All cases
Catholic Church in Esbjerg Vandalised
May 26, 2013, DenmarkOn May 26 the crucifix in front of the church of Esbjerg in Jutland was vandalised for the second time. In the early morning a man of 25 to 30 years passing by the church with a companion, jumped into its front yard and broke the legs of the Jesus figure on the cross. The first time the crucifix has been attacked was at Easter 2012 when the figure of Jesus was torn from the cross.
References to Christmas to be Removed in Asturias
May 22, 2013, SpainThe Asturian regional government has sent a circular to schools asking for all references to Christmas to be removed from the school calendar and replaced with “winter holidays”.
Music Video to David Bowie’s Song The Next Day Insults Christians’ Religious Feelings
May 22, 2013, InternationalThe video presented Bowie singing in an outfit representing Jesus. The scene takes place in a dark and bloody brothel. It begins with a priest entering the brothel after having beaten down a beggar. The priest then seduces a nun inside the brothel while Bowie performs. In the end the nun’s hands develop stigmata.
(Northern Ireland) Young Business Man Troubled for Not Printing Sexually Explicit Magazine
May 22, 2013, United KingdomMr Williamson from Portadown in Northern Ireland, faces court proceedings for refusing to print materials of a gay magazine. He says the website of MyGayZine contained explicit images, and he wasn’t prepared to print that kind of material whether homosexual or heterosexual.
Pharmacists Do Not Enjoy an Explicit Right to Conscientious Objection
May 21, 2013, AustriaIn Austria, pharmacists do not enjoy an explicit right to conscientious objection. The so called “morning after pill” may be obtained either by prescription or in case of emergency without a prescription. Besides other functions, the taking of the morning after pill may result in an early abortion. The Austrian criminal code contains a conscience clause for medical staff with regard to abortion. But for pharmacists there is no such clause. It is therefore unclear, whether pharmacists have a right to conscientious objection or not. The professional representation of pharmacists says there isn’t. This body argues that there is a legal obligation to contract; and that not delivering would be an act of non-assistance to a person in danger. Therefore, pharmacists or employees of pharmacies do not dare to withhold the abortifacient drug for conscientious reasons. It is necessary to introduce a law in Austria which explicitly recognises the freedom of conscience of pharmacists.
Duty of Referral Creates Conscience Dilemma for Pharmacists
May 21, 2013, BelgiumIn 2007, a law was passed requiring a pharmacist to sell any type of legal drugs. This position was modified in a pharmaceutical law on the 15th of October 2010. Article 32 now states that without prejudice of the rights of the patient, the continuity of the caring and the execution of the order, the pharmacist has the right to refuse delivery according to his conscience and refer the client immediately to another pharmacist, where the drug will be available, otherwise he needs to deliver the drug himself. Even though these changes constitute an improvement, the duty to refer to someone else who will make the objectionable drug available, is problematic to the objector.
Registrars and Wedding Place Owners Not Allowed to Opt Out of Gay Civil Ceremonies
May 21, 2013, BelgiumRegistrars of birth, marriages and deaths are not entitled to refer to their conscience to refuse to register a gay marriage as a civil act. Owners of wedding locations cannot opt out of facilitating gay marriages in their places.
Pharmacists Conscientious Objection Limited
May 21, 2013, Czech RepublicAs of November 2011 the so-called “emergency pill” no longer needed a prescription making Postinor-2 and Escapelle available for women over the age of 16. The Czech Pharmaceutics Chamber published a “recommended policy” discussing the ethical view on the issue: “Due to the pill’s effects, some pharmacist might have personal reservations to sell it. Those pharmacists whose consciences do not allow to sell abortifacients can deny selling the pill only in such situation when there is not a problem for the buyer to get the pill from another pharmacist. If there is no possibility for the buyer to purchase the pill from another pharmacist in reasonable time and distance, the pharmacist is obliged to sell the pill no matter what his conscience requires.” A group of pharmacists signed a petition against this restriction of their freedom of conscience.
