All cases
LGBT Lobby Attempts to Block Lecture by Gay Author; Demanded Apology
February 7, 2017, SpainTwo LGBT groups in Barcelona demanded that the Archdiocese prohibit a February 11, 2017 lecture by Philippe Ariño in the parish of Santa Ana on the grounds that the content would be "seriously homophobic" in violation of Catalonia anti-discrimination law. The lecture by a young French Catholic man who is homosexual and advocates celibacy as a means to resist homosexual urges was organized by the Youth Delegation of the Archdiocese. The LGBT groups have also demanded an apology from the Archbishop.
Arson in Private Chapel in Omessa
February 6, 2017, FranceThe owner of the chapel of Santa Rita, which he renovated, discovered the door had been forced open, cards and a rosary were left on the altar and set on fire. Luckily, the fire did not spread to the rest of the chapel.
Church Funeral Disrupted by Man Shouting Koran Verses and Calling Mourners "Infidels"
February 3, 2017, GermanyA 33-year-old Muslim man from the western Balkans was charged with criminal interference with the exercise of religion after he interrupted a funeral service at the Christuskirche in Schnaittacher, shouting "I curse you and your religion."
NHS does not Record Religious Discrimination
February 2, 2017, United KingdomThe National Health Service has confirmed, in response to a question from a Member of Parliament, that it does not collect information on instances of discrimination against NHS staff on the basis of their faith.
French Ministry of the Interior Reports 949 Anti-Christian Incidents in 2016
February 1, 2017, FranceAccording to the Ministry of the Interior, 949 anti-Christian incidents - 399 acts of vandalism and 191 cases of theft of worship items - were recorded on the French territory in 2016 but this does not include the hacking of Catholic websites which were said to number 112 by the French Observatory of Christianophobia.
Convent in Avon the Victim of Theft and Desecration
January 31, 2017, FranceUnknown perpetrators broke into the convent of the Carmelites of Avon during the night of January 31, 2017, stole computer equipment, holy objects, and broke open the tabernacle containing consecrated Hosts.
Magistrate Disciplined for Refusing to Hear Same Sex Parenting Case
January 30, 2017, United KingdomThe Judicial Conduct Investigations Office ordered Susan Preston to stand down from hearing future family cases, after she declined to sit on a case involving same-sex parenting due to her personal views.
Two Arson Attempts on Village Church in Rochecorbon
January 29, 2017, FranceTwo minors were arrested after police discovered they were responsible for two separate fires at the church of Notre-Dame in the parish of Saint-Marin-Saint-Vincent en Vouvrillon. The first fire was set on January 27, 2017, with the curtains of a confessional burnt; the second fire was set in the confessional itself.
Swedish Pro-Life Midwife Publicly Bullied by Journalists
January 28, 2017, SwedenOn the national Swedish Morning news, a journalist said: ”Those who are against abortion should be aborted. Retroactively.” And everybody in the panel laughed. Just before that, pictures of Christian midwife Ellinor Grimmark and her attorneys were shown on the screen. This occurred during the week Grimmark's lawyers defended her case in the Swedish Labour Court.
Infant Jesus Stolen from Manger in Noyon Cathedral
January 27, 2017, FranceOn January 27, 2017 the figure of the infant Jesus was stolen from a crèche in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Noyon on the same day that a funeral Mass for Father Serge Maroun was celebrated.
Church Bells in Two Towns Ordered Silenced by Courts
January 22, 2017, SlovakiaAfter a complaint by a resident in Pezinok about the volume of the local church bells, and another complaint by a different resident in Svinna, courts have ordered the church to reduce the volume or silence the bells in each town.
A Statue of the Virgin Mary Attacked and Damaged
January 22, 2017, SpainUnknown people stole the crown of the statue of the Virgin Mary on January 22nd around 6pm. A finger of the figure, as well as an arm of the statue of the Child Jesus, were also broken.
Attack against a Catholic Parish Church
January 22, 2017, SpainThe external walls of the church of San Nicolás de Bari were covered with graffiti messages such as “The only church that illuminates is a burning church” (common anarchist motto during the Spanish Civil War) and “No to obligatory religion”.
Vandals Twice Damage Cemetery near Gurmels
January 21, 2017, SwitzerlandTwice in a week, unknown perpetrators dug up crosses, damaged lanterns, and trampled on graves in a cemetery of the Reformed Church of La Corbaz. The church reported the acts to the police.
Gender-Abortion Whistleblower Ordered to Pay Costs
January 20, 2017, United KingdomAisling Hubert, who began criminal proceedings against two doctors who were filmed offering 'gender-abortion', went to court to challenge £36,000 of the costs that were awarded against her after she tried to bring two 'gender-abortion' doctors to justice. The judge said he could not amend or reduce the costs. Instead a settlement was reached for the amount Aisling has to pay. She now has until 18 August to pay the agreed amount.
Man Fined for Using Altar in Performance Art in Saarbrücken
January 18, 2017, GermanyIn January 2016, Alexander Karle crossed the barrier to the altar of the basilica of Sankt Johann and did push-ups for a video he called "Pressure to perform". An administrative court imposed a fine of EUR 700 for trespassing and disturbance of religious practice. Karle has appealed, citing artistic freedom.
Policing and Crime Bill Proposes to Raise Penalty for "Religiously Aggravated Offense"
January 18, 2017, United KingdomDuring the debate in the House of Lords, the Government was asked what would qualify for a "religiously motivated offense" and whether it could include a Christian preaching the "supreme divinity of Christ." The Government responded that this would be up to prosecutors and courts.
Romanesque Door and Rectory of a Church in Sabadell Destroyed
January 18, 2017, SpainThe Municipal Police of Sabadell investigated several instances of intentional damage in the Sant Pau de Riu-sec church, which dates from the 11th and 12th centuries, as well as in the rectory. The damage affected the original door of the south facade of the church. The arch and one of the windows were also attacked: a protection grid was cut and one of the wooden porticos was broken.
Iranian and Afghan Christian Converts Face Deportation from Germany
January 16, 2017, GermanyGermany’s Ministry for Immigration and Refugees (BAMF) rejected many applications for asylum from Iranian and Afghan converts from Islam to Christianity, following “kangaroo court”-style hearings as to whether the conversions are genuine, according to a Berlin pastor.
Goverment Still Supports Plan to Register & Inspect Sunday Schools
January 11, 2017, United KingdomEducation minister confirmed that the program to regulate "out of school" settings, which could include Sunday school and youth group meetings, remains a government priority. Opponents say that this would leave churches open to complaints if they teach religious principles relating to traditional marriage.