All cases
Threats and Damage at a Church Building in Slavonski Brod
June 4, 2013, CroatiaIn the territory of the Holy Spirit Parish in Slavonski Brod is a building for liturgical use dedicated to the Blessed Mother Teresa upon which material damage was inflicted. In front of the building on a stone the size of an egg, the message “I’m going to kill you” was written in various forms. Previously no one had threatened the priest and vicar. The incident was recorded by the police and an investigation and report were made.
Monastery Raided by Masked Gunmen
June 3, 2013, AustriaThe Salvatorian monastery of Hörbranz in the Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg was raided by masked gunmen. A monk was threatened at gunpoint. The two men, allegedly in their 30’s, escaped with several thousands of Euros.
On-going Vandalism, Burglary and Spray Painted Insults in Thomasberg
June 2, 2013, GermanyEarly in June vandals entered St. Joseph’s church in Thomasberg, Germany, stole the altar cross and some money and then broke candles for the offertory and damaged the icon of Mary. Several days later it was discovered that the organ had been damaged and candles burned. In mid-June the offertory candles were found to have all been burned down and matches were distributed throughout the church. At the end of June the Church door and showcase were painted with the words: "Kirche ist scheiße, Türken auch - wir wollen euch das Geld klauen.” - “Church is shit, Turks also - we want to steal your money."
Graffiti on Façade and Square of the Basilica Saint-Sernin in Toulouse
June 2, 2013, FranceOn the feast of Corpus Christi, the façade and the square of the basilica Saint-Sernin in Toulouse were spray painted with anti- Catholic graffiti saying “Death to Catholics”.
Saint Louis Church in La Roche Sur Yon Spray-painted with Anti-Christian Slogans
June 1, 2013, FranceA wall of Saint Louis Church was spray-painted with blasphemous graffiti saying “Jésus la Tepue” (Jesus the slut). There was also graffiti found on the pedestal of the statue of the Virgin Mary, reading: “666 Satan reviendra. (Satan will return).
Conscientious Objection Undermined in Ireland's Proposed Abortion Law
June 1, 2013, IrelandThe Irish Cabinet has reached a consensus on the draft of the "Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013". The law prohibits objections on the basis of one’s conscience: “no institution, organisation or third party shall refuse to provide a lawful termination of pregnancy to a woman on grounds of conscientious objection”. Apart from this clause, the law that will regulate abortion in Ireland is rather restrictive compared to the legislation concerning abortion of other European countries.
French Minister of Education Wants to Replace Catholicism
May 31, 2013, FranceThe French minister Vincent Peillon wants to replace the Catholic faith by a “Republican religion”. “It is time to change that morality and spirituality have been determined by the Catholic Church”, a land of freedom would never be established when involving the Catholic Church, he said.
Witness Reports of Online Mobbing for Christian Positions
May 29, 2013, GermanyA letter to the editor by kath.net user „trierer“ about what he experienced in a German online discussion forum sheds light on the exclusion of Christians and Christians values from the public.
Parish Priest Discovers Desecration in Santa Chantal Church in Dijon
May 29, 2013, FranceAfter presiding over a funeral, a Parish Priest was shocked to discover a heap of excrement behind the altar of Our Lady at the entrance to the sacristy. In addition, a prayer book in the back of the church was torn and smeared into. He decided that they can no longer leave the church open during the day but will have to keep it closed for protection.
Stickers Spread in Angers Saying "Catholicism – Enough Annoyance"
May 29, 2013, FranceCitizens of the French city of Angers are confronted with stickers on traffic signs saying: “CATHO RAS-LE-BOL” (=Catholicism – enough annoyance). The credit is claimed by a group called “Comité anti-Catholique Angevin” (= anti-Catholic committee of Angers).
Repeated Urination in the Entrance Area of Church in Traunstein
May 29, 2013, GermanyThe second entrance of the church of St. George and Katharina in the city centre of Traunstein has been repeatedly used as toilet facility a local source reported. In one case our source caught an adolescent by over-hearing the adolescent bragging to his friend about having urinated into the church on various occasions before.
