All cases

Tourism Office Suggests to “Avoid Religious Symbols in Holiday Apartments”

October 17, 2006, Austria

According to the reports of www.kath.net, the business manager of the Office of Tourism in the municipality of Schruns/Tschagguns in Southern Tyrol, Manuel Bitschnau, asked landlords of 300 holiday apartments to remove religious symbols. This was done in the course of a program of “improvement” in the tourism sector. The reason he gave: people of religions other than Christian could feel offended.

Official Seat of Ecumenical Patriarchate Attacked by Grenade

October 6, 2006, Turkey

The official seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate suffered an attack in Istanbul on October 6th and was damaged by a grenade.

Creationism Debate comes with Defamation of Christians

October 2, 2006, Germany

Wolfgang Baake, general secretary of Christian Media Association (Christlichen Medienverbundes KEP) Germany, calls the reporting and public discussion of evolution vs. intelligent design vs. creationism “defamation” of Christians.

(BBC) Internal Memo Admits Anti-Christian Bias

October 1, 2006, International

The British Broadcasting Corporation has admitted to a marked bias against Christianity among the network’s executives and key anchors.

Blasphemous Theater Play “La Revelación” Performed in Different Spanish Theaters

September 30, 2006, Spain

Stage play “The Revelation” of author Leo Bassi ridicules the Christian faith, by portraying God as illogical and blood thirsty, believers as cruel, and the Church as power hungry.

Catholic Church Targeted by Government Representatives

September 18, 2006, Spain

In July 2005 the Spanish Socialist Youth political wing (JSE) has requested the government to appoint a commission to review the agreements between Spain and the Holy See. The JSE General Secretary and speaker, Herick Campos, emphasized the need to put the Catholic Church "in its place, without any privileges because the Catholic hierarchy has abused of its condition of majority to influence government affairs, specially in issues related to education and finance". This was supported by government leaders in 2006.

Paint Bomb Attack on Pope’s Birthplace

September 10, 2006, Germany

One day before the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. in his hometown Marktl (Bavaria), unknown perpetrators threw two paint bombs unto the front of his birthplace at about 5 o’clock in the morning. The building had just been completely renovated. After the attack, the lower part of the facade had to be completely redone. The perpetrators were not found.

Birth Place of Pope Benedict XVI Vandalized

September 10, 2006, Germany

On Sept 10th, unknown perperators vandalized the birth place of Josef Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, in Marktl in Germany, by throwing colour on the newly restaurated front walls.

Christian Arrested for Distributing Bible Quotes

September 1, 2006, United Kingdom

Stephen Green, 55, national director of the evangelical organization Christian Voice, Christian Arrested for Distributing Bible Quotes Opposing Homosexuality in South Wales, UK.

Parish Vandalized in Valencia

August 31, 2006, Spain

The parish Asunción de Nuestra Señora, located in the Benimaclet neighborhood of Valencia, was vandalized and the walls painted with anti-Christian messages and images. The parish priest Juan Luis Orquín pointed out that anarchists and gays group have been attacking the Church on regular basis. The priest added that local authorities have not taken any measure to reduce the harassment and the threat to the church. The local newspaper El Levante reported that before the arrival of Benedict XVI to Valencia, a fire was started at the parish doors and the damage caused is still visible.