All cases

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.

Christian Adverts Censored in London by Mayor

April 13, 2012, United Kingdom

Boris Johnson, the Conservative Party mayor of London, ordered bus advertisements for overcoming same-sex attraction to be stopped. The campaign had been cleared by the Advertising Authority, and was designed to be an answer to a pro-homosexual campaign.

French Anti-Sect Governmental Mission Raids in Catholic Communities

April 13, 2012, France

Since the presidency of MIVILUDES (Interministerial Mission of Vigilance and Fight against Sectarian Drifts) by Georges Fenech, several small Catholic communities have increasingly been targeted, the last one being "Amour and Miséricorde" (Love and Mercy).

Vandalism in a Church in Haute-Savoie

April 7, 2012, France

On Good Saturday, just a few hours before the Easter Vigil, three men entered the Church of Cruseilles (Haute-Savoie) and set fire to leaflets, prayer and singing books. An altar’s tablecoth was also burnt and the main altar damaged.

Homosexual Lobby Campaign Offensive Towards Christianity

April 7, 2012, Belgium

The LGBT association “Arc-enCiel Wallonie” runs a campaign based on 33 different pro-LGBT T-shirts. Among various messages, three of them offend Christianity: “Jesus too had two dads”, “Marie, first surrogate mother” and “GOD made me gay” (two first ones originally in French: “Jésus aussi avait deux papas”, “Marie première mère porteuse”).

Church Leader Threatened and Abused in Turkey

April 7, 2012, Turkey

On April 7th, 2012 in Istambul, four men requested to enter a church. When the church leader told them to come back the next day because it was too late in the day, they threatened to kill him unless he recited the Muslim creed. Then they hit him and fled the place, the church later installed security systems.

Christian Club Reproached by Anti-Discrimination Authority

April 6, 2012, Germany

The Catholic Schützenverein voted in March 450 to 28 to not to allow homosexual or lesbian „kings“ or „queens“ to preside activities together with their partners. The German federal anti-discrimination commission screened this decision and declared it to be in disrespect of the law.

Blasphemous Exhibition in Neufchâtel

April 4, 2012, Switzerland

"Would Christ have been Gay?" is the name of the exhibition in Neufchâtel, displayed from March 29th to May 12th in the 'Galerie C' of Neufchâtel (Switzerland). The four artist argue that they wanted to explore - through art - the question of Christ’s sexuality.

Pop Star Madonna Profanes Christian Faith

March 28, 2012, International

It is not the first time the pop star Madonna uses the bashing of Catholicism as a base for the writing of her lyrics. “Girl Gone Wild” begins with the first few lines of the Roman-Catholic Act of Contrition as it shows the 53-year-old singer in black tight pants and stiletto heels while surrounded by topless men.

Churches Tagged in Couvin

March 26, 2012, Belgium

The doors of seven churches of Couvin, in the diocese of Namur, Belgium, were targeted by vandals. The front door of the church of Couvin was marked in white paint saying "Religion is the opium of the people".

European Championship: Bibles and Crosses Forbidden

March 23, 2012, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)

The 14th edition of the European Championship Euro 2012, organized by the European Union of Football Associations (UEFA), will take place from June 8th to July 1st, 2012 in Poland and in the Ukraine. The leaders of the Polish Football Association have indicated the certain objects that will be forbidden to spectators in stadiums. Among these objects, crosses and Bibles are stated as part of the category of "racist and xenophobic materials, based on political and religious propaganda."

Cemetery Vandalised in Suhopole

March 20, 2012, Croatia

On the 20th of March 2012 the Apostolic Nunciature in Croatia reported that a cemetery in the city of Suhopole, Croatia, had been vandalised.

Christians Insulted After Religious Service in Bordeaux

March 18, 2012, France

About fifteen people came to St Eloi’s church to insult parishioners at the end of Sunday Mass. It is not the first time this Catholic church is targeted by anti-Christian acts, as it had already been covered whith tags and anti-Christian posters.

Church Property Damaged in Pozor

March 18, 2012, Bosnia and Herzegovina

On the 18th of March, 2012, a church in Pozor, Bosnia Herzegovina, noticed that some of its inventory had been damaged, as well as some of its money stolen.

Radical Left Calls for Burning of Churches

March 16, 2012, Germany

An online call to “see churches burning” was published as a “Christmas wish” in 2011 by a group of leftwing extremists called 'Antifa Freiburg'. “We will not give up hope that there will be a miracle and we can warm ourselves next year at the glow of burning churches.” Prosecution investigated but dropped the case.

