All cases
Vandalism in Naklo
August 22, 2012, SloveniaOn 22nd August 2012 unknown perpetrators desecrated a chapel of Saint Anthony in Naklo, Slovenia. They wrote the word "Satan" on the floor and words like "You worship the wrong God" on one of the frescos with a black grafitti. On another fresco they drew a cross turned upside down.
Jewels of Image of Mary Stolen at Sanctuary in Rijeka
August 21, 2012, CroatiaOn August 21, 2012, the Holy See National Contact Point of the Apostolic Nunciature in Croatia reported that in the sanctuary of the Madonna of Trsat, Rijeka, golden jewels of the image of Mary, the mother of Jesus were stolen.
Burglars in Church Sacristy in Treis
August 20, 2012, GermanyAn unidentified perpetrator broke into the sacristy of a Church in Treis and attempted to steal money. The police did not release the amount of the damage.
Vandalism at the Cemetery in Spišské Vlachy
August 16, 2012, SlovakiaOn August 16 six graves had their graves stones displaces, vases and candleholders broken by unknown intruders. This was discovered by a town employee who notified the police.
Catholic Church in Bötzingen Broken Into and Defiled
August 16, 2012, GermanyIn Bötzingen (Freiburg) on the 16th of August one or perhaps more perpetrators broke into the Catholic Church on the main street in Bötzingen, destroying the decorations around the church. The perpetrators also defiled the sacred space by urinating and splashed holy water on an open torn up bible. More damage has also been detected in several pipes of the organ.
A Blasphemous Jesus Caricature Disturbs Religious Feelings of Christians in Kassel
August 10, 2012, GermanyA large publicity poster at the entrance to a cultural center in Kassel shows the caricature of Jesus on the Cross including an offensive caption which caused strong indignation among Christians living in Kassel.
Chapel of Saint-Sébastien Set on Fire
August 8, 2012, FranceThe chapel of Saint-Sébastien in the region of le Gard, France, suffered an arson attack which partially destroyed the wooden part of the altar. This was not the first attack on the chapel.
NGO Calls for Withdrawal of Recognition for Russian-Orthodox Church in Austria
August 6, 2012, AustriaThe Austrian Initiative “Religion is a private matter” seeks to deprive the Russian-orthodox Church in Vienna of its legal personality because of its involvement in the “Pussy Riot” case.
Desecration of Graves in Lithuania
August 6, 2012, LithuaniaOn August 6th, 2012, graves in Balbieriškis were vandalised.
Pro-Life Advocates Arrested for Displaying Abortion Posters
August 2, 2012, PolandMariusz Dzierżawski, founder of the Warsaw-based PRO Foundation – Right to Life, and a fellow PRO Foundation member were arrested by the local governmental authorities during an approved anti-abortion rally at the entrance of the Woodstock Festival held in the western Polish city of Kostrzyn.
Church in Sachsen Broken Into
July 31, 2012, GermanyIn Angel (Sachsen), the church of St. Pancras was desecrated, sacred chalices and alms for the poorest were stolen.
Demonstrations Against New Church in Turkey
July 28, 2012, TurkeyOn July 28th, 2012 there were demonstrations against a newly opened church in Denizli. The church did not shut down but security matters were increased and no one got hurt.
Westphalian Church St Ida Broken Into
July 27, 2012, GermanyIn Münster-Gremmendorf (Westphalia) the church of St. Ida was desecrated. Sacred vestments were thrown into the gutter, the sacred space was desecrated and the Sacristy broken into. Donations for the poor stolen as well.
Christian Cemetery Devastated
July 27, 2012, GermanyIn Herzberg a Christian cemetery and place for the exhibition of the dead was devastated.
Desecration of Graves in Herzberg
July 27, 2012, GermanyOn 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, AustriaMore 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, InternationalAmerican 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, AustriaThe 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, GermanyUnidentified 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 HerzegovinaA 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, FranceIn 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, GermanyBurglars 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, GermanyA 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, NetherlandsThe 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, NetherlandsOn 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, TurkeyChurch 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, GermanyThe 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, FranceA 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, PolandAbout 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, GermanyTwo 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, GermanyIn 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, GermanyUnknown 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, IrelandPosters 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, AustriaSeveral 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, LithuaniaJune 17th 2012, the walls of a church in Vilnius were spray painted with writing.
Christian Manifestation Attacked by Homosexual Activists
June 16, 2012, AustriaAbout 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, DenmarkThe 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 KingdomThe 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, GermanyIn 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, ItalyThe 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, CroatiaThe 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, FranceGeorges 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, AustriaOn 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, GermanyUnidentified 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 HerzegovinaWindows 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, FranceMedical 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 KingdomThe 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, GermanyA 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, GermanyIn 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, GermanyIn 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.