All cases
Arson at Saint-Gildas Church in Auray
March 4, 2018, FranceOn the afternoon of March 4th, a parishioner discovered thick smoke inside l'église Saint-Gildas. She observed two young women running from the church and immediately contacted the authorities. Firefighters discovered 10 separate fires had been set inside.
Bomb Scare in Bern Church
March 2, 2018, SwitzerlandA 21-year-old Afghan man was arrested in Bern on March 2nd after he threatened to blow up the Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit) near the main train station. Witnesses reported unusual behavior to the police. Upon arrival, police found the man in possession of "suspicious objects" which were later neutralized. The church was evacuated and the area around the church was sealed off for hours.
Local Government to Demolish Cross
March 1, 2018, SpainThe tripartite government of the Castellón municipality of Vall d'Uixó formed by PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party), Izquierda Unida (United Left) and Compomís (Coalició Compromís) announced the demolition of the cross in the small Plaza de la Paz (Freedom's Square). The removal was driven by the law of Historical Memory. However, the cross of Vall d'Uixó no longer contains any symbol that refers to the Civil War or the Franco regime.
Beloved Priest Murdered in Francophone Parish in Berlin
February 22, 2018, GermanyFather Alain-Florent Gandoulou, the head of the Catholic French-Speaking community, was murdered in his office around midnight.
Government Sponsored Festival whose Poster Depicted Church in Flames
February 22, 2018, SpainThe Lugo City Hall, governed by PSOE, sponsored a music festival in February 2018 whose promotional poster depicts Christian church in flames. The three-day festival called “A Candeloria” was organized for the 15th consecutive year. All participating musical bands shared in common "combative music" with "corrosive lyrics about the system and its institutions."
Strasbourg Cathedral Tagged
February 22, 2018, FranceA facade and the double door of Strasbourg Cathedral were tagged during the night between February 20th and 21st with the anarchist message “Neither god nor master” ("Ni Dieu, Ni Maître").
10 Churches in the French Regions of Loire-Atlantique and Morbihan Desecrated
February 21, 2018, FranceDuring February at least ten churches in the French Region of Morbihan and Loire-Atlantique were desecrated or robbed, according to media reports. After police investigation, two men were arrested.
Church Desecrated in Erdeven
February 21, 2018, FranceThe tabernacle was desecrated in the church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul in Erdeven (Morbihan).
"Jesus Magazine" Mocked by French Daily Host
February 20, 2018, FranceOn the daily television program Le Quotidien, host Yann Barthès mocked the publication of a magazine called "Jesus" and comedian Vincent Dedienne joined in by singing "I have holes in my hands and in my feet." Eric Célérier, founder of the website Top Chrétien, publicly denounced this by noting that "mocking Jews is anti-Semitism and punishable by law. Mocking Muslims is Islamophobia. But strangely, it seems that making fun of Christians and Jesus is... humor."
City Hall Renovation Eliminates Christian Mosaic
February 20, 2018, SpainUnder the pretext of the restoration of the city hall's headquarters, the government of the town of San Fernando in Cadiz decided to remove the mosaic of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that had adorned the main facade of the building since 1941.
Alpes-Maritimes: Mission Cross vandalized in Grasse
February 18, 2018, FranceOn the morning of February 18th, municipal services workers discovered that the "Mission Cross" in Grasse had been vandalized during the night. The nearly 500 kg wrought iron cross was bent and the pedestal was deliberately moved into the roadway. The cross, dating from 1894, had been completely renovated by Jean-Marie Rouvier, of the Compagnons du Patrimoine en Pays de Grasse, in June 2016. Mayor Jérôme Viaud condemned the vandalism and launched a police investigation.
Christian Convert Attacked Outside Pentecostal Church
February 11, 2018, SwedenA Christian Afghani asylum seeker was attacked after attending a worship service at a Pentecostal church in Karlstad.
Newspaper Publishes Journalist's Vulgar Tirade Against Catholics
February 10, 2018, SpainThe on-line journal Público published a writer's insult-and-expletive laden criticism of Catholics, priests, and a Catholic confraternity following a court judgment against a young man for posting an image mocking Jesus Christ on Instagram.
Council Votes in Favor of Buffer Zone around Abortion Clinic
February 7, 2018, United KingdomIn a vote that would create the second so-called "buffer zone" around an abortion clinic in the UK, the Richmond Council voted in favor of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) around a clinic run by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service. If it receives final approval at the next council meeting, the PSPO would make it a crime to hold prayer vigils near the clinic. The broadly-worded PSPO would also prohibit any form of interaction with staff or visitors to the clinic.
Vulgar Graffiti Sprayed on Brzeszcze Church
February 4, 2018, PolandCCTV recorded a man and a woman spraying the door of a church with vulgar messages in English. Police began an investigation.
Teacher Fired for Sharing Biblical Views; Loses Discrimination Lawsuit
February 2, 2018, United KingdomFollowing a one-day trial, an Employment Tribunal dismissed a discrimination claim by a Christian teacher who was fired for answering students’ questions about her Christian beliefs.
Universities in Germany Excluding Christian Groups
January 28, 2018, GermanyThe climate at Germany's universities has become increasingly anti-religious. The German Student Mission (SMD) collected and documented dozens of cases of discrimination against student-run religious groups, including Christian groups. Discrimination has included denying the groups the use of campus facilities, prohibitions on flyers, and denial of accreditation by student councils. For Christian groups, accreditation has been denied both because "religion has no place on campus" and objections to the groups' moral stances on controversial topics.
Manchester Votes to Ban Pro-Life Protests outside Clinics
January 24, 2018, United KingdomManchester became the second local authority in England to vote to ban pro-life protests and prayer vigils outside clinics. Councillors in the city agreed on January 24th to "take all necessary actions within its powers" to stop what it said was the harassment by protesters against women using the clinics. After this vote, protests would not be banned, but the city will investigate whether a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is warranted.
Professor Threatened Priest and Others in Nice
January 23, 2018, France"Frank C.," a German philosophy professor, made death threats against a priest, a lawyer, a police officer, Christian Estrosi (the mayor of Nice), and magistrates in Nice. He was arrested and remanded for trial in Grasse.
Five U.K. Retailers Accused of Insulting Christianity in Five Months
January 22, 2018, United KingdomFive major U.K. retailers were accused of using advertising or packaging offensive to Christians in as many months. Ocado, an online supermarket, Fortnum & Mason, a luxury goods retailer, the bakery chain Gregg's, Domino's pizza, and Lidl all faced criticism for insulting Christians or Christianity.