All cases

Fire Set in Famous Vienna Catholic Church

February 19, 2010, Austria

Two glass doors were broken and fire set on the altar under the tabernacle. Fire did not spread and was extinguished by itself.

Street Preacher Arrested Over Comments About Homosexual Activity

February 19, 2010, United Kingdom

A district judge has thrown out the case against another street preacher, Paul Shaw, who was arrested on February 19 in Colchester over comments he made about homosexual activity.

Cemetery Desecrated in Oxelaëre

February 18, 2010, France

47 graves were vandalized in Oxelaëre, in Northern France. They were all Christian graves and many of them were tagged with swastika, injurious words and various grafiti. Mayor Stéphane Dieusaert exclaims: "It is pathetic."

Mother Jailed Upon Taking Son Out of Sex Ed

February 17, 2010, Germany

A mother of eight was detained on February 17th to spend eight days in a prison. She had refused to send her nine-year-old-son to school on grounds of her objection to sex education.

IPPF Stereotypes Catholic Church

February 17, 2010, International

According to pro-contraception and pro-abortion NGO International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Catholics are indistinguishable from Islamists: “Fundamentalist and other religious groups—the Catholic Church and madrasas (Islamic schools) for example—have imposed tremendous barriers that prevent young people, particularly, from obtaining information and services related to sex and reproduction.”

Provocation of Christians in Front of Church by Gay Activists

February 15, 2010, France

Gay activists plan mass kissing provocation in front of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. Counterdemonstrations led to new location while a few remained there.

Catholic Foster Care Forced to Close due to Bill on Gay Marriage

February 1, 2010, United States

Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Washington has ended its foster-care program and will end its adoption program as well. At issue was the right of the archdiocese to reject gay marriage and remain a city contractor; a bill legalizing same-sex marriage recently passed in the District.

Non-Muslim Identity Card Holders in Turkey Face Discriminatory Practices

February 1, 2010, Turkey

Personal documents of Turkish citizens include information on religion, leaving potential for discriminatory practices. Examples include reports of harassment by local officials of persons who converted from Islam to other religions and wanted to change their ID cards.

Arson in Church in Bourges

January 29, 2010, France

The fire was set in the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, near the choir, in the middle of previously stacked chairs. Firefighters quickly controlled the fire, but a significant amount of smoke spread into the building. The fire fortunately did not damage the walls and paintings in the chapel. For the police officers as well as for the parish priest, Father Massip, the fire was with no doubt of intentional origin.

Graves Vandalised in Calvados

January 28, 2010, France

Thirty-six graves were targeted in the cemetery of Biéville-Beuville, in Calvados, near Caen. Many crosses were reversed and funeral ornaments wrecked.

The United States grants Asylum to German Home Schooling Family

January 28, 2010, Germany

“Because of a substantiated fear of persecution”, an American judge on immigration matters argued, the United States is granting political Asylum to a German couple and their children, who are fleeing from compulsory education in Germany.

On-Air Insult in Talkshow

January 19, 2010, Hungary

“A child's life can be destroyed by two things: Christianity and pornography".

Cemetery Vandalised in Croissy-sur-Seine

January 17, 2010, France

The cemetery of Croissy-sur-Seine was desecrated on Wednesday, January 17th. Crosses were broken and headstones were wrecked. No mention of the incident was made in the media.

Wearing of Cross Prohibited, Scarves Allowed

January 14, 2010, United Kingdom

“I work for the local NHS Trust and female nurses are not allowed to wear a small necklace with a cross. But it seems unfair that Muslim women are allowed to cover their heads with scarves,” says a respondent who wishes to remain anonymous.

Report Published: 84 Pages of Incidents of Marginalisation of Christians

December 31, 2009, United Kingdom

The Christian Institute published a report called "Marginalising Christians", cataloguing numerous cases of Christians being sidelined by public bodies, popular media, employers and facing barriers to public funding.

Vandalism in Bushat, Shkodër

December 31, 2009, Albania

Violation of the Catholic Cemetery; desecration of graves, as well as, the demolition of a cross in Bushat, Shkodër, were reported. Police did not apprehend the perpetrators.

Countless Numbers of Desecrations in 2009

December 31, 2009, France

Countless Christian Churches and cemeteries desecrated and vandalized in 2009. Find here a selected overview.

