All cases

Orthodox Church Vandalised in Munich

December 4, 2012, Germany

In Munich on 4th December 2012, an Orthodox church was desecrated, icons destroyed and the devotional profaned.

Orthodox Church in Munich Desecrated

December 4, 2012, Germany

The Apostolic Nunciature of Germany reported that on the 4th of December 2012, unknown perpetrators defiled an Orthodox church in Munich, Germany. Icons were desecrated and devotional objects profaned.

Desecration of Greek-Orthodox Church in Munich

December 4, 2012, Germany

On December 4th, a unknown man locked himself into the little Greek-Orthodox church in Salvatorstraße. The man destroyed the glass window of an icon of Marie and stole the items that were left there by thankful believers. Later he escaped through the sacristy.

Two Figures Destroyed at Church in Venice

December 4, 2012, Italy

Vandals destroyed two ceramic figures representing St. Francis and St. Clare. The figures were displayed in the wall of the church of the Sacred Name of Jesus.

Reported Attacks Against Places of Worship in Italy

December 3, 2012, Italy

The Holy See reported attacks against places of worship in the following places in Italy 27 June 2012 Teramo 16 August 2012 Foggia 08 September 2012 Gonnosfanadiga in Sardegna 18 October 2012 Oristano 15 November 2012 Luino (in provincia di Varese) 29 November 2012 3 December 2012 S. Chiara (Venezia)

Restitution of Property to Catholic Church in Czech Republic Accompanied with Dirt Campaign Against the Church

November 29, 2012, Czech Republic

A controversial campaign by the oppositional Social Democrats directed against the Church Property Restitution Bill has turned into a major brawl with Czech Catholics and other churches.

Parish Church in Gotha Broken Into

November 29, 2012, Germany

In Gotha the parish church was broken into. The sacred space was defiled and the organ destroyed.

EU Attempted to Remove Christian Symbols of Commemorative Coin

November 29, 2012, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)

The National Bank of Slovakia announced that the European Commission, the union’s executive arm, had ordered it to remove halos and crosses from special commemorative euro coins. The European Union finally gave in- the coins are to be minted as planned.

Chapel of Regional Pilgrimage Site Vandalized

November 29, 2012, France

The chapel Notre-Dame de la Roche in the area of Rhône, which is a regional pilgrimage site, was vandalized and profaned in November 2012. The chapel was restored in May 2013.

Church in Gotha Defiled

November 29, 2012, Germany

On the 29th of November 2012, the inside of a church in Gotha, Germany, was desecrated. The perpetrator(s) also vandalised the Organ. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.

Desecration of Graves in Germany

November 29, 2012, Germany

Between July and November the Holy See reported cases of desecration to graves in the following places: ·27 July 2012 Herzberg ·26 October 2012 Duisburg (NRW) ·9 November 2012 Unterrath (Düsseldorf). ·13 November 2012 Güdesweiler (Saarland)

Parish House of Church in Daaden Broken Into

November 27, 2012, Germany

In Daaden on the 27th of Nov 2012 the parsonage of the church was devastated and a relique of St. Georg stolen.

Church of St. Alban Desecrated in Mainz

November 27, 2012, Germany

On the 27th of November 2012, St. Alban’s church in Mainz was broken into and defiled. The perpetrator went into the sacristy and mindlessly hit everything he saw. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.

Church in Daaden Broken Into and Defiled

November 27, 2012, Germany

On the 27th of November 2012, a Church in Daaden (Siegen) was broken into. The perpetrators desecrated the rectory, vandalised the church, and stole a relief of St. George, which is feared to be destroyed. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.

Parish Building Set on Fire in Latvia

November 23, 2012, Latvia

The adjoining building of a parish in Madona was set on fire on November 23rd 2012, the perpetrator was not found.

Church Broken Into in Globarice

November 22, 2012, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Between the 22nd and the 23rd of November, 2012, a church was broken into in Globarice, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The perpetrator(s) stole money, a chalice with consecrated hosts, and a monstrance with consecrated hosts.

(Scotland) Artist Depicts Pope as a Nazi-Pedophile

November 20, 2012, United Kingdom

Dutch artist Jeff van Weereld's piece “The Holy Truth“ on display in Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Scotland in November 2012, depicts the pope aroused, wearing a swastika shaped cross, and with his hands on two young boys. The artist claims to reflect „four facts“ of the Church: “There is high incidence of paedophilia, the pope did spend a good part of his formative years in the Hitlerjugend and the Wehrmacht, the church is friendly to the outside, but not necessarily within the hierarchy and they do tend to cover up things.”

Brussels Bans Annual Christmas Tree Display As It May Offend Muslims

November 19, 2012, Belgium

Government officials in Brussels banned the Christmas tree in the city center out of concerns that the local Muslim population might find it “offensive.” An “electronic winter tree,” will take the place of the traditional Christmas Tree and Nativity scene at the city center of Grand Place. Citizens protested.

New Legislation on Gay Marriage Might Get Teachers Fired

November 18, 2012, United Kingdom

The British Parliamentary Undersecretary of State, Liz Truss, states she was not able to rule out the possibility that teachers refusing to use stories or textbooks favoring same sex- marriage face disciplinary consequences.

Anti-Christian Slogans Interrupt a Symposium for Life in Biarritz

November 18, 2012, France

Attendants at the Symposium for Life held in Biarritz, following the 18th of November demonstration against same-sex marriage by Civitas, was interrupted by an anti-Christian demonstration. With signs saying “yes, yes to sodomy, no, no, no to the inquisition” held by men in nuns habits and women with devils horns the aim was one of offending. Worsening matters was the biased coverage by the press that failed to report on the anti-Christian nature of the demonstration.