Conscientious Objection Impeded for French Medical Doctors and Students
May 21, 2013, FranceThe French law says: “A doctor is never required to perform an abortion (...). No midwife, nurse or physician assistant, whoever he is, can be forced to participate in an abortion.” But the reality is different: the organisation of the hospitals, the lack of staff, the schedules of the surgery departments and the pressure on the medical staff make a refusal on the grounds of freedom of conscience difficult.
No Conscientious Objection for Pharmacists
May 21, 2013, FranceIn French law conscientious objection for pharmacists is merely non-existent. Pharmacists are compelled to stock and sell the so-called “morning-after” or abortion pill. Moreover, in France, in the case of ‘passive euthanasia’ (i.e. a voluntary interruption of treatment), the physician has the right to be replaced by another doctor , but nothing in the law mentions the case of the other medical professionals, including nurses who often find themselves in very difficult situations. The prospects are not good: the very principle of conscientious objection is at risk. Eva Joly, French member of the European Parliament, recently said: "I am absolutely for France to abolish the clause of conscientious objection for doctors."
Pharmacists Forced to Sell "Morning-After-Pill" Despite Conscientious Objection
May 21, 2013, IrelandThe code of conduct for pharmacists requires that all pharmacists sell everything that is lawfully available in the state. This includes the so-called ‘morning after pill’. The Irish constitution has strong religious freedom protections, but if a pharmacist is unwilling to sell the morning after pill he would have to take his employer to court and plead for his constitutional rights. This could be very expensive and therefore most pharmacists with an objection to abortifacients in practice either sell them or quit their job.
Civil Registrars Forced to Officiate Same Sex Ceremonies
May 21, 2013, IrelandA civil registrar could go to jail for up to six months for refusing to officiate at the ceremony of, for example, a same-sex couple. While churches are not forced to actually perform such ceremonies directly, they might face fines if they refuse to rent out halls for same-sex couples who wanted to use it for their reception following a civil partnership.
Marriage Commissioners in Amsterdam Evaluated on Support for Same-Sex Marriage
May 21, 2013, NetherlandsMarriage commissioners in a district of Amsterdam must undergo annual evaluations to ensure they support same-sex “marriage” after it was revealed that two commissioners had refused to officiate at the ceremonies. Since 2007, the government in Amsterdam’s Nieuw-West district has only employed commissioners who agree to perform same-sex “marriages,” and officials apparently believed the district was free of “conscientious objectors.”
Statutory Protection of Freedom of Conscience for Pharmacists Missing
May 21, 2013, PolandPharmaceutical Law requires public pharmacies to provide medical products and medical devices in the quantity and range needed by the local population. The current law does not provide for the possibility to refuse sale of drugs except in very specific cases, eg. in doubt of authenticity of the prescription. It is found that the type of drug or pharmacological properties do not constitute grounds for refusal. State authorities may revoke the license to operate a pharmacy if the pharmacy does not comply to these demands. There is a list of cases in which pharmacist can refuse to sell the drug. In order to ensure real respect for freedom of conscience, the relevant statutory provisions protecting the right to conscientious objection should be introduced in the Pharmaceutical Law.
No Explicit Provision for Conscientious Objection
May 21, 2013, PolandWhile the abortion law in Poland is rather restrictive, it does not contain an explicit provision for “conscientious objection” to any of the medical staff involved in legal abortion.
Conscientious Objection Defined Too Narrowly
May 21, 2013, SpainThe Act on Sexual and Reproductive Health N° 2/2010 regulates the wilful interruption of pregnancy. It grants a right to conscientious objection only to those health professionals who are required to participate directly in an abortion procedure. (Article 12 §2, Article 19).
Registrars Not Allowed to Refuse to Conduct Same-Sex Ceremonies
May 21, 2013, SpainRegistrars are not allowed to refuse to conduct same-sex union procedures or ceremonies. Caso Judge (Juez de Paz) of the town of Pinto was forced to resign because he refused to officiate homosexual unions.
No Conscientious Objection of Health Care Workers
May 21, 2013, SwedenThere is no conscientious objection for health care workers in Sweden, in fact there is a total absence of legal statutes that protects the freedom of conscience for health care workers, midwifes, nurses, physicians, medical students or pharmacists. Health care workers, who are reprimanded, repositioned or put at disadvantage for refusing to perform procedures such as abortions, claim that their rights under article 9 of the Convention in compliance with the European Council resolution are infringed.
