All cases
Parish Priest Discovers Desecration in Santa Chantal Church in Dijon
May 29, 2013, FranceAfter presiding over a funeral, a Parish Priest was shocked to discover a heap of excrement behind the altar of Our Lady at the entrance to the sacristy. In addition, a prayer book in the back of the church was torn and smeared into. He decided that they can no longer leave the church open during the day but will have to keep it closed for protection.
Stickers Spread in Angers Saying "Catholicism – Enough Annoyance"
May 29, 2013, FranceCitizens of the French city of Angers are confronted with stickers on traffic signs saying: “CATHO RAS-LE-BOL” (=Catholicism – enough annoyance). The credit is claimed by a group called “Comité anti-Catholique Angevin” (= anti-Catholic committee of Angers).
Repeated Urination in the Entrance Area of Church in Traunstein
May 29, 2013, GermanyThe second entrance of the church of St. George and Katharina in the city centre of Traunstein has been repeatedly used as toilet facility a local source reported. In one case our source caught an adolescent by over-hearing the adolescent bragging to his friend about having urinated into the church on various occasions before.
Church Broken Into in Garevac
May 27, 2013, Bosnia and HerzegovinaBetween the 22nd and the 23rd of May 2012, a church was broken into in Garevac, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The perpetrator(s) stole chalices which were used for Holy Communion.
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.