All cases

Desecration of Graves in Herzberg

July 27, 2012, Germany

On the 27th of July 2012, graves and mourning areas in Herzberg, Germany were desecrated. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.

Violence and Damages in Aggressive Disruption of a Pro-Life Manifestation

July 24, 2012, Austria

More than 80 pro-abortion-activists attacked the pro-life manifestation “1000 Crosses-March” organized by the Youth for Life and Human Life International in Salzburg-City. Blockages, insults and windows smashed kept a large number of police busy.

Entertainer Madonna Creates Negative Stereotypes of Christians at Current World Tour

July 17, 2012, International

American entertainer Madonna tours the world with her show MDNA. The song and video “Nobody Knows Me,” which is part of Madonna’s MDNA Tour, defames Christians and creates anti-Christian stereotypes.

Left NGO Calls for Violence Against Christians

July 17, 2012, Austria

The Salzburg-based NGO „Infoladen“ calls for violence against Christians when expressing pro-life views. In July they called for a counter-demonstration against a pro-life manifestation. „Let’s make their 1000-crosses-manifestation a disaster!“ and „Sink the 1000 crosses!“ are some of the slogans on their website.

Burglary in Church of the Holy Cross in Meiningen

July 12, 2012, Germany

Unidentified perpetrators broke into the church of the Holy Cross through a broken window. They stole a donation box with a few euros. Police are investigating.

Bosnian Government Fails to Offer Aid to Thousands of Catholics Wanting to Return

July 10, 2012, Bosnia and Herzegovina

A significant number of Catholic refugee families plan to come back to Bosnia- Herzegovina, but the Bosnian Government does not offer assistance in rebuilding their houses and restoring infrastructure. 800 families have turned to the Catholic Church for help. Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka declared that it is actually the task of the government to provide support. He complained about the lack of political will on the part of the government and the international community to enable Catholics to return to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Graves Desecrated in Ardennes

July 9, 2012, France

In July 2012 the Apostolic Nunciature of France reported that 40 graves were desecrated by (an) unknown perpetrator(s) in Saint-Etienne-à-Arnes in Ardennes, France.

Plundered Donation Boxes in Churches in Euskirchen

July 8, 2012, Germany

Burglars forced their way into churches in Kirspenich, Schönau and Nemmenich and plundered the donation boxes.

Desecration of Church in Eckerförde, Offertory Box Robbed

July 6, 2012, Germany

A robber broke into the church in Eckerförde and stole the money being collected for the poor out of the offertory boxes. He left an apologetic message in the visitors book.

Party Proposes Explicit Ban of Conscientious Objection for Registrars with regard to Gay Marriage

July 4, 2012, Netherlands

The liberal party VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie) tabled a proposal in the second chamber of the parliament to prohibit the use of conscientious objection for registrars with regard to conducting gay marriages. There seems to be a majority in the parliament to support this proposal. The topic is expected to be debated until the end of the year 2012.

Legislative Proposal Seeks to Limit Conscientious Objection for Registrars

July 4, 2012, Netherlands

On the 4th of July 2012 an amendment of the law on public officers was proposed by the members Koser Kaya and Van Hijum to the Dutch Parliament: It calls for the dismissal of registrars for marriages, births and deaths who refuse to perform same-sex marriages on conscientious grounds - if not sufficient other tasks could be found for him or her. The proposal also seeks to establish a mandatory training of students studying to be a registrar on performing same-sex marriages.

Church Leaders in Turkey Face Harassment

July 3, 2012, Turkey

Church leaders in the Diriliş church of Konak were repeatedly verbally harassed and were attacked by teenagers with eggs. When the teens threatened one of the leaders with a gun, the parents were informed and the attacks stopped.

German Magazine Shows Pope with large Urine Stains

July 2, 2012, Germany

The German Magazine "Titanic" presents the pope as a senile for incontinent person by depicting him in a fotomontage with a large urine stain on his white clothes while giving a blessing.

Christian on Trial for Reaching Out to Woman on the Way to Abortion

June 30, 2012, France

A French retired doctor faced police investigation for trial because of giving a woman who intended an abortion knitted baby shoes and a medallion. In France “moral and psychological pressure” seen as an “hindrance of abortion” is punishable.

Left MPs File Complaint Against Cross in Polish Parliament

June 28, 2012, Poland

About 10 MPs of the anti-clerical “Palikot Movement” seek to enforce the removal of the Cross in the Polish Parliament by legal proceedings at the Administrative Court.