Conscientious Objection Clause Routinely Challenged
May 21, 2013, United KingdomSection 4 of the Abortion Act 1967 provides a conscientious objection to participation in abortion procedures. However, the scope of this conscientious objection clause is routinely being challenged. In 2012, the General Medical Council released its Draft Guidance on Personal Beliefs and Medical Practice, which stated that doctors must “be prepared to set aside their personal beliefs” in relation to a variety of controversial areas, including prescribing contraceptives – including the abortifacient morning-after-pill, referring women for abortions and performing “gender reassignment surgery.”
No Conscientious Objection with Regard to Affirming Homosexuality in the Workplace
May 21, 2013, United KingdomThere have been a number of cases in the past few years that have followed a similar pattern in that no exemption will be made where a Christian has a conscientious objection in the workplace because he or she cannot endorse, condone or approve homosexual conduct.
Overly Strict Hate Speech Legislation
May 21, 2013, FranceHate speech laws are very strict in France. Since the law of December 8th, 2004, any discrimination in speech against homosexuals is forbidden. Christians for example are unable to publically say that having a same-sex relationship is a sin. The consequence is that nobody criticizes homosexuality in itself on TV, radio or in newspapers.
Hate Speech Legislation Curbing on Freedom of Expression
May 21, 2013, SwedenSwedish penal law contains the crime “agitation against a national or ethnic group,” a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 2 years in prison. The Swedish government charged four activists who wanted to “start a debate about the lack of objectivity in the education in Swedish schools” by distributing leaflets on the "homosexual agenda".
"Insulting Speech Laws" Cause Legal Problems for Christians
May 21, 2013, United KingdomAccording to section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, it is criminal offence to use “insulting words or behaviour” which is “likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.” Originally enacted to combat football hooliganism, this provision has led to the arrest and prosecution of many Christian street preachers in recent years.
Stalking Law Used Against Freedom of Assembly of Pro-Life Christians
May 21, 2013, AustriaAnti-stalking legislation is used against side-walk counselling or picketing. On October 25th, 2011, the state court of Graz, Styria, upheld a judgement of the first instance condemning pro-life side-walk counsellors to pay fines on the grounds of “stalking.”
Freedom of Assembly Limited by Court Order in Germany
May 21, 2013, GermanyChristian-inspired non-governmental pro-life organisations often express their faith and their convictions by protesting in front of abortion clinics, or by simply standing in front of clinics or counselling centres in order to offer conversation and alternatives. In the German cities Freiburg and Munich, this activity has been severely limited. Local courts have given in to the pressure by the targeted locations, which could have been mainly financial ones. Courts have restricted the form of manifestation as well as established a geographical ban. Appeals are on-going.
Hostile Climate With Regard to Religion esp. Christianity
May 21, 2013, GermanyAnti-religion groups have created a climate hostile to frank discourse. Besides defamation campaigns and negative stereotyping, hate incidents have come to the Observatory’s notice. Activists physically prevented a professor to enter an auditorium to voice deviating views. Anti-religion slogans and images are often used in hurtful manners, such as the public destruction of crosses, the image of Jesus as a crucified pig, or slogans such as “We are here to hurt your feelings” or “If Mary had had an abortion, we would have been spared people like you”.
Pro-Life Manifestations Frequently Prohibited
May 21, 2013, FranceLaw 93-121 of January, 27th, 1993, so- called “loi Neiertz” made it a specific offense to obstruct abortions. Therefore manifestations in front of hospitals are frequently not permitted. A well-known doctor and embryologist, Xavier Dor, was condemned and sentenced to prison several times because he prayed together with a few others in front of a hospital and obstructed legal abortions. At 83, his latest trial is on-going.
Public Funding Restricted for Organisations with Christian Convictions
May 21, 2013, NetherlandsOrganisations may base their work on whatever beliefs or convictions - but to receive public funding, they must not object to current legislation. This creates a problem for Christian organisations especially with regard to objecting to medical procedures.