Mockery of the Last Supper on French Television

March 16, 2012, France

The French Channel Direct8 has streamed a new episode of the show "Very bad blagues" called "When one’s an apostle" ("Quand on est apôtre") which mocks the last supper.

Young Boy Under Threat for Wearing a Cross

March 16, 2012, Turkey

A 12-year-old boy, Hussein, witnessed his Christian faith by wearing a silver cross necklace in school. Muslim classmates taunted and spat on him. When the boy threatened to report one of the bullies, the bully's father threatened to "kill him". He says he also received a beating by his religion teacher.

New York Times Ad Calls Catholic Church "Autocratic, Woman-Hating, Sex-perverting Old Boys Club"

March 13, 2012, International

Catholics and non-Catholics alike have reacted to a viciously anti-Catholic full-page advertisement in Friday’s New York Times. The ‘Freedom From Religion Foundation’s ad, which takes the form of a letter to a “liberal Catholic”, asks “Cafeteria” Catholics, “Why are you propping up the pillars of a tyrannical and autocratic, woman-hating, sex-perverting, antediluvian Old Boys Club?” The Freedom from Religious Foundation is led by Annie Laurie Gaylor and her husband, Dan Barker. Gaylor is author of the book, Abortion Is a Blessing.

Bishop of Karpasia Prevented from Entering Occupied Area in Northern Cyprus

March 13, 2012, Cyprus

A new provocative action was carried out by the occupying regime in Cyprus when Bishop of Karpasia Mr. Christoforos was not allowed to enter the occupied area from the barricade of Astromeritis village. Later, he was also prohibited to go into one area of Agios Dometios. The bishop was stopped without explanation.

Celebrity Suggests "Homophobic" Clergy Should be Jailed

March 12, 2012, United Kingdom

The celebrity singer Will Young has suggested that clergy should be put in jail for speaking out too strongly against same-sex marriage.

Destroy All Christian Church, Muslim Leaders Says

March 12, 2012, International

The most influential leader in the Muslim world issued a fatwa to destroy Christian churches. Response to this call is also possible in European countries.

Gay Activist Disrupts Mass With Video Cam

March 11, 2012, United Kingdom

A homosexual activist disrupted a Mass held in a parish in Teignmouth, Devon, with a video camera last week as a priest prepared to read a letter from the country’s bishops conference opposing government efforts to legalize same-sex “marriage.”

Nun Physically Assaulted in Sarajevo

March 11, 2012, Bosnia and Herzegovina

A nun was physically assaulted in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, on the 11th of March 2012,the Apostolic Nunciature in Bosnia-Herzegovina reported. While she was walking down the street, an attacker punched her and she fell to the ground.

Church of Herblay Targeted by Criminal Fire

March 8, 2012, France

The Church of St. Martin, in Herblay, was the target of an arson attack on Thursday, March 8th, 2011. The fire was started in three different areas of the church but was stopped in time by a parishioner.

Vatican Website Hacked by Anti-Catholic Group

March 7, 2012, International

Hackers claiming ties to the group Anonymous are taking credit after the Vatican website went down Wednesday. They displayed the following message: “Anonymous decided today to besiege your site in response to the doctrine, to the liturgies, to the absurd and anachronistic concepts that your for-profit organization spreads around the world."

Left Wing NGO Attacks Christian Information Event on Gender Mainstreaming

March 7, 2012, Germany

Left wing radicals in an NGO called "Antifa Action Heilbronn" protested against the event “Gender Mainstreaming- Overthrow of the Value System - the Secret Revolution”, organized by the Christian Democratic Union and called it a “provocation”. On their webpage the radical group smears the speaker of the event, Gabriele Kuby, who is committed to Christian values, calling her a "reactionary, antifeminist and homophobic agitator" and denoting the “Forum for German Catholics” as “collecting pool right wing activists”.

Owner of Christian Bookshop in Turkey Verbally Harassed

March 7, 2012, Turkey

Workers of a bookshop in Adana were being threatened and harassed by a man on March 7th 2012. The bookshop was forced to increased their security measures.

Negative Stereotyping on Belgian Television

March 6, 2012, Belgium

The Belgian TV series “A tort ou à raison” drawn up by Marc Uyttendaele, repeatedly streams negative stereotypings of Catholics. The first episode, “l’affaire Sainte-Maxime” stages tendentiously a case of pedophilia in a Catholic high school; another episode “la plume empoisonnée” depicts how a fanatic Catholic woman forces her son to become a Catholic priest.

