All cases
Graves Desecrated in Val d’Oise
September 14, 2012, FranceIn September 2012 the Apostolic Nunciature in France reported that 21 graves were desecrated by unknown perpetrator(s) in Goussainville, Val d’Oise, France.
Teachers and Others Threatened With Dismissal if They Didn’t Endorse Gay Marriage
September 12, 2012, United KingdomIf gay marriage is legalized, teachers and others could be forced out of their jobs if they fail to endorse such unions, a top lawyer says. Parents would have no right to insist that their children are withdrawn from school lessons across the curriculum that approve of same-sex marriage. Chaplains who work in the NHS or the Armed Forces could be dismissed if they preach that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Christian Councillor was Expelled from Green Party because of her Views on Gay Marriage
September 10, 2012, United KingdomA councillor for the Green Party, Christina Summers, a Christian, who disagrees with her party’s support for redefining marriage should be “expelled”, an internal disciplinary panel has said. She has responded by saying the decision is a “typical symptom of prejudice, blatant prejudice”.
Bomb Threat Against the Cathedral of Zagreb
September 10, 2012, CroatiaThe Chief Editor of a Catholic Magazine, Mons. Miklenic, received a threat by email on the 10th of September 2012. The email stated that a bomb would be placed in the Cathedral of Zagreb, and “everyone will jump in the air”. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature in Croatia.
Church in Landshut Borken Into
September 9, 2012, GermanyOn the 09.09.2012 in Mirskofen (Landshut) someone desecrated the sacred space of the church and the sacristy was broken into.
Local Church Defiled in Breisach
September 7, 2012, GermanyIn Ihringen (Breisach) the holy sacred space of the local church was defiled by feces and other clear signs of vandalism and aggression against Christianity.
Money Stolen from a Church Donations Box
September 7, 2012, GermanyThieves entered through a window into the Church on the market of Bad Langensalza. They pried open a donation box and stole a large amount of money.
CoE PACE Proposal Might Endanger Parents' Rights to Religious Education
September 6, 2012, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)French member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe proposed a report on the protection of children against 'sectarian drifts' which possibly collides with the parents' right to religious education of their choice.
Greenpeace Activists Harass Crossroads Walkers
September 6, 2012, SpainParticipants in Spain’s first annual Crossroads walk, a Christian-inspired cross-country march for the right to life, were confronted with a group of angry Greenpeace activists, who were peeved by the walkers’ pro-life position, and suffered insults, severe threats of violence and graffiti on their RV.
British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s Advisor Calls Same-Sex Marriage Opponents “Bigots”
September 4, 2012, United KingdomA former senior advisor to Nick Clegg says supporters of traditional marriage are “bigots” and Mr Clegg should have said so too in a speech but changed it after public furor.
Evangelical Church Desecrated in Odenwald
September 4, 2012, GermanyIn Hirschhorn (Odenwald) on the 4th Sept. 2012 the Evangelical church was desecrated.
Vandalism and Theft in Werdener Dom in Essen
September 3, 2012, GermanyPerpetrators broke into the cathedral of Werden in Essen and stole the donation boxes creating several thousand euros worth of damage.
Movie of Austrian Producer “Paradise: Faith” with Blasphemous Content
September 2, 2012, ItalyThe movie “Paradise: Faith”, shown at the film festival in Venice, scandalized the audience because of a masturbation scene using a cross.
Teacher Flunks High School Student for Saying that Homosexuality is an “Abnormal Orientation"
September 1, 2012, SwedenDuring a biology class a Swedish high school student spoke up and called homosexuality an “abnormal sexual orientation”. As a result of this comment the teacher flunked the student. The reasoning of the teacher is that it is the task of the educational system to teach pupils respect for all sexual orientations. The opposing view of the student doesn’t correspond to the curriculum’s goal.
Churches in Occupied Cyprus Plundered
September 1, 2012, CyprusNumerous churches in the Turkish occupied area of Cyprus were profaned and turned into storage rooms, museums and mosques.
Local Council in Broue Orders Removal of Cross at Cemetery
August 30, 2012, FranceThe City of Broue ordered the removal of a cross at the entrance to the city cemetery at the instigation of a counsellor, saying that "the cemetery is a public building; there should be no religious symbols." This was done "in the name of tolerance."
Ad For Mountain Tourism Conceals Summit Cross
August 30, 2012, GermanyDue to increased tourism from Middle Eastern countries, the management of the Zugspitze Railway in Bavaria produced an advertisement leaflet of the mountain “Zugspitze” without an image of the summit cross. Churches protested.
