All cases

Humanists Demand Religious Radio Program include Non-Religious Perspectives

February 14, 2017, United Kingdom

The 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, Spain

The 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, France

During 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, France

A 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 Kingdom

The 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, Austria

The 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, Slovakia

The 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, Norway

On 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, Spain

Two 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, France

The 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, Germany

A 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 Kingdom

The 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, France

According 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, France

Unknown 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 Kingdom

The 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, France

Two 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, Sweden

On 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, France

On 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, Slovakia

After 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, Spain

Unknown 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.