Christian Church Targeted in Turkey

March 4, 2012, Turkey

On Sunday, March 4, police notified the pastor of Samsun Agape Church that someone had attacked the church building. The attacker kicked in the church door to get inside. He also damaged the church sign before being detained by police and a neighbor.

Relic of St Laurence O'Toole Stolen

March 3, 2012, Ireland

The 12th Century preserved heart of the Patron Saint of Dublin, Saint Laurence O'Toole, has been stolen from Christ Church Cathedral.

Homeschooling Association Leader Feels Forced to Move to Finnland

March 2, 2012, Sweden

Jonas Himmelstrand, who is president of the Swedish Association for Home Education (ROHUS), has left the country saying, “the safety of my family could no longer be guaranteed,” and that the government of the town of Uppsala was “threatening” him.

Government: Christians Have No Right to Wear Cross at Work

March 1, 2012, United Kingdom

The UK Government submitted to the European Court of Human Rights that the applicants' wearing of a visible cross or Crucifix was not a manifestation of their religion or belief within the meaning of Article 9, and, in any event, the restriction on the applicants' wearing of a visible cross or Crucifix was not an "interference" with their rights protected by Article 9.

(Scotland) No Right to Conscientious Objection for Midwives

February 29, 2012, United Kingdom

In January 2012, Scotland's largest health board was taken to court by two Catholic nurses from Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, Mary Doogan and Connie Wood, who were denied conscientious objection with regard to abortion procedures. Judgment was handed down on February 29th: the midwives have been told that they must accept the decision of their hospital management and that they must oversee other midwives performing abortions. In January 2013, they took the case to the European Court of Human Rights. The UK supreme court upheld the judgement in December 2014.

Constant Vandalism against Christian Churches

February 29, 2012, Germany

In Duisburg a group of migrant youths, aged between 10 and 14, keeps destroying the windows of Catholic and Protestant churches, disturbing services (eg. with firecrackers), write hate slogans on the church wall and insult the clergy. So far the police had only investigated one of the numerous cases of vandalism directed against churches in the area.

Pharmacists' Objection of Conscience Still Curtailed

February 29, 2012, Czech Republic

An improvement of the national health service law in February 2012 did not fully grant conscientious objection to pharmacists: The law still compels the objecting pharmacists to find a willing employee of the same pharmacy or another pharmacist to sell the "morning-after-pill".

Homeschooling Severely Limited, Proposal of Relaxation Rejected

February 29, 2012, Slovakia

To educate one's children privately at home is understood to be a human right of parents. The state is called upon to ensure the quality of the home education. In Slovakia, the so-called homeschooling is severaly limited. Such a law jeopardizes especially Christians families, as practically it is often Christians who wish to homeschool their children.

Christian Therapist Faces Expulsion for Views on Homosexuality

February 29, 2012, United Kingdom

A Christian psychotherapist is the subject of a professional conduct inquiry in London for supporting therapy for those with unwanted feelings of same-sex attraction. The dispute arose as, in response to a question, Dr Davidson had said: “yes, I do believe homosexuality is a sin.” Commentators speak of a "worrying trend where the door to practising professional therapy is being closed to people with Christian sexual ethics."

Catholic Schools Singled Out and Targeted for Distributing Faith-Based Moral Literature

February 27, 2012, United Kingdom

An Christian booklet has been distributed to students in some Catholic schools in Lancashire, UK. Its comments on homosexuality raised the discontent of UK’s largest trades union, who says that the government is allowing “homophobia” to be promoted in religious schools.

Church in Turkey Vandalised

February 25, 2012, Turkey

On February 25th 2012 a man vandalised the agape church in Samsun. He was soon identified, confessed and was released.

Christians Compared to Radical Muslims

February 23, 2012, United Kingdom

Trevor Phillips, the head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), has ignited public controversy by comparing Christians who do not believe that homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children to “Muslims who demand the introduction of Sharia Courts”.

High Court Bans Prayers At Formal Council Meetings, Government Responds in Favor of Religion

February 21, 2012, United Kingdom

The UK Government has written to all local councils in England, telling them that new laws restore their power to hold prayers at official meetings after the High Court had ruled that local councils have no lawful power to hold prayers during official business. The court case was initiated by the National Secular Society and a local atheist ex-councillor who sued Bideford Town Council in Devon for conducting prayers, a custom that had been in place since the 17th century.

