All cases

Nativity Scene Vandalised in Ancona

December 24, 2013, Italy

The nativity of Guasco in Ancona was damaged by vandals who destroyed some figures and severed the arm of one of the shepherds.

Nativity Scene Destroyed in Ello

December 24, 2013, Italy

Vandals destroyed a nativity scene in Ello during the midnight church service. The figures were all knocked down and some decapitated.

Christmas Advertisement Offensive to Catholics

December 24, 2013, Croatia

The Croatian telecommunications operator Tele2, in its Christmas advertisement, had a black sheep/goat named Gregor acting as a priest or Church official. For the faithful, this was perceived as a mockery of the Church and its priests.

Aborting to Cancel Christmas Suggested on Facebook

December 23, 2013, France

A message posted on the facebook page of Femen France calls on “cancelling the birth of Jesus” in order to protest against Christian pro-life campaigns. This message was accompanied by a picture which mimicked a half undressed Mary, the mother of Jesus, having an abortion in front of the Cathedral in Madrid.

Pro-Abortion Activists Disrupt Midnight Mass at the Church of San Félix in Sabadell

December 22, 2013, Spain

Roughly 50 pro-abortion activists interrupted Midnight Mass at the church of San Félix in Sabadell. They surrounded the altar shouting and holding up abortion banners. The local authorities were slow to react, and the activists were gone by the time they arrived.

Feminist Desecrates a Church in Paris with a symbolic "abortion" of Christ

December 20, 2013, France

Femen, a feminist group, mimed an act of an abortion when a topless young women headed to the alter and laid down a piece of veal liver supposed to represent a fetus and then urinated on the steps of the alter of the Church of St. Madeleine in Paris. The words: “344 bitches” were written on her belly; a reference to the manifesto of the 343 women who signed a call for the decriminalisation of abortion and the legalisation of abortion in April 1971. On her back was written : “Christmas is aborted.”

Crib Scene Destroyed in Solan

December 20, 2013, Italy

A crib scene in the St. Peter's Church was destroyed in Solan. The figures were broken and a hole was made in the bottom of a small pond which was part of the scene.

Bologna Basilica Intruded by Feminists

December 17, 2013, Italy

A mob of hooded feminists invaded the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna, Italy and held a pro-abortion demonstration. They held up a large banner in front of the alter which read: "You Occupy the Counselling Centres - We Invade the Churches" ("Voi occupate Consultori, abbiamo invaso le chiese") and then chanted in chorus: "Get the Church Out of Our Ovaries."

Graffiti on Church in Conegliano

December 17, 2013, Italy

Graffiti was spray painted along the front of the Church of Campolongo in Conegliano. One sentence read: "3 canonical vode gnanca a porecan home to Papa Francesco quaquaraqua", meaning “three empty churches cannot accommodate even a poor man. Pope Francis is one who talks nonsense”.

Vandals Damage Nativity Scene in Vasto in the Province of Chieti

December 16, 2013, Italy

In Vasto vandals caused great damage to a nativity scene by destroying the statue of Mary with a shovel. A strong smell of urine on the scene was reported as well.