Graffiti on Church Buildings

December 31, 2009, Liechtenstein

Graffiti on several church buildings, presumably by satanic groups: Two incidents were reported to the police in 2008, one in 2009.

Hate Crimes Against Christians 2009

December 31, 2009, Russia

Find here a list of cases for the year 2009 which was brought to our attention .

Polish Catholic Magazine Fined for Anti-Abortion Editorial

December 31, 2009, Poland

In 2009 the Roman Catholic Polish magazine, Gosc Niedzielny (Sunday Visitor) was fined nearly €25,000 for an anti-abortion editorial.

Churches and Cemeteries Vandalized

December 27, 2009, Lithuania

In 2008 and 2009 several isolation cases of vandalizing of churches took place in various parts of Lithuania. These cases include on breaking into churches and vandalizing cemeteries, presumably by satanic groups. Some cases were reported to the police.

Hooliganism and Murder of Orthodox Priest in Russian Podolsk District

December 22, 2009, Russia

The orthodox archpriest was shot dead by criminals after he admonished them for hooliganism. The killers came to the church and defecated in the hallway. The priest asked them to stop their acting and was shot to death.

Christmas Wordings Substituted

December 21, 2009, Switzerland

Christmas wordings were substituted by non-religious phrases on countless occasions. Phrases range from “seasonal greetings” to “may your celebration be under a good star” to "white seasons songs" in all European countries. A very interesting report has reached us from an employee of a global corporation based in Switzerland.

Christian Teacher Sacked From Her Job For Offering To Pray For Sick Girl

December 21, 2009, United Kingdom

‘I feel if I had spoken about almost any other topic I would have been fine but Christianity is seen as a no-go area. It felt as if I was being treated as a criminal. It is like a bad dream that had come true,’ says sacked teacher Olive Jones.

Due Diligence Omitted in Anti-Christian Newspiece

December 16, 2009, Germany

Due diligence omitted in questionable article in German daily Die Zeit wrongly accusing Christians of being in favour of radical law in Uganda. Complaint to Press Council lodged by professor of journalism.

Eight Christian Fathers Jailed for Removing Children from Sex-Ed Class

December 11, 2009, Germany

Eight families in Salzkotten, Germany, have suffered heavy fines and now their fathers have been sentenced to prison, because they have refused to send their elementary school-age children to mandatory sexual education classes. State wants “to prevent parallel societies.”

Several Acts of Vandalism in Derventa.

December 10, 2009, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Several acts of vandalism against the church of Derventa were reported in December 2009. Vandals attempted to break in the church, destroyed windows, damaged the cemetery and destroyed lights and decorations.

Draft Bill In Discussion Banning Religion From Public Life

December 9, 2009, Belgium

The advent season is used by Belgian anti-religious politicians to propose ban of religious symbols on objects serving a public function and a ban on religious traditions of public life.

Christian Couple Arrested After Offending Muslim Woman

December 9, 2009, United Kingdom

A Christian hotelier couple who expressed their Christian beliefs to Muslim guest during a discussion of religion were subsequently arrested for disrupting public order. Charges were later dismissed.

Gay Students Disrupt Lecture At Cologne University

December 7, 2009, Germany

Homosexual students disrupted a lecture of Protestant philosopher Prof. Edith Düsing at Cologne University. The students made noise and used kissing and banners due to her support of a manifesto in May 2009 protesting the cancellation of an academic lecture at a psychology congress on grounds of the speakers’ research on healing homosexuality.

International Social Survey Program Finds Intolerance Against Christians in Turkey

December 1, 2009, Turkey

The International Social Survey Program - a 45-nation academic group - finds that nearly 40 percent of population has negative view of Christians. 49 percent of those surveyed said they would either "absolutely" or "most likely" not support a political party that accepted people from another religion. No non-Muslim religious gathering in Turkey is completely "risk free."

Family Pays Fine for Home Schooling their Children for Religious Reasons

November 27, 2009, Germany

A couple from northern Hessen (Germany) had to pay a fine to the extent of 120 € for taking their children out of school for religious reasons. The district Court of Kassel charged the 48-year-old man and his 43-year-old wife with 60 daily rates of 1€ in an appellate decision. In the previous contested judgment of June 2008 they were supposed to go to jail for three months, even though the attorney admitted that the children are well educated.

Hate Crimes Against Christians Up 25%

November 26, 2009, United States

New FBI statistics on hate crimes show a nine percent increase in crimes against religious groups in 2008 and an almost 25 percent increase in reported hate crimes against Catholics.