MP Receives Death Threat After Backing Traditional Marriage

February 21, 2012, United Kingdom

David Burrowes, Conservative MP for Enfield Southgate, revealed at the launch of Coalition for Marriage (C4M) in London that he has received a death threat and hate mail after speaking out in support of traditional marriage.

Punk Band Perform in Moscow Orthodox Cathedral

February 21, 2012, Russia

On February 21, five members of the Punk Band Pussy Riot performed on the altar of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow for a few minutes. Beside a political oppositional message, they sang a song that contained unflattering characteristics of the clergy of the temple, as well as the Russian Patriarch, Kirill. The women were wearing colored masks. Church officials called their actions blasphemy, sacrilege, an insult to religious feelings.

Cemetery Vandalised in Boué

February 20, 2012, France

Up to 100 graves were the target of vandals in the cemetery of Boué. Ornaments, crosses, plaques and flower pots and vases were broken. The cemetery had to be closed for the police’s investigation.

Exhibit "Obscenity" Targets Christianity and Shocks Believers

February 16, 2012, Spain

A photo exhibit at the Fresh Gallery in Madrid displays pictures by Bruce LaBruce displays intolerance against Christian symbols, deepens negative stereotypes and disregards feelings of believers.

Church Vandalised and Holy Sacrament Descrated in Châtillon

February 15, 2012, France

On Wednesday, February 8th, 2012, at about 1:30 p.m., the chapel of Saint Joseph in Châtillon was vandalized and the Holy Sacrament stolen.

Church in Tuzla Broken Into

February 15, 2012, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Between the 15th and 16th of February 2012, a church in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina, was broken into. The cross was thrown down, and prayer and song books for the service were torn.

Spanish Bioethicist Calls for Black-List of Conscientious Objectors

February 13, 2012, Spain

Maria Casado, who holds the UNESCO Chair of Bioethics at the University of Barcelona calls for a national registry of doctors who will not perform abortions, in order to “improve” women’s access to “pregnancy termination.”

‘Intolerant’ Campaign Against Tory MP Over Gay Marriage

February 13, 2012, United Kingdom

Tory MP, David Burrowes, is facing an ‘intolerant’ campaign against him because of his opposition to homosexual marriage. The campaign is led by the treasurer of his local Conservative association, Phillip Dawson, who is homosexual.

European Court of Human Rights Problematic Decision for Freedom of Religion

February 13, 2012, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)

On January 31st 2012, the third section of the European Court of Human Rights issued a judgment in the case of Sindicatul Păstorul cel bun c. Roumanie whereby it determined that the refusal of the Orthodox Church to register a trade union established within itself was contrary to freedom of association guaranteed by Article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights. This interferes with the internal organization of a religious institution. The Romanian Orthodox Church has publicly expressed its wish that the matter is now referred to the Grand Chamber for a new trial.

Mockery of Christian Worship

February 13, 2012, Italy

A commercial advertising Red Bull broadcast on Mediaset mocked Christian confession and worship.

Hinckley United Reform Church Windows Vandalised

February 12, 2012, United Kingdom

The Reverend Malcolm Clarke, minister at Hinckley United Reform Church, said two large "historic inscribed" windows had been completely smashed. The minister said he was shocked and saddened by the attack: "I feel sad and let down," Mr Clarke said.

Guesthouse Owners Fined for Married-Couples-Only-Policy

February 10, 2012, United Kingdom

The Christian owners of a guesthouse who restrict double rooms to married couples have been ordered to pay £3,600 in damages to a homosexual couple in January 2011. Their appeal was lost in February 2012. In November 2013 they were forced to sell their B&B.

Secularists Lobby to Remove NHS Chaplains

February 10, 2012, United Kingdom

Secularists campaign to ban the use of National Health Service money to fund hospital chaplains.

Fines for Criticising Homosexuality OK for European Court of Human Rights

February 9, 2012, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)

A Swedish law foreseeing prison sentences for criticising the homosexualist agenda in public was upheld by the European Court of Human Rights which has ruled that there it was not in violation of freedom of expression. Four people were fined for a distributing leaflets.

Graves Desecrated in Albi

February 8, 2012, France

On the 8th of February 2012 the Apostolic Nunciature in France reported that 70 graves were desecrated in a Catholic cemetery in Albi, France.