All cases
Church Ransacked in Northern France
November 25, 2016, FranceSome time in the early afternoon of November 25th, unknown perpetrators started a fire inside the church of Zuydcoote, overturned chairs and benches, smashed statues onto the floor, and destroyed the tabernacle.
School Prohibits Christmas Decorations with Religious Motifs
November 24, 2016, SpainA school in Elche sent a letter to parents saying it needed Christmas decorations for the classrooms, but that they should not have a religious motif, such as a nativity scene.
Easter Poster Depicting Christ Removed from Government Office
November 23, 2016, SpainAfter a complaint by the Oberservatorio del Laicismo, the Andalusian Employment Office in Granada removed a poster containing an image of Christ promoting Holy Week tourism.
Officials Ban Television Commercial to Commemorate World Down Syndrome Day
November 22, 2016, FranceTelevision officials rejected as "inappropriate" an award-winning video featuring several people with Down syndrome responding to a letter from a frightened woman whose unborn baby had been diagnosed with the disorder.
14th Century Church Vandalized with Red Paint
November 22, 2016, SpainDuring the night of November 22, 2016, two people threw red paint against the facade and one of the entrances of the parish of Santa Creu, one of the oldest in Palma. Costs to clean the damage is unclear. Perpetrators justified the attack as denouncing the "historical collaboration" of the Catholic Church with fascism.
Priest Attacked While Celebrating Mass
November 17, 2016, SpainWhile he was celebrating Mass in the parish church of Nuestra Señora de Covadonga in Madrid, Fr. Lino Hernando was attacked at the altar by an unknown person who threw him to the ground, kicked and insulted him. The aggressor also threw around consecrated Hosts and other worship items from the altar. The police were immediately alerted and arrested the perpetrator.
Judge Dismisses Charges Against Artist Who Stole Consecrated Hosts
November 16, 2016, SpainAbel Azcona stole more than 240 consecrated hosts from Masses celebrated in the cities of Madrid and Pamplona. He later took nude photos of himself arranging them on a floor to spell the word ‘pederasty.’ He was charged with an offense against laws respecting religious sentiments. However, on November 16, 2016, a judge dismissed the case against Azcona. In his ruling, the judge described the consecrated and stolen hosts as “small white round objects.” He claimed that there had been no desecration of the sacred hosts because according to the Spanish Royal Academy dictionary desecration is defined as “treating something sacred without due respect or using it for profane purposes.”
Stolen Tabernacle and Ciborium Found in Cemetery
November 10, 2016, SpainThe Bishop of San Sebastián reported that the tabernacle and ciborium containing consecrated Hosts which had been stolen from the chapel earlier in the week had been found in a cemetery. The ciborium was empty.
Christian Couple Blocked from Adopting Foster Children
November 9, 2016, United KingdomA Christian couple has been blocked from adopting their foster children, after expressing views based on their belief that children should have a mother and a father wherever possible.
Christian Family Forced to Flee their Home
November 9, 2016, United KingdomA family have been forced to flee their home under armed police guard amid fears for their safety after suffering what they say is eight years of persecution for converting from Islam to Christianity.
State Council Allows "Decorative" Christmas Scenes at Town Halls
November 9, 2016, FranceAfter a bitter two-year battle over whether decorating town hall entrances with nativity scenes violated rules on secularism, the country’s highest administrative court ruled that as long as the intent behind the installation was "cultural, artistic, or festive" - and not religious proselytism - it was permitted.
Threatening Graffiti on the Walls of a Christian School
November 9, 2016, SpainThreatening graffiti was found on the walls of a religious Catholic school (Colegio de San José, Vallecas). The graffiti incited to burn down the school and also said “You will burn like in ‘36” (clear reference to the anti-religious murders and anti-religious arson during the Spanish Civil War).
Summit Cross Destroyed for the Second Time
November 8, 2016, GermanyA summit cross on the Austrian-German border, previously chopped with an ax in August, was again destroyed by an unknown perpetrator using an ax.
Desecration in Cemetery Chapel
November 7, 2016, SpainIn a letter to members of his diocese on November 9, 2016, Bishop José Ignacio Munilla, Bishop of San Sebastián, denounced "a very grave desecration against the Blessed Sacrament" committed in the cemetery chapel of Polloe. The tabernacle was stolen, as was the ciborium and the consecrated Hosts it contained. The bishop announced a reparation Mass would be celebrated in the same chapel on November 20th.
Nantes Church Tagged with Anarchist Grafitti
November 5, 2016, FranceAnarchist messages were drawn on the walls and doors of the Church of Saint-Clément.
French Politician Fined for Using Word from Bible to Describe Homosexuality
November 4, 2016, FranceFrench politician and former housing minister Christine Boutin was convicted of hate speech on Wednesday by the Court of Appeals of Paris for having called homosexuality an “abomination” in an interview with the political magazine Charles in March 2014.
Christian Midwife Loses Case Against County Council
November 4, 2016, SwedenSwedish midwife Linda Steen objected to assisting with abortions for reasons of conscience and as a consequence public hospitals denied her employment. She sued the Sörmland county council for violation of her freedom of conscience and religion. After losing the case, she was ordered to pay 1.2 million Swedish krona for the city's legal expenses.
Government of Rincon Prohibits Nativity Scene in Municipal Courtyard
November 4, 2016, SpainThe city council gave the reason for the prohibition: "it is the central administrative building, and must respect the non-denominational vision of the State."
Media Campaign Targets Priest for Upholding Church Doctrine
November 3, 2016, SpainThe Spanish media network SER launched a media campaign against a Catholic priest for posting a list of sins that preclude parishioners from receiving Communion until they have been confessed, calling the list a throw-back to old times.
Christian Convert Threatened with Death in French Refugee Camp
November 2, 2016, FranceA Kurdish church leader smuggled to Britain says he received death threats – for having left Islam for Christianity – while living in makeshift camps in northern France. The church leader, who did not wish to be identified, spent nine months living in camps outside the French cities of Calais and Dunkirk. He said that Kurdish Muslims in both camps antagonized him for his Christian faith.