All cases

Catholic Nun Insulted in Tuzla.

September 21, 2009, Bosnia and Herzegovina

A group of Catholic nuns were openly insulted in Tuzla on August 21st, 2009.

Church of Halluin Vandalized

September 17, 2009, France

On Thursday, September 17th, 2009, in the evening, a man entered the church of Saint-Hilaire to vandalize the statue of the Virgin Mary. The statue fell on the ground and broke into pieces.

In Angers at the Festival Accroche-Coeur the Church is Mocked and the Population is Scandalized

September 13, 2009, France

On September 11th, 12th and 13th was set in the French town of Angers the 11th annual Festival of the Accroche-Coeur. Its theme was “Angels and Demons”, a theme which led to half-naked angels and demons parades, erotic shows and short plays imitating and fooling a Catholic Mass. The Christian Democratic Party said he was “deeply shocked” by the erotic displays; the mayor himself, Jean-Claude Antonini left the show without giving his final speech.

Anti-Christian Slogans at Anti-Life Demonstration

September 12, 2009, Austria

Anti-Christian slogans such as “There is no God” and “If Mary had had an abortion, we would have been spared from you!” shouted at anti-life demo in Vienna.

South Wales Church Damaged by Vandals

September 10, 2009, United Kingdom

A Christian church in South Wales was targeted by vandals who smashed its newly restored stained glass windows. Worshippers were forced to cancel services in order to fix damages.

70 Graves Wrecked near Dunkerque

September 7, 2009, France

70 graves were wrecked in the cemetery of Coudekerque-Branche. Memorial plaques, funeral ornaments and urns were found broken into pieces and laying on the ground. Rocks were also thrown on numerous graves, thus damaging them. David Bailleul, the mayor of Coudekerque-Branche, condems these “obnoxious, unacceptable and scandalous acts”.

Charity Drops ‘Church’ Name to Get Public Funding

August 29, 2009, United Kingdom

A charity in Scotland decided to drop the word ‘church’ from its title, saying that it creates “unnecessary barriers” to accessing public funding. The chairman of Perth-based Churches Action for the Homeless (CATH) said he had been told “off the record” that their perceived religious identity made it more difficult for them to receive grants. Trustees asked the charity’s supporters to suggest a new “fully inclusive” name for the group.

10.000€ of Damage in Church of Juniville (Ardennes)

August 28, 2009, France

In July and in August 2009, the church of Juniville was targeted several times by vandals who broke stained glass windows by throwing rocks at them. The costs of the fixing was estimated at about 10 000€.

Church Targeted by Vandals in Communay

August 26, 2009, France

The Xth century church of Communay was targeted by vandals during the night of August, 24th, 2009. Two crosses were unhooked and thrown to the ground. Candals and singing books were found all over the church and flower pots were thrown against a stain-glass window.

Church Vandalised in Maubeuge

August 26, 2009, France

The church of the Sacred-Heart of Maubeuge was the target of degradations. A parishioner put an and to the damage when he entered the church at approximately 6:30 p.m., thus putting to flight three young men. The three had left a devotional note to Allah.

Mobbing of Christians at Islamic School

August 18, 2009, Netherlands

Christians treated as second class teachers; pupils taught that “Christianity would be abolished in the end, all other religions would disappear and everybody will convert to Islam” at school in Amsterdam, and that “only Muslims can after all be good people.”

Christian Family Called Names and Spat on

August 15, 2009, United Kingdom

Harrassed Christian family sends report to the observatory

Manchester Street Preacher Questioned by Police

August 15, 2009, United Kingdom

Freedom of speech is being challenged in the case of Miguel Hayworth, a Christian street preacher in Manchester, UK who was silenced by police after publicly reading a passage from the Bible discussing homosexuality.

(Scotland) Bible Defaced In Art Exhibition

August 11, 2009, United Kingdom

Obscene and offensive messages have been scrawled over a Bible at a taxpayer-funded exhibition in Glasgow.

Council Puts up Christmas Lights in August to Cater All Faiths

August 8, 2009, United Kingdom

Residents of Milnrow, Lancashire, were surprised to see council workers installing Christmas lights in August 2009, 127 days before Christmas Day. Rochdale Borough Council said the lights would be used to celebrate a number of festivals, starting with the Muslim feast of Eid in September. Other ‘holy days’ over the period between August and Christmas include Hindu Diwali celebrations in October, the Jewish feast of Hanukkah in December and even Yule, the pagan celebration of the winter solstice. The Council’s decision attracted derision from the national press and Milnrow residents. One local labelled the move “ludicrous” and said: “A worker told me they had to be up in time for all the religious festivals, but most of the lights refer to the Christian Christmas.”

Pop-Singer Madonna Offends Polish Catholics With Images, Contents and a Date

August 2, 2009, Poland

Pop-singer Madonna performed on August 15, the main Marian feast day of Polish Catholics, in Warsaw with for Christians offensive lyrics and images. Ads included sentences such as “There is no room for two queens in that country.”

Paediatrician Dismissed For Christian Views And Reinstated Upon Public Outcry

July 30, 2009, United Kingdom

Experienced community paediatrician dismissed from adoption panel over Christian views has been reinstated upon public outcry.

Severe Vandalism During Historical Commemoration

July 27, 2009, Spain

Around twenty churches were vandalized on the night of July 26th in commemoration of the centenary of the „Tragic Week“ (a series of blood sheding fights between the Spanish army and the working classes) in Barcelona.

Christian Murdered Because of Faith

July 20, 2009, Turkey

German entrepreneur murdered in Istanbul most likely because of hatred towards Christians. CNN-Turk and Agence France Press quote the murderer to have stated in an interrogation that he had aimed at "killing Christians".

Repetitive Violence and Vandalism Against a Church in Toulon

July 1, 2009, France

The church of the Sacred-Heart of Toulon has been for the past two years the target of malevolent acts. Urine was found in the baptismal font, a church responsible was seriously assaulted, the tabernacle was vandalized and many thefts and degradation are to be deplored. The church had to be kept closed for several weeks in 2009.