lambach Church
March 10, 2017, FranceA 30-year-old man was arrested after police were alerted. He was found with cash and tools used to retrieve money from the boxes: a long rod with double-sided tape.
The Local Police Hate Crime Unit in Palma Investigate Multiple Acts of Vandalism against Churches
March 9, 2017, SpainThe Local Police Hate Crime Unit in Palma is investigating various acts of vandalism committed in recent months against several churches in the Balearic capital.
Government in Valencia Attempted to Stop Religion Lessons in Schools
March 9, 2017, SpainThe Ximo Puig Government in Valencia created obstacles for the hiring of new teachers of religion by introducing new certification requirements. One affected teacher said, "three weeks ago, on the spot and without written notice," the Ministry of Education of the Valencian Community informed the Archbishopric of Valencia that all new teachers of religion must have the CAP (Certificate of Pedagogical Attitude ), or to have completed a Master's Degree in Teacher Training in Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, Vocational Training, and Teaching of Languages. This is in addition to the certificate known as DECA (Document of Ecclesiastical Suitability), provided by the Spanish Episcopal Conference.
Regional Government of Andalucía Cancels School Procession for Holy Week
March 8, 2017, SpainSchool children in Dos Hermanas, Seville, were prohibited from celebrating their usual children's Holy Week procession by the regional government. The government claimed it cancelled the event because of time constraints, but parents of the affected children insist it was cancelled due to a complaint by a secular association.
Leftists in Seville Seeks to Change the Coat of Arms
March 8, 2017, SpainThe Izquierda Unida (United Left) coalition in Seville wishes to change the coat of arms of the city as they say that its image is "not a representation of democracy" in the 21st century. Currently, the coat of arms is an image of King Fernando III, canonized as a saint, flanked by St. Isidore and St. Leander. The word "Mariana" also appears on the shield, added by Franco to represent the city's devotion to the Virgin Mary.
The Mayor of Zarazoga Prohibits the Traditional Firefighters Mass
March 8, 2017, SpainThe Mayor of Zarazoga and the local coalition government prohibited the Firefighters to continue with their tradition to celebrate Mass in their firehouse for the feast of San Juan de Dios.
Columnist Calls Immigration Minister's Crucifix Necklace a Symbol of Xenophobia
March 6, 2017, NorwaySven Egil Omdal, a veteran journalist and editor who currently works as a commentator for newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad, noted that Sylvi Listhaug, Norway’s government minister in charge of immigration and asylum issues, had been wearing a cross necklace much more often than in the past. “Am I claiming that she uses the cross as a political statement to appeal to that strange group who thinks that fear of foreigners is a Christian virtue?” Omdal queried on social media. “Yes, that’s basically what I’m doing.”
Anti-Gender Ideology Campaign Censored
March 3, 2017, SpainHazteOir.org painted a bus to circulate around Madrid with the words "Boys have penises, girls have vaginas. Don't be fooled. If you’re born a man, you’re a man. If you’re a woman, you’ll always be a woman" and publicized a pamphlet it created for parents: "Do you know what they want to teach your child at school? The laws of sexual indoctrination." The Madrid City Council authorized the seizure of the bus without a court order on March 2, 2017.
Primary School Teacher Suspended after Reading Bible Verses to Pupils
March 3, 2017, FranceAfter a group of parents sent a letter of complaint, the school's headmaster suspended the Malicornay teacher. The teacher will remain under suspension pending an investigation into whether he was proselytizing in violation of secularism laws or simply studying the texts with the students. The city's mayor has denounced the suspension as extreme.
Spanish Councilman Officiated Wedding Dressed as a Priest
March 3, 2017, SpainCouncilman Javier Botella of Levatemos El Puerto officiated at a wedding of his childhood friends in a priest costume. He was wearing an F.C. Barcelona scarf as a stole and a black cassock with golden edges. He posted a picture of himself and the newly married couple on Facebook and was immediately criticized for ridiculing the Church and the sacrament of marriage in his public capacity.
Two Street Preachers Convicted of Public Order Offenses
February 28, 2017, United KingdomMichael Overd and Michael Stockwell were convicted on February 28, 2017 after a public prosecutor claimed that quoting parts of the King James Bible in the context of modern British society "must be considered to be abusive and is a criminal matter". After a four-day trial, the men were found guilty under Section 31 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, for using "threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress, thereby, and the offence was religiously aggravated."