Freedom of Association Limited to So-Called Non-Discriminatory Activities
May 21, 2013, SpainThe law states that “the public authorities shall not provide any assistance to associations in the case where the admission process or its operations discriminate on grounds of birth, race, sex, religion, opinion or any other condition or personal or social circumstance.”
(EU) Non-Discriminatory Hiring Laws Shown to be Problematic
May 21, 2013, AustriaIn transposition of EU – law, Austria has adopted strict non-discrimination legislation in the employment sector. When a Christian religious official was looking for a secretary, his legal advisor asked the equal treatment commission before publishing a job advertisement: would it be permissible to reject a headscarf-wearing Muslim woman? The answer was no.
Lutheran Church Forced to Conduct Same-Sex Union Ceremonies
May 21, 2013, DenmarkThe parliament of Denmark voted to force the established Evangelical Lutheran Church to perform same-sex “marriage” ceremonies inside their sanctuaries, although one-third of all the denomination’s priests say they will not participate in such rituals. The Danish parliament voted by an overwhelming 85-24 margin to compel churches to carry out unions for same-sex couples that are identical to heterosexual marriage celebrations.
Businesses Forced to Deliver Services Against Their Will
May 21, 2013, IrelandWithout exception, businesses are required under the Equal Status Act to offer goods and services to anyone who asks for them and the business cannot ‘discriminate’ on the basis of sexual orientation, marital status, etc. While churches are not forced to perform same-sex ceremonies, they might face fines if they do not rent out halls for receptions following a civil partnership ceremony.
Public-Private Partnerships Based on the Principle of Non-Discrimination
May 21, 2013, NetherlandsPublic bodies have to break up contracts if a violation of the principle of non-discrimination is established on the basis of the personal convictions of a private partner. A communal administration will therefore not be allowed to maintain a rental contract with a private house, used for civil marriages, if the owner of the house is found to object to an actual request for a same-sex marriage.
Equality Act 2010 Causes Closure of Christian Businesses
May 21, 2013, United KingdomThe Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination on several grounds, including sexual orientation, in the area of the provision of goods and services. While there is a vital exemption to the general prohibition against discrimination for religious organisations when providing goods or services, this can only be relied upon in limited circumstances and is not wide enough to cover many situations.
Christianity Portrayed as Judgmental and Dishonest in Government Educational Materials
May 21, 2013, BelgiumThe report “Combattre l’homophobie – pour une école ouverte à la diversité” of the public administration in charge for the French-speaking educational system, imposes on public and private kindergartens from first enrolment until the end of secondary education to address homosexuality, stating that religion stigmatises. The report specifically addresses the Christian tradition as judgmental (mentioning Saint Paul, Saint Augustine, Saint Thomas Aquinas) and in an ambiguous analysis says that at certain times, the Catholic Church, and even popes, have performed homosexual rituals.
No Parental Consent with Regard to Abortion
May 21, 2013, BelgiumParental consent with regard to abortion virtually does not exist. There is no legal requirement to inform the parents of a minor wanting abortion. However, if the minor needs full anaesthesia, the parents will need to give their consent.
State Claims Political Correctness in Schools
May 21, 2013, FranceThe state is very strict with regard to political correctness in schools. It is very difficult for Christian teachers to debate with their pupils about abortion. One of the most striking cases was Philippe Hisnard, a French Catholic teacher who was revoked and suspended from teaching because he organised a debate about abortion in a class of “civic education”.
Home-schooling Prohibited
May 21, 2013, Germany“Home-schooling” is prohibited. Parents’ rights are commonly understood to include the right to choose the form of education of one’s children, including the possibility of non-institutional education, such as so-called home-schooling. Germany, however, allows home-schooling only in the most exceptional circumstances. In general, parents do not have the option to home-school their children. Offenders have to pay fines, and occasionally prison sentences are pronounced.
Home-schooling Severely Limited
May 21, 2013, SlovakiaHome-schooling is severely limited in Slovakia. In fact, it is allowed only for pupils of 1st - 4th class in basic schools, for disabled children, or for children in custody and who are not able to go to school for longer than two months for health reasons. Permission for “individual education” must be granted by the director of the district school of the pupil. Another major problem is that the person who teaches the pupils must have a pedagogical university qualification. As a consequence, home-schooling is very rare in Slovakia.