Burglars Caught in the Act in the Church of Holy Spirit in Flensburg

June 25, 2012, Germany

Two young men, 18 and 22 years old, known to police from past attempted burglaries in St. Nicolas church and the church of St. Mary; were caught in the act of burglary in the Holy Spirit church. They cracked several donation boxes and stole the coins.

Catholic Church Broken Into and Desecrated in Lübeck

June 23, 2012, Germany

In Bergtheide (Lübeck) the Catholic church has been broken into, the Altar was completely desecrated. Donations for the poorest were stolen and sacred artifacts defiled and partly destroyed. Church had to be ritually cleansed and blessed anew.

Vandalism and Burglary in Catholic Church of St. Bernard in Bad Herrenalb

June 22, 2012, Germany

Unknown perpetrators broke into the church of St. Bernard and caused serious property damage. A candlestick was dragged from the side chapel and used to break the offertory box and the money inside was stolen. The money box under the statue of Saint Anthony was torn out of the wall. Many doors were damaged and the cupboards in the sacristy were opened, searched and turned upside down.

„Youth Defense“ Posters Devastated and Sprayed With Offensive Graffiti

June 21, 2012, Ireland

Posters of an Irish organisation that opposes legalisation of abortion „Youth Defense“ were devastated and sprayed upon with offensive graffiti all around Dublin. The posters were covered with paint and torn down and the video of that act appeared in social media.

Homeschooling Restricted in Austria

June 19, 2012, Austria

Several English – speaking Christian families who home educate their children in Austria have come under pressure by the Austrian school authorities for educating their children in English. They have been fined and threatened with the children being taken away – even though there are schools in Austria which teach exclusively in English.

Writing on Church Walls in Lithuania

June 17, 2012, Lithuania

June 17th 2012, the walls of a church in Vilnius were spray painted with writing.

Christian Manifestation Attacked by Homosexual Activists

June 16, 2012, Austria

About 70 Christians demonstrated in a prayerful and peaceful walk against the Vienna "Gay pride parade" in Vienna on June 16th. They were attacked by counterdemonstration of activists for a homosexual agenda.

Danish Church Obliged to Perform Same Sex ‘Marriages’

June 15, 2012, Denmark

The Evangelical Lutheran Church is forced to marry same sex couples after vote of Danish Parliament.

Christian GP Called Guilty of “Malpractice” for Sharing his Faith

June 14, 2012, United Kingdom

The General Medical Council’s Investigation Committee has reprimanded a Christian doctor for sharing his faith with a patient at the end of a private consultation.

Protestant Church Vandalised For a Second Time In This Year

June 12, 2012, Germany

In Haltingen in Weil am Rhein, for the second time this year, a Protestant church was desecrated - the police expressed their surprise as there is not much to gain by breaking into a church. According to the police, there must be other motives than robbery as statistically this has not happened as much in others houses of prayer, such as mosques or synagogues.

Reported Cases of Verbal Assaults in Italy

June 12, 2012, Italy

The Holy See reported three cases of verbal assaults against Christians in Italy on the following dates: 23 January 2012 February 2012 12 June 2012

Graves Plundered in Osijek

June 3, 2012, Croatia

The Apostolic Nunciature of Croatia reported that over an unknown period of time, graves were plundered by chapel workers in Osijek, Croatia.

Catholic NGO Defamed By Government Report, Confirmed by Court

June 1, 2012, France

Georges Fenech, the president of the interministerial mission MIVILUDES, an acronym for Mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre les dérives sectaires (Interministerial Mission for Monitoring and Combatting Cultic Deviances), appointed to this position by François Fillon in 2008 and renewed in 2011, was convicted by the Paris criminal court on June 1, 2012 for public defamation.

Vienna Church St. Johann the Evangelist Vandalised

June 1, 2012, Austria

On June 1, an unknown person entered the parish church of St. Johann Evangelist on Keplerplatz and destroyed several windows in the second entrance doors located inside the church.

Burglars Steal Monstrance and Altar Cross from Church in Krefeld

May 30, 2012, Germany

Unidentified perpetrators broke into the parish office of the Church of Our Lady. There they took a key of the church opposite which they entered and ransacked. They caused damage in the church sacristy, broke a cabinet and stole a monstrance and an altar cross.

Windows Broken at Catholic School Centre

May 27, 2012, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Windows were broken by someone throwing stones at them in the gym of the Catholic School Centre in Travnik, Bosnia-Herzegovina, between the 27th and the 28th of May 2012.

Conscientious Objection Loses Ground

May 24, 2012, France

Medical Student, Carolin, 24: “I had to do an internship in a gynecology department, and I can tell you that when there is only one nurse for the whole department, you better forget about your conscientious objection.”