Government Announces Compulsory Sex Education
February 28, 2017, United KingdomThe government announced that sex and relationships education will become compulsory in all of England's schools. Relationships education will be compulsory for all pupils from the age of four years, but parents will have the right to withdraw their children from sexual education program. Critics view the law as weakening the influence of parents' right to educate their children about sex and relationships.
Oxford Lecturer Refused to take Christian Convert's Questions about Islam
February 27, 2017, United KingdomA trainee Church of England priest at Oxford University, an Iranian-born convert from Islam, claimed he wasn’t allowed to ask critical questions about Islam during a seminar and has accused the university of discrimination and bias and made a formal complaint.
Polish Prosecutors Investigate Play for Offending Religious Sentiments
February 22, 2017, PolandThe Polish prosecutor's office began an investigation of a theater play that contains a scene of an actress simulating oral sex on the statue of Pope John Paul II, and other sex scenes involving crosses. Another scene hints at murdering a top PiS (Law and Justice) party leader.
General Pharmaceutical Council Launches Guidance on "Religion, Personal Values and Beliefs in Pharmacy Practice"
February 22, 2017, United KingdomIn May 2017, the British Pharmaceutical Council published new professional standards, stating that pharmacists would have to “take responsibility for ensuring that person-centred care is not compromised because of personal values and beliefs.” The previous conscience "opt-out" provisions were removed. Previously, a pharmacist who did not wish to issue an abortifacient drug could refer the patient to another colleague. In June 2017, the Council developed new guidance called “In practice: Guidance on religion, personal values and beliefs.” This guidance made clear that in some circumstances, pharmacists were expected to dispense a drug against his or her conscience.
Elderly Priest Brutally Attacked in Parish Home
February 22, 2017, SpainFr. Arturo López, 77, was brutally beaten by three masked men during an assault on February 22, 2017 at the rectory of Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church in Coslada, a city in Spain's Community of Madrid. The three unidentified men assaulted and tied up Fr. Lopez after they entered his rectory to steal valuables and money.
French Civil Protection Federation Removes Cross from New Logo
February 22, 2017, FranceWhen asked about why the new logo did not contain the cross, the federation's communication director said the removal of the cross in the center of the original logo was a "non-subject" and there was no particular reason for its removal, and that it never had a religious character to begin with.
National Secular Society Proposes Removal of Bishops' Bench from House of Lords
February 21, 2017, United KingdomThe group made the recommendation to a parliamentary inquiry to examine how to reduce the size of the Upper House. The House of Lords currently has more than 850 members, and the Bishops' Bench contains two archbishops and 24 bishops who can vote on legislation.
Granada Bishop Accused of Hate Speech
February 20, 2017, SpainThe Spanish Observatory against LGBTfobia filed a hate speech complaint on February 20, 2017 against Archbishop Francisco Javier Martínez for a homily delivered on February 12, 2017 in which he criticized gender ideology in the education of children. The complaint accused the bishop of promoting "hate speech against LGBT persons."
Parliamentary Group Called for a Ban on Broadcasts of Mass on Public Television
February 20, 2017, SpainA parliamentary group in the Congress of Deputies presented a proposal calling for broadcasts of Mass on public television be prohibited, which they ask to be considered/debated by a commission that oversees RTVE, Spain’s public television station, and its affiliates.
Cemetery Ransacked in Saint-Pol-sur-Mer Cemetery
February 19, 2017, FranceAccording to reports, some time during the night of February 18-19, 2017, unknown perpetrators damaged and scattered around 30 gravestones in a cemetery in the prefect of Dunkirk. Many of the damaged plaques appear to be from Christian graves. Police are investigating.
Religious Statue Prohibited from Front of Church as "Too Religious"
February 16, 2017, FranceAfter complaints by the group Libre Pensées (Free Thought), a statue of Notre Dame de Granitiers commissioned by the Diabète Coeur association, is prohibited from being displayed in the forecourt of the church of Brusvily because it is considered a public place. The Church and State Separation Act of 1905 prohibits the display of religious objects in public places. 72% of readers of a local newspaper objected to this decision.