Church Broken Into in Garevac
May 27, 2013, Bosnia and HerzegovinaBetween the 22nd and the 23rd of May 2012, a church was broken into in Garevac, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The perpetrator(s) stole chalices which were used for Holy Communion.
Catholic Church in Esbjerg Vandalised
May 26, 2013, DenmarkOn May 26 the crucifix in front of the church of Esbjerg in Jutland was vandalised for the second time. In the early morning a man of 25 to 30 years passing by the church with a companion, jumped into its front yard and broke the legs of the Jesus figure on the cross. The first time the crucifix has been attacked was at Easter 2012 when the figure of Jesus was torn from the cross.
References to Christmas to be Removed in Asturias
May 22, 2013, SpainThe Asturian regional government has sent a circular to schools asking for all references to Christmas to be removed from the school calendar and replaced with “winter holidays”.
Music Video to David Bowie’s Song The Next Day Insults Christians’ Religious Feelings
May 22, 2013, InternationalThe video presented Bowie singing in an outfit representing Jesus. The scene takes place in a dark and bloody brothel. It begins with a priest entering the brothel after having beaten down a beggar. The priest then seduces a nun inside the brothel while Bowie performs. In the end the nun’s hands develop stigmata.
(Northern Ireland) Young Business Man Troubled for Not Printing Sexually Explicit Magazine
May 22, 2013, United KingdomMr Williamson from Portadown in Northern Ireland, faces court proceedings for refusing to print materials of a gay magazine. He says the website of MyGayZine contained explicit images, and he wasn’t prepared to print that kind of material whether homosexual or heterosexual.
Pharmacists Do Not Enjoy an Explicit Right to Conscientious Objection
May 21, 2013, AustriaIn Austria, pharmacists do not enjoy an explicit right to conscientious objection. The so called “morning after pill” may be obtained either by prescription or in case of emergency without a prescription. Besides other functions, the taking of the morning after pill may result in an early abortion. The Austrian criminal code contains a conscience clause for medical staff with regard to abortion. But for pharmacists there is no such clause. It is therefore unclear, whether pharmacists have a right to conscientious objection or not. The professional representation of pharmacists says there isn’t. This body argues that there is a legal obligation to contract; and that not delivering would be an act of non-assistance to a person in danger. Therefore, pharmacists or employees of pharmacies do not dare to withhold the abortifacient drug for conscientious reasons. It is necessary to introduce a law in Austria which explicitly recognises the freedom of conscience of pharmacists.
Duty of Referral Creates Conscience Dilemma for Pharmacists
May 21, 2013, BelgiumIn 2007, a law was passed requiring a pharmacist to sell any type of legal drugs. This position was modified in a pharmaceutical law on the 15th of October 2010. Article 32 now states that without prejudice of the rights of the patient, the continuity of the caring and the execution of the order, the pharmacist has the right to refuse delivery according to his conscience and refer the client immediately to another pharmacist, where the drug will be available, otherwise he needs to deliver the drug himself. Even though these changes constitute an improvement, the duty to refer to someone else who will make the objectionable drug available, is problematic to the objector.
Registrars and Wedding Place Owners Not Allowed to Opt Out of Gay Civil Ceremonies
May 21, 2013, BelgiumRegistrars of birth, marriages and deaths are not entitled to refer to their conscience to refuse to register a gay marriage as a civil act. Owners of wedding locations cannot opt out of facilitating gay marriages in their places.
Pharmacists Conscientious Objection Limited
May 21, 2013, Czech RepublicAs of November 2011 the so-called “emergency pill” no longer needed a prescription making Postinor-2 and Escapelle available for women over the age of 16. The Czech Pharmaceutics Chamber published a “recommended policy” discussing the ethical view on the issue: “Due to the pill’s effects, some pharmacist might have personal reservations to sell it. Those pharmacists whose consciences do not allow to sell abortifacients can deny selling the pill only in such situation when there is not a problem for the buyer to get the pill from another pharmacist. If there is no possibility for the buyer to purchase the pill from another pharmacist in reasonable time and distance, the pharmacist is obliged to sell the pill no matter what his conscience requires.” A group of pharmacists signed a petition against this restriction of their freedom of conscience.