Boys Life Support Unit Switched Off Against The Wish of Christian Parents
August 29, 2012, United KingdomThe Judge of London’s Royal Court of Justice ruled on August 10th that the life support system of an 8-year- old boy may be switched off by team of doctors, ignoring parents’ wish to keep him alive.
Desecrations of Cross and Chapel in the Bretagne
August 26, 2012, FranceIn the night of August 22nd to 23rd, a desecration took place in the garden of the Abbey of Saint-Jacut-sur-Mer (Bretagne): a cross has been stolen. On the night of August 25th to 26th, the chapel of Locmaria Carnac was desecrated and the number 6 had been tagged on the walls.
Burglaries in Churches and Parish Buildings
August 24, 2012, GermanyThe parish building in Klotten and Pommern and the sacristy of the church in Bremm were broken into by burglars looking for money.
Vandalism in Naklo
August 22, 2012, SloveniaOn 22nd August 2012 unknown perpetrators desecrated a chapel of Saint Anthony in Naklo, Slovenia. They wrote the word "Satan" on the floor and words like "You worship the wrong God" on one of the frescos with a black grafitti. On another fresco they drew a cross turned upside down.
Jewels of Image of Mary Stolen at Sanctuary in Rijeka
August 21, 2012, CroatiaOn August 21, 2012, the Holy See National Contact Point of the Apostolic Nunciature in Croatia reported that in the sanctuary of the Madonna of Trsat, Rijeka, golden jewels of the image of Mary, the mother of Jesus were stolen.
Burglars in Church Sacristy in Treis
August 20, 2012, GermanyAn unidentified perpetrator broke into the sacristy of a Church in Treis and attempted to steal money. The police did not release the amount of the damage.
Vandalism at the Cemetery in Spišské Vlachy
August 16, 2012, SlovakiaOn August 16 six graves had their graves stones displaces, vases and candleholders broken by unknown intruders. This was discovered by a town employee who notified the police.
Catholic Church in Bötzingen Broken Into and Defiled
August 16, 2012, GermanyIn Bötzingen (Freiburg) on the 16th of August one or perhaps more perpetrators broke into the Catholic Church on the main street in Bötzingen, destroying the decorations around the church. The perpetrators also defiled the sacred space by urinating and splashed holy water on an open torn up bible. More damage has also been detected in several pipes of the organ.
A Blasphemous Jesus Caricature Disturbs Religious Feelings of Christians in Kassel
August 10, 2012, GermanyA large publicity poster at the entrance to a cultural center in Kassel shows the caricature of Jesus on the Cross including an offensive caption which caused strong indignation among Christians living in Kassel.
Chapel of Saint-Sébastien Set on Fire
August 8, 2012, FranceThe chapel of Saint-Sébastien in the region of le Gard, France, suffered an arson attack which partially destroyed the wooden part of the altar. This was not the first attack on the chapel.
NGO Calls for Withdrawal of Recognition for Russian-Orthodox Church in Austria
August 6, 2012, AustriaThe Austrian Initiative “Religion is a private matter” seeks to deprive the Russian-orthodox Church in Vienna of its legal personality because of its involvement in the “Pussy Riot” case.
Desecration of Graves in Lithuania
August 6, 2012, LithuaniaOn August 6th, 2012, graves in Balbieriškis were vandalised.
Pro-Life Advocates Arrested for Displaying Abortion Posters
August 2, 2012, PolandMariusz Dzierżawski, founder of the Warsaw-based PRO Foundation – Right to Life, and a fellow PRO Foundation member were arrested by the local governmental authorities during an approved anti-abortion rally at the entrance of the Woodstock Festival held in the western Polish city of Kostrzyn.
Church in Sachsen Broken Into
July 31, 2012, GermanyIn Angel (Sachsen), the church of St. Pancras was desecrated, sacred chalices and alms for the poorest were stolen.
Demonstrations Against New Church in Turkey
July 28, 2012, TurkeyOn July 28th, 2012 there were demonstrations against a newly opened church in Denizli. The church did not shut down but security matters were increased and no one got hurt.
Westphalian Church St Ida Broken Into
July 27, 2012, GermanyIn Münster-Gremmendorf (Westphalia) the church of St. Ida was desecrated. Sacred vestments were thrown into the gutter, the sacred space was desecrated and the Sacristy broken into. Donations for the poor stolen as well.
Christian Cemetery Devastated
July 27, 2012, GermanyIn Herzberg a Christian cemetery and place for the exhibition of the dead was devastated.
Desecration of Graves in Herzberg
July 27, 2012, GermanyOn the 27th of July 2012, graves and mourning areas in Herzberg, Germany were desecrated. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.
