All cases
Man Burst into Church and Smashed Ancient Crucifix to the Ground
July 12, 2016, ItalyThe young man of North African origin rushed into the church of St. Jeremiah, in Cannaregio, Venice and threw a large crucifix to the floor, heavily damaging the religious artifact.
German Bishops Conference and Protestant Evangelical Church in Germany Issue Joint Statement
July 12, 2016, GermanyCardinal Marx, chair of German Bishops' Conference and Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, head of the Protestant Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), united to condemn the attacks on Christians and other religious minorities in camps.
Arsonist Arrested for Abbey Fire
July 10, 2016, FranceA 42-year old man confessed to setting at least fifteen fires including one that damaged the Abbey Saint-Austremoine in Issoire on July 3. The blaze, which destroyed a confessional, a table and some chairs, was quickly extinguished. The fire caused great upset among the population. The suspect was indicted for "intentional damage by dangerous means to people."
Four Churches Tagged with Offensive Messages
July 10, 2016, FranceThe churches of La Motte, Lauren, Loudéac, and Lachèze in the region of Côtes-d'Armor were painted with the word "Pédophile."
Religion Classes in Belgium to be Replaced with Citizenship Classes
July 7, 2016, BelgiumThe country's religious education classes in French-speaking primary and secondary schools will be cut in half in October 2016 and replaced with a weekly hour of citizenship classes, over the objection of students and teachers.
Russia's Anti-Terrorism Law Restricts Missionary Activities
July 7, 2016, RussiaThe new law bans preaching, praying, proselytizing, and disseminating religious materials outside of officially-designated sites, and authorizes fines for these activities conducted in private residences or distributed through mass print, broadcast or online media.
Church Desecrated in Messina
July 3, 2016, ItalyThe church of Santa Elena was the victim of desecration, theft, and vandalism on July 3rd. The parish priest discovered the tabernacle completely emptied, smashed and detached from the wall. A statue of the Virgin Mary was decapitated, and a ciborium full of consecrated Hosts was stolen, along with an ancient reliquary containing a fragment of the Holy Cross.
Statue of Virgin Mary Decapitated in Vineyard
July 1, 2016, FranceThe statue, located on private property in Chadenac and surrounded by a wrought iron fence, was vandalized and its head was broken off.
Belgian Nursing Home Fined €6,000 for Refusing to Allow Euthanasia on Premises
June 30, 2016, BelgiumJudges in Belgium fined a Catholic nursing home after it prevented doctors from giving a lethal injection to a 74-year-old lung cancer sufferer on its premises.
Lay Association Calls for Mayor's Resignation for Assisting in Catholic Blessing
June 29, 2016, SpainThe president of Asturias Laica, Jose Luis Iglesias, has formally requested that the Mayor of Gijon, Carmen Moriyón, resign from office for assisting in the Catholic ritual of the blessing of the waters in the feast of San Pedro, the city’s patron saint, which was celebrated on June 29.
Man Attacked Malmö Church
June 26, 2016, SwedenA man broke into St. Paul's Church in central Malmö and vandalized it, including breaking the stained glass windows. According to the police, it will be investigated as a hate crime as they suspect that the man attacked the church because it is a symbol of the Christian faith.
Statue of Saint Petronio Defaced by Vandals
June 26, 2016, ItalyThe statue, the civil and religious symbol of the city of Bologna, was defaced with "Allah Akbar" painted on the base. The Archdiocese of Bologna condemned the act and police are investigating.
Christian Convert Attacked at Asylum Home in Halbe
June 25, 2016, GermanyTwo young Afghan men severely attacked a woman from Iran because she converted from Islam to Christianity, according to police.
Co-Workers Found Not Guilty of Religiously Aggravated Offense
June 24, 2016, United KingdomA York jury heard evidence about sustained bullying of a teenage apprentice, a Catholic, by tying him to a cross in a mock crucifixion, among other acts, during a trial. They found the accused guilty of assault, but not guilty of religiously aggravated assault.
Valencia Cardinal Accused of Hate Speech for Homily Criticizing Gender Ideology Legislation
June 23, 2016, SpainCardinal Antonio Cañizares was accused of hate speech by the Feminist Platform of Alicante, along with 55 other LGBT organizations. They alleged that his homily was "full of hatred, homophobic and sexist." On June 23, 2016 he was cleared of the charges.
Bonn Basilica Vandalized
June 21, 2016, GermanyA 24-year-old man was arrested after he entered the crypt of the shrine to the city patrons Cassius and Florentius and caused extensive damage to the crypt, tabernacle, and the sarcophagus in which the relics of the saints are held.
Arson in Swiss Confessional
June 21, 2016, SwitzerlandOn July 2, Swiss police arrested a 51-year old suspected of intentionally setting fire to a confessional in the St. Gallon Cathedral.
Large Pentagram and 666 Painted on Church Graveyard
June 19, 2016, United KingdomA vandal sprayed satanic symbols, a large pentagram, and the number 666 onto the lawn of the graveyard at All Saints Church in Hull, Yorkshire.
German Newspaper: Orlando Shooter Could Just as Well Have Been Christian
June 16, 2016, GermanyGerman newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung a published commentary on the Orlando shooting in which it said the crime had nothing to do with Islam and everything to do with “homophobia” and that the shooter could just as well have been an Evangelical Christian.
Church of England Accused of Discrimination
June 16, 2016, United KingdomThe Church of England has been accused of discriminating against a lesbian couple by refusing to conduct their wedding.