EU Commission Demands UK Abolish Religious Freedom Rights

November 24, 2009, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)

EU-equal opportunities-commissioner Vladimir Spidla has said that absolutely no exemptions can be allowed in anti-discrimination laws, even for religious conscience. In a letter to the British government, the EU has demanded that Britain abolish laws protecting religious freedom rights with regards to "sexual orientation."

Left Persists With Plans to Defund Catholic Church

November 24, 2009, Spain

United Left (IU) and Initiative for a Green Catalonia (ICV) proposed an amendment to the National Spanish Budget to deprive the Catholic Church of state funding, remove the tax deduction of volunteer contributions of citizens, and end the benefits on value-added-tax and property tax.

Defamation of Christ in Awareness Ad

November 19, 2009, Italy

The Women’s Telephone Association of Milan launched an awareness campaign on violence against women featuring a semi-nude woman in the position of the crucifixion, with the slogan: “Who pays for the sins of men?”

Protestant Chapel Set on Fire

November 16, 2009, Germany

Chapel set on fire in the night from November 15th to 16th in Over (Hamburg). Damage caused is estimated over 100,000 Euros.

(Scotland) Christian References Removed from Christmas

November 13, 2009, United Kingdom

Scotland town eliminated all references to Christmas, an address by a Christian minister, and the traditional nativity from its annual holiday celebration.

Boys Knifed and Beaten as They Offer Christian Flyers

November 12, 2009, United Kingdom

Police investigating the brutal assault of two teenage boys in Canterbury in November who say they may have been attacked because they were delivering Christian leaflets.

Taxpayer-Funded Play Offends Christians

November 5, 2009, United Kingdom

Scottish gay/transsexual festival "Glasgay!" featured the play "Jesus, Queen of Heaven" in which Jesus is a transsexual woman. Taxpayer money involved. Christian protestors named "homophobic".

Christian Woman Investigated by Police on Grounds of Her Views

November 2, 2009, United Kingdom

Christian woman of Norwich complained about a gay pride march in letter to police upon which she was investigated on hate crime.

Judge Suspended and Fined for Delaying Adoption in a case of Homosexual Parents

October 30, 2009, Spain

Judge Fernando Calamita sentenced to 10 years of occupational ban and fined for delaying the adoption of a little girl by the lesbian partner of her mother as a form of conscientious objection.

Orthodox Priest Beaten

October 30, 2009, Germany

Aleksejs Ribakovs, Orthodox Priest, was beaten and forced to move to another city to protect his family. One of the suspects was caught and identified as a young Muslim who proclaimed to hate Christians.

Prayers No Longer Said To Begin Somerset Council Meetings

October 30, 2009, United Kingdom

A Somerset Parish Council ended a 115-year tradition of saying Christian prayers at the beginning of its meeting after receiving a complaint.

Church Silenced Over Muslim Neighbor's Noise Complaint

October 28, 2009, United Kingdom

A church in London has seen congregation numbers dwindle from 100 to 30 since the local council subjected it to noise restrictions following a complaint from a Muslim neighbour.

Poll indicates Intolerance Against Christians Living in Turkey

October 25, 2009, Turkey

A large percentage of Turkish residents report that Christians are unwelcome in both the public and private sectors.

(/Italy) European Court of Human Rights Violates Freedom of Religion

October 20, 2009, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)

Professor Luigi Lombardi Vallauri's teaching contract was not prolonged by the Catholic University of Milano after he taught things like the gospel was the “most frightening message ever made known to mankind” and that “Jesus was through and through a bad human being”. On October 20th, the Court ruled that this was a violation of his freedom of opinion.

Physical Assault Against Catholics

October 10, 2009, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Catholics were stoned while participating to a Mass at the cemetery chapel of Donji Vajuf.

Pornographic Images Placed in Hymnal and Books Damaged in Church

October 5, 2009, Austria

Unknown perpetrators placed several pornographic images in the hymnal books of two Tyrolean Churches, and glued various Jewish and Nazi symbols on the front cover.

Church Vandalized in Saint-Brieuc

October 3, 2009, France

The church of Notre-Dame d’Espérance in Siant-Brieux (Côtes d’Armor) was targeted by vandals on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009. Chairs were broken and thrown to the ground, trash was spread in the church and stain glass windows were broken by throwing stones and chairs at them.