All cases

Mourners Insulted at Catholic Cemetery in Sarajevo

October 16, 2012, Bosnia and Herzegovina

On the 16th of October, 2012, a group of mourners were blocked from putting down a gravestone at a Catholic cemetery in Sarajevo. The perpetrators did not let them pass and insulted them.

Russian Orthodox Cathedral Vandalised in Geneva

October 14, 2012, Switzerland

Between the hours of 23 and 6 between the 13th and 14th of October unidentified individuals spray painted the facade of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Geneva. This was discovered at 10 Monday morning when Archbishop Michel arrived to open the church for the day. He said that is was the first time in the churches 150 year history that it was attacked.

Disturbance in Cologne Cathedral by Supporters of the Russian Punk-Band “Pussy Riot”

October 13, 2012, Germany

Three masked fans of the Russian punk-band “Pussy Riot” disrupted the Sunday Mass in Cologne’s Cathedral as a sign of solidarity to members of the punk-band who had been convicted of causing disturbances in a church in earlier this year.

Parish Church of St. Francis of Sales, Marseille, Set on Fire

October 11, 2012, France

In the neighbourhood of Vaudan two arsonist entered the Church of St Francis of Sales and set the altar vestments on fire causing considerable damage. The two unnamed individual have been detained.

Ban on Distribution of Bibles at Public Schools in Berlin

October 10, 2012, Germany

The International Gideons are known for distributing pocket Bibles for free - mostly at schools, hospitals, hotels and medical practices. They were denied to further distribute Bibles at public schools in Berlin by the ministry of education and cultural affairs.

Church Set on Fire in Lithuania

October 10, 2012, Lithuania

On October 10th 2012, a church in Stalgenai was set on fire. The fire was extinguished in time to save the church.

Arson at a Church in Marseille

October 9, 2012, France

On October 9, fire was set to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in the district of Vauban (VI). Two doilies at the entrance of the church placed on two small tables were burned, causing severe damage. Two individuals have been arrested and placed in custody in connection with this investigation of "arson." Allegedly it was not their first time of setting fire to the church.

Pro-Life Offices Vandalised

October 8, 2012, Austria

The Vienna offices of Human Life International (HLI) were attacked and damaged during a World Prayer Congress for Life held on October 4th – 8th. During the attack the glass entrance door was broken and jars filled with black paint were through at the building, some of them making it an in and smearing computers inside. The front door of a building in which participants stayed over night was barricaded putting the people into significant risk.

Two Churches Vandalised in Mayenne

October 7, 2012, France

Two churches were vandalised in Mayenne in Meslay-du-Maine and Bignon-du-Maine on October 7, 2012. "There have been destructions of statues inside buildings, other ones were thrown down and taken away," said Lt. Col. Alain Lantz, commander of the gendarmerie company Laval.

Church at Marmoutier Abbey Vandalised and Burglarised

October 7, 2012, France

On the night of the 7th of October the Church of St Etienne at Marmoutier Abbey, Alsace, France was broken into. The burglars stole seven challises and spread hosts on the floor.