France Passed Law Banning Pro-Life Websites
February 16, 2017, FranceThe National Assembly passed a law which bans pro-life websites which attempt to discourage women from having abortions if the sites do not openly state “who they are, what they do and what they want.”
Work Begins to Remove Monumental Cross in Sant Carles de la Ràpita
February 16, 2017, SpainAfter the town council decreed that the cross outside the "Torre de Guardiola" fortress was erected in commemoration of General Franco's victory in the Spanish Civil War, it was ordered removed in compliance with the Historical Memory Law of 2007. Critics of this move note that the plaque linking the cross to Franco had already been removed.
Statue Stolen from Christian Grave
February 14, 2017, FranceThe statue known as "La Pleureuse" (the Mourner) was stolen from the cemetery of Saint-Germain-Lembron. Police are investigating.
Humanists Demand Religious Radio Program include Non-Religious Perspectives
February 14, 2017, United KingdomThe British Humanist Association sent a letter to the BBC demanding that its publicly-funded "Thought for the Day" Radio 4 program, which includes reflections from Christians and other faiths, also include non-religious speakers.
Graffiti against Catholic Parish Church in Murcia
February 13, 2017, SpainThe external walls of the parish of San Francisco Javier in Murcia were painted with threatening messages such as "Arderás como en 36" (You will burn like in 36; clear reference to the burning of churches during the Spanish Civil War) and also "Highway to hell".
Gendarmerie du Haut-Rhin Investigated Degradation in Church and Cemetery
February 12, 2017, FranceDuring the night of February 11th and 12th, unknown perpetrators broke a door and vandalized the church of Saint Etienne de Réguisheim and vandalized the nearby cemetery, as well.
Crucifix Statue Vandalized with Anarchist Graffiti
February 12, 2017, FranceA large statue of Christ on the Cross in a public square in Caen was spraypainted with the words "Ni Dieu; Ni Maitre" (No God; No Master) and the anarchist A symbol.
Historic Church the Victim of Arson
February 12, 2017, United KingdomThe Church of the Ascension in Salford was completely destroyed by a fire which was described as arson by police. It was built in 1869 and had recently undergone a £250,000 restoration with funds raised over three years. CCTV footage reportedly shows a young man running from the church at the time the fire broke out.
Vienna Church Vandalized with Anarchist Graffiti
February 11, 2017, AustriaThe outside walls of the church of Maria am Gestade was sprayed with the anarchist A symbol and the word "Antifa."
National Theatre's School Performances use Statue of Virgin Mary as Symbol of Extremism
February 9, 2017, SlovakiaThe Slovak National Theatre visited schools with a performance about the dangers of extremism, depicting the true story of a Roma family being attacked by skinheads in 2009. Without any explanation, the stage setting includes a statue of the Virgin Mary in front of a swastika symbol. A complaint has been filed on the grounds that this has insulted and defamed the Catholic Church by implying that the Church was somehow complicit in the crime.
Norwegian Court Ruled Against Catholic Doctor
February 9, 2017, NorwayOn February 9, 2017, a Norwegian court ruled against Katarzyna Jachimowicz, a Polish Catholic doctor who sued after she was fired for refusing to insert intrauterine devices (IUDs). Jachimowicz v. the Municipality of Sauherad was the first case in Norway in which a medical professional sued over conscience rights.
LGBT Lobby Attempts to Block Lecture by Gay Author; Demanded Apology
February 7, 2017, SpainTwo LGBT groups in Barcelona demanded that the Archdiocese prohibit a February 11, 2017 lecture by Philippe Ariño in the parish of Santa Ana on the grounds that the content would be "seriously homophobic" in violation of Catalonia anti-discrimination law. The lecture by a young French Catholic man who is homosexual and advocates celibacy as a means to resist homosexual urges was organized by the Youth Delegation of the Archdiocese. The LGBT groups have also demanded an apology from the Archbishop.
Arson in Private Chapel in Omessa
February 6, 2017, FranceThe owner of the chapel of Santa Rita, which he renovated, discovered the door had been forced open, cards and a rosary were left on the altar and set on fire. Luckily, the fire did not spread to the rest of the chapel.