Law Society Revokes Christian Debate Over Marriage

May 23, 2012, United Kingdom

The Law Society has revoked the booking of a Christian conférence on marriage to be held by Christian Concern and other organisations because it considered it "contrary to its ‘diversity’ Policy".

Burglary in the Church of St. John in Petersberg

May 20, 2012, Germany

A unknown perpetrator broke through a window into the Petersburg church of St. John. All the rooms were searched and eventually he fled with only five Euros from the church.

St. Martin's Church in Bürstadt Desecrated

May 19, 2012, Germany

In Bürstadt (Idstein) the St. Martin's Church was desecrated. The offertory for the poor was torn down and the holy sanctuary desecrated.

Local Church in Bispingen Desecrated

May 19, 2012, Germany

In Bispingen (Walsrode) the local church was desecrated. There were anti-Christian graffiti sprayed across the walls and satanic symbols drawn on the dais in the sanctuary. Also, the outer wall was ruined.

Bishop Banned from Official City Events in Alcala

May 18, 2012, Spain

The city council of Alcala adopted a motion banning bishop Juan Antonia Reig Pla from official city events. The motion answers the bishop's remarks criticizing homosexual lifestyle.

Christian Blogger Under Investigation by Gov’t Ad Authority for Running Pro-Marriage Ad

May 18, 2012, United Kingdom

A prominent British Christian conservative blogger is under attack from a government agency, at the behest of a homosexualist activist group, for supporting the defence of traditional marriage.

Statue of Jesus Beaten and Beheaded

May 12, 2012, Germany

A 2-meter-tall statue of Jesus was attacked at a cemetory in Pausa/Saxony. The vandals beheaded the statue and hit the head until it broke into pieces. They left with the face. Pastor Frank Pierel is shocked and saddened and reports that such attacks take place rather frequently in his area. The material damage amounts to 3000 Euro.

Church Broken Into in Dolina

May 12, 2012, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Between the 12th and 13th of May 2012, someone broke into a church in Dolina, Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina. While doing so, the perpetrator(s) caused significant damage to the front door.

Cross Put on Fire in Strunjan

May 10, 2012, Slovenia

On Thursday, the 10th of May, Dean Verzel, together with a few adherents, set the XVIIth century votive cross of Strujan on fire. The artist Dean Verzel and photographer Goran Bertok carried out the same act 10 years ago but were acquitted in court.

Church Set on Fire in Lithuania

May 9, 2012, Lithuania

On May 9th 2012, a church in Pastuva was set on fire and burned to the ground.

Christian Graves Vandlised in Canohès

May 4, 2012, France

Four Chrisitan graves were vandalised and tagged with anti-Christian wordings the cemetery of Canohès in the Easter Pyrenees.

Doctor Sacked For Emailing Prayer Loses Court Battle

May 3, 2012, United Kingdom

Christian doctor who was sacked for emailing a prayer to his colleagues has lost his clam for unfair dismissal, after an Employment Tribunal ruled that there was “no need” for religious references to be made at work.

Irish Legislative Proposal: 5-Year Prison for Not Breaking the Confessional Seal

April 30, 2012, Ireland

The Irish Justice Minister has introduced a 5-year prison sentences for priests who fail to report sex abuse of minors if they hear about it in the confessional.

Catholic Schools Under Attack for Upholding Marriage

April 26, 2012, United Kingdom

Secular campaigners have launched an attack on the Roman Catholic Church for urging its secondary schools to back the current legal definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.

Court Upholds Homeschooling-Ban Rendering Religious Convictions Irrelevant

April 25, 2012, Germany

Reformed-baptist parents, who wanted to homeschool their three children, lost in the regional administrational court of Baden-Würtemberg in Mannheim. The parents wanted to homeschool to protect their children from a form of „emancipation“ they did not favor, as well as in order to teach them Christian sexual ethics.

Catholic Bishop to be Charged of ‘Inciting Hate’

April 19, 2012, Spain

Homosexual activists lobby for the proscecution of Bishop Juan Antonio Reig Pla of Alcala de Henares for preaching the Catholic Church’s position on homosexual acts. An international group of Catholic doctors defends the bishop.

Catholics Refused Access to Museum in Rennes

April 18, 2012, France

The Conservatory of Public Schools in refuses entrance to pupils from private Catholic schools. Director Jean-Louis Robert said: “This museum is for pupils of state schools only. We refuse that children from Catholic schools go to this museum. It’s our right and that’s how it is.”

Church Set on Fire and Vandalised in Clouzeaux

April 18, 2012, France

The Church of the 'Bon Pasteur' was visited by vandals who tried to put it on fire after having done much damages.