State Educational Programme Angers Christian Parents
May 21, 2013, SpainSpanish educational law includes a set of mandatory subjects under the generic category of Education for Citizenship which are indoctrinatory and violates the rights of parents. The Education for Citizenship curriculum is mandatory for primary and secondary education (children ages 10-16), and must be implemented into all Spanish schools (public and private).
Home-schooling Practically Prohibited
May 21, 2013, SwedenAccording to the Education Act (2010:800) home-schooling is practically forbidden in Sweden. Home-schooling is allowed only when exceptional circumstances apply, which is hardly ever granted. According to the preparatory work of the government bill, permissions should be granted with great restraint, stating explicitly that religious and philosophical reasons are not to be considered as exceptional circumstances.
No Opt Out of Sex Education
May 21, 2013, SwedenIn 2011, the Swedish Educational Broadcasting Company, a public service company (UR), launched a sex education campaign in Swedish schools, called “Putting sex on the map” (co-produced by RFSU, a member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation), targeting children of lower secondary school age. Parents objected to the content of the materials, including explicit images and sex scenes, and scientific information, including physical and psychological risks of early sex debut and many sexual partners or abortion.
No Parental Consent Necessary for Minors' Abortion
May 21, 2013, SwedenThere is no parental consent with regard to abortion. Much attention was drawn to a case where an eleven-year-old girl had undergone two abortions in a very short period of time without parental consent. The Parliamentary Ombudsman held that it had gone too far and concluded that “it is obvious that a child of this age (11 years) does not have the maturity to consider the consequences of an abortion by herself.”
Province of Asturias Decides to Eliminate Religious Terms in Schools
May 20, 2013, SpainThe region’s education minister Doña Ana González Rodríguez asked the schools to remove the words Christmas and Easter from their calendars.
Vandalism Forces Churches in Breckerfeld to Install Security Cameras
May 18, 2013, GermanyIn a Catholic church in Breckerfeld, vandals left cigarette butts on benches and in the holy water, chewing gum on the organ and broke the Easter candle. A similar incident happened to the Protestant community in Breckerfeld. Both churches are accustomed to leaving the church unlocked so that people can enter at any time to pray or visit. In order to keep out the vandals they have decided to install surveillance cameras and tighten security measures by locking the organ and the loft of the church.
Anti-Christian Graffiti at Pro Life Manifestation
May 12, 2013, ItalyOn May 12th, about 30,000 people held a manifestation in favour of the protection of life in Rome. Graffiti on the way of the manifestation said: "All Catholics are Bastards." "The only Church which illuminates is a burning church." A cross turned upside down and the number 666 (for Christians an anti-Christian symbol) were spray-painted as well.
Altar in Catholic Church Set on Fire in Valence, Drôme
May 10, 2013, FranceThe altar of the church of Saint-Jean in Valence (Drôme) was purposefully set on fire on May 10. Parish priest Dominique Fornerod deplores the incident and ask the parishioners to pray for the perpetrators.
Socialist Youth Organisation Uses Image of Crucified Woman
May 9, 2013, SpainThe words, “You’re entitled to your life. You have the right to decide” were used on the poster of a Spanish socialist youth organization, Galician Socialist Youths, along with a picture of a crucified woman in order to advocate for abortion. As a sacred symbol to Christians, using the crucifix in such a way is perceived by many Christians as a mockery of the Christian faith.
Mother Forces Primary School to Remove Crucifixes
May 7, 2013, AustriaAt a primary school in Vienna crucifixes had to be taken off the walls because a mother felt that they were a “religious paternalism”. This was possible when it turned out that less than half of the pupils are registered as Christians. For the first time since National Socialism crucifixes were banned from class rooms.
Church Building Ransacked in Wolfsburg
May 6, 2013, GermanyUnidentified perpetrators broke into the Holy Spirit church building at Vorsfelde-Wendschott and ransacked several rooms. All the cabinets were searched and the lamp in the entry way was smashed.