Violence and Damages in Aggressive Disruption of a Pro-Life Manifestation
July 24, 2012, AustriaMore than 80 pro-abortion-activists attacked the pro-life manifestation “1000 Crosses-March” organized by the Youth for Life and Human Life International in Salzburg-City. Blockages, insults and windows smashed kept a large number of police busy.
Entertainer Madonna Creates Negative Stereotypes of Christians at Current World Tour
July 17, 2012, InternationalAmerican entertainer Madonna tours the world with her show MDNA. The song and video “Nobody Knows Me,” which is part of Madonna’s MDNA Tour, defames Christians and creates anti-Christian stereotypes.
Left NGO Calls for Violence Against Christians
July 17, 2012, AustriaThe Salzburg-based NGO „Infoladen“ calls for violence against Christians when expressing pro-life views. In July they called for a counter-demonstration against a pro-life manifestation. „Let’s make their 1000-crosses-manifestation a disaster!“ and „Sink the 1000 crosses!“ are some of the slogans on their website.
Burglary in Church of the Holy Cross in Meiningen
July 12, 2012, GermanyUnidentified perpetrators broke into the church of the Holy Cross through a broken window. They stole a donation box with a few euros. Police are investigating.
Bosnian Government Fails to Offer Aid to Thousands of Catholics Wanting to Return
July 10, 2012, Bosnia and HerzegovinaA significant number of Catholic refugee families plan to come back to Bosnia- Herzegovina, but the Bosnian Government does not offer assistance in rebuilding their houses and restoring infrastructure. 800 families have turned to the Catholic Church for help. Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka declared that it is actually the task of the government to provide support. He complained about the lack of political will on the part of the government and the international community to enable Catholics to return to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Graves Desecrated in Ardennes
July 9, 2012, FranceIn July 2012 the Apostolic Nunciature of France reported that 40 graves were desecrated by (an) unknown perpetrator(s) in Saint-Etienne-à-Arnes in Ardennes, France.
Plundered Donation Boxes in Churches in Euskirchen
July 8, 2012, GermanyBurglars forced their way into churches in Kirspenich, Schönau and Nemmenich and plundered the donation boxes.
Desecration of Church in Eckerförde, Offertory Box Robbed
July 6, 2012, GermanyA robber broke into the church in Eckerförde and stole the money being collected for the poor out of the offertory boxes. He left an apologetic message in the visitors book.
Party Proposes Explicit Ban of Conscientious Objection for Registrars with regard to Gay Marriage
July 4, 2012, NetherlandsThe liberal party VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie) tabled a proposal in the second chamber of the parliament to prohibit the use of conscientious objection for registrars with regard to conducting gay marriages. There seems to be a majority in the parliament to support this proposal. The topic is expected to be debated until the end of the year 2012.
Legislative Proposal Seeks to Limit Conscientious Objection for Registrars
July 4, 2012, NetherlandsOn the 4th of July 2012 an amendment of the law on public officers was proposed by the members Koser Kaya and Van Hijum to the Dutch Parliament: It calls for the dismissal of registrars for marriages, births and deaths who refuse to perform same-sex marriages on conscientious grounds - if not sufficient other tasks could be found for him or her. The proposal also seeks to establish a mandatory training of students studying to be a registrar on performing same-sex marriages.
Church Leaders in Turkey Face Harassment
July 3, 2012, TurkeyChurch leaders in the Diriliş church of Konak were repeatedly verbally harassed and were attacked by teenagers with eggs. When the teens threatened one of the leaders with a gun, the parents were informed and the attacks stopped.
German Magazine Shows Pope with large Urine Stains
July 2, 2012, GermanyThe German Magazine "Titanic" presents the pope as a senile for incontinent person by depicting him in a fotomontage with a large urine stain on his white clothes while giving a blessing.
Christian on Trial for Reaching Out to Woman on the Way to Abortion
June 30, 2012, FranceA French retired doctor faced police investigation for trial because of giving a woman who intended an abortion knitted baby shoes and a medallion. In France “moral and psychological pressure” seen as an “hindrance of abortion” is punishable.
Left MPs File Complaint Against Cross in Polish Parliament
June 28, 2012, PolandAbout 10 MPs of the anti-clerical “Palikot Movement” seek to enforce the removal of the Cross in the Polish Parliament by legal proceedings at the Administrative Court.
Burglars Caught in the Act in the Church of Holy Spirit in Flensburg
June 25, 2012, GermanyTwo young men, 18 and 22 years old, known to police from past attempted burglaries in St. Nicolas church and the church of St. Mary; were caught in the act of burglary in the Holy Spirit church. They cracked several donation boxes and stole the coins.