All cases
Reported Cases of Desecration to Graves in Italy
December 27, 2012, ItalyThe Holy See reported cases of desecration of graves on the following dates in Italy in 2012: 19 March 2012 22 March 2012 19 April 2012 20 June 2012 19 September 2012 24 September 2012 28 November 2012
Nativity Scene Statues Decapitated in Frejus
December 26, 2012, FranceIn front of the Tourist information office in Frejus, France, the wooden nativity scene of the local parish, suffered severe vandalism. During a night of the Christmas season the statues of Mary and Joseph were decapitated. The perpetrators and their motives were not clarified by the police.
People in Turkey Threatened by Plain-Clothes Police
December 26, 2012, TurkeyPeople in the Denizli, Diyarbakir, Sinop and Hatay provinces attending worship services were being threatened and warned about further participation by plain-clothes policemen. The Police also requested information about other people attending.
Pride Parade Hurts Christians' Religious Feelings
December 25, 2012, SloveniaDuring the Ljubljana Gay Pride Parade 2012 the protestors for „a proud LGBT community“ carried signs which hurt the religious feelings of Christians: One image satirically said "let us return to the middle ages" showing a pope-like figure cutting apart a rainbow flag. The other one read: "even Jesus had two fathers". Furthermore, the Observatory was told by the organizers of the Iskreni Festival (clf. a pro family event), that Slovenian LGBT lobby organisations attacked their work massively. They tried to pressure benefactors of the festival into seizing any financial support due to the Iskreni Festival's pro life and pro family orientation.
Muslims Shout Abuse at Christians Queueing for Christmas Services
December 24, 2012, United KingdomMuslims protested in front of St Paul’s Cathedral, London, on Christmas Eve 2012 while Christians were lining up to enter the Cathedral for services. One person reported to the Observatory: “We have been adversely affected, distressed, and inconvenienced because of the nature, loudness, and closeness of this verbal outpour of hatred and abuse abuse. None of the Christians who were peacefully waiting in line to attend a Christmas celebration provoked the verbal abuse that we were forced to endure. At one point a Muslim male was loudly shouting abuse at us from a distance of about four meters.”
Three Churches Set on Fire in Amstetten
December 23, 2012, AustriaOn December 23, three churches were set on fire in the small town of Amstetten, lower Austria. One of the churches was severely damaged.
Evangelical Church in Bremen Vandalized
December 22, 2012, GermanyTwo days before the Christmas, the evangelical church in Bremen Tenever was vandalized in a way, that the Christmas celebrations could not take place in the church.
Nativity Scene Burnt Down in a Church in Savoy
December 18, 2012, FranceThe nativity scene at the Church of Barby in Savoy was set on fire on Tuesday, December 18th, between 7 and 8 in the evening. The sacristan reported that it is not the first instance of attack the Church has experienced. The day after several parents and children of the parish set up a new nativity scene.
Youth Demand the Handing Over of a Priest "to be Burnt" at Catholic School in Merida
December 17, 2012, SpainDuring the morning of the 17th of December ten youths between the ages of 15 and 17 entered the Salesian School ‘Maria Auxiliadora’ in the outskirts of Merida, Spain. After assaulting the groundskeeper who had tried to stop their entrance, they made their way to the classrooms demanding the priests be handed over to be burnt and accusing the teachers of fascism.
Vandalism of Christian Wayside Shrine in St-Germain-en-Laye
December 16, 2012, FranceThe French Observatoire de l’Christianophobie was notified of an act of vandalism against a statue of St Genevieve in St-Germain-en-Laye the 16th of December. The glass encasement of the image of the Saint was destroyed leaving the statue somewhat damaged.
Series of Thievery in Austrian Churches
December 15, 2012, AustriaSince summer 2012 a series of thefts has been going on in Austrian churches around Melk. Figurines have been taken and in mid-December images have been cut out from flags used for processions.
Insults and Removal Claims for Crucifix in Federal German Minister for Consumer Protection
December 15, 2012, GermanyCalls to remove the cross from the Federal German Minister for Consumer Protection argue that the public display of the crucifix was no surprise in an arm-exporting country - "because the crucifix was a pungent glorification of violence and an learning tool towards anti-Semitism."
Protestant Church in Drensteinfurt Vandalized
December 15, 2012, GermanyOn 15th December 2012 the Protestant church in Drensteinfurt (NRW) was broken into. The altar and the place for the commemoration of the dead were desecrated.
Church Desecrated by Burglars in Drensteinfurt
December 15, 2012, GermanyOn the 15th of December 2012, Burglars broke into an Evangelical church building in Drensteinfurt (Nordrhein-Westfalen), Germany and desecrated the interior. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.
Catholic Intellectual Threatened For Opposing Gay Adoption on TV
December 12, 2012, GermanyFollowing his appearance in a talkshow opposing homosexual adoption on German public service television, Martin Lohman, a Catholic intellectual has received severe threats via Email. He was sent an anonymous email stating the following: "I am homosexual, I have AIDS and I live in Bonn and I am now set on giving the gift of my immune disease to you, too. Should you feel a little prick of a needle soon, then that was most likely me with my needle."
Homeschooling Parents Portrayed as Sectarian Fundamentalists by Spiegel TV
December 12, 2012, GermanyHomeschooling family experiences negative stereotyping by Spiegel TV documentary: “We were not only a little disappointed and upset when we saw the outcome, which offends our Christian convictions and does not give unbiased information about the subject matter. My wife is called the 'chief inquisitor'. The reporter suggests that our children are victims, socially isolated children, controlled by their stubborn fundamental-Christian parents."
German Christian Rights' Activist Heavily Insulted And Threatened After Opposing Gay Adoption on TV
December 10, 2012, GermanyIn the German public service broadcaster ARD’s talk show “Tough but Fair” (“Hart aber Fair”), on Monday, December 3rd, the question whether homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children was debated. Women’s and Family Rights activist Birgit Kelle argued that children need a mother and a father. Following her appearance on the show, a journalist of the said ARD commented on his twitter account: “I think she is a witch. Witches get burned.”
Desecrations at Saint Rambert, Lyon
December 10, 2012, FranceOne or more unknown persons broke into the Church of St Rambert in Lyon, France, and proceeded to damage the tabernacle, desecrating the Eucharist. Several liturgical objects were stolen and the altar damaged. In response, the parish priest convened an evening of prayer.
Sign of the Cross Forbidden to Pupils by History Teacher in Narbonne
December 7, 2012, FranceOn a school trip to the nearby Cathedral of Saint-Jus, students of the local school Therese Leon Blum where warned against making the sign of the cross upon entering the Cathedral. As a punishment, the teacher mentioned three hours of after-hours at school. One of the parents wrote to the council to complaint but did not receive a response.
Sacred Heart Church in Bielefeld Depredated
December 5, 2012, GermanyIn Bielefeld the sacred Heart Church was depredated. The tabernacle on the high altar was broken into and consecrated hosts were defiled.