Church Funeral Disrupted by Man Shouting Koran Verses and Calling Mourners "Infidels"
February 3, 2017, GermanyA 33-year-old Muslim man from the western Balkans was charged with criminal interference with the exercise of religion after he interrupted a funeral service at the Christuskirche in Schnaittacher, shouting "I curse you and your religion."
NHS does not Record Religious Discrimination
February 2, 2017, United KingdomThe National Health Service has confirmed, in response to a question from a Member of Parliament, that it does not collect information on instances of discrimination against NHS staff on the basis of their faith.
French Ministry of the Interior Reports 949 Anti-Christian Incidents in 2016
February 1, 2017, FranceAccording to the Ministry of the Interior, 949 anti-Christian incidents - 399 acts of vandalism and 191 cases of theft of worship items - were recorded on the French territory in 2016 but this does not include the hacking of Catholic websites which were said to number 112 by the French Observatory of Christianophobia.
Convent in Avon the Victim of Theft and Desecration
January 31, 2017, FranceUnknown perpetrators broke into the convent of the Carmelites of Avon during the night of January 31, 2017, stole computer equipment, holy objects, and broke open the tabernacle containing consecrated Hosts.
Magistrate Disciplined for Refusing to Hear Same Sex Parenting Case
January 30, 2017, United KingdomThe Judicial Conduct Investigations Office ordered Susan Preston to stand down from hearing future family cases, after she declined to sit on a case involving same-sex parenting due to her personal views.
Two Arson Attempts on Village Church in Rochecorbon
January 29, 2017, FranceTwo minors were arrested after police discovered they were responsible for two separate fires at the church of Notre-Dame in the parish of Saint-Marin-Saint-Vincent en Vouvrillon. The first fire was set on January 27, 2017, with the curtains of a confessional burnt; the second fire was set in the confessional itself.
Swedish Pro-Life Midwife Publicly Bullied by Journalists
January 28, 2017, SwedenOn the national Swedish Morning news, a journalist said: ”Those who are against abortion should be aborted. Retroactively.” And everybody in the panel laughed. Just before that, pictures of Christian midwife Ellinor Grimmark and her attorneys were shown on the screen. This occurred during the week Grimmark's lawyers defended her case in the Swedish Labour Court.
Infant Jesus Stolen from Manger in Noyon Cathedral
January 27, 2017, FranceOn January 27, 2017 the figure of the infant Jesus was stolen from a crèche in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Noyon on the same day that a funeral Mass for Father Serge Maroun was celebrated.
Church Bells in Two Towns Ordered Silenced by Courts
January 22, 2017, SlovakiaAfter a complaint by a resident in Pezinok about the volume of the local church bells, and another complaint by a different resident in Svinna, courts have ordered the church to reduce the volume or silence the bells in each town.
A Statue of the Virgin Mary Attacked and Damaged
January 22, 2017, SpainUnknown people stole the crown of the statue of the Virgin Mary on January 22nd around 6pm. A finger of the figure, as well as an arm of the statue of the Child Jesus, were also broken.
Attack against a Catholic Parish Church
January 22, 2017, SpainThe external walls of the church of San Nicolás de Bari were covered with graffiti messages such as “The only church that illuminates is a burning church” (common anarchist motto during the Spanish Civil War) and “No to obligatory religion”.
Vandals Twice Damage Cemetery near Gurmels
January 21, 2017, SwitzerlandTwice in a week, unknown perpetrators dug up crosses, damaged lanterns, and trampled on graves in a cemetery of the Reformed Church of La Corbaz. The church reported the acts to the police.
Gender-Abortion Whistleblower Ordered to Pay Costs
January 20, 2017, United KingdomAisling Hubert, who began criminal proceedings against two doctors who were filmed offering 'gender-abortion', went to court to challenge £36,000 of the costs that were awarded against her after she tried to bring two 'gender-abortion' doctors to justice. The judge said he could not amend or reduce the costs. Instead a settlement was reached for the amount Aisling has to pay. She now has until 18 August to pay the agreed amount.
Man Fined for Using Altar in Performance Art in Saarbrücken
January 18, 2017, GermanyIn January 2016, Alexander Karle crossed the barrier to the altar of the basilica of Sankt Johann and did push-ups for a video he called "Pressure to perform". An administrative court imposed a fine of EUR 700 for trespassing and disturbance of religious practice. Karle has appealed, citing artistic freedom.