All cases
Church Vandalised and Burglarised in Lünen
February 21, 2013, GermanyIn the night of the 21st of February the registry of the St-Marys church of Lünen was broken into and gravely damaged. The place was left in disarray and the offertory was emptied.
Vandalism and Burglary in the Church of St. Mary in Lünen
February 21, 2013, GermanyUnidentified perpetrators broke into St Mary's Church in Lünen, Germany. They also vandalised the youth centre and the parish centre. Much damage was done but hardly anything stolen. In the youth centre one of the billiard tables was badly damaged.
Nail Bomb Placed in Almudena Cathedral in Madrid
February 20, 2013, SpainA nail bomb was found in the Almudena Cathedral by a priest who reported seeing a suspicious looking bag on leaving the confessional. The Cathedral was evacuated before anyone was hurt by the home-made device, and the police were able to deactivate it without any damage being done.
Offertory of Catholic Church in Dieringhausen Stolen
February 19, 2013, GermanyUsing a scissor a perpetrator pried the offertory off the wall of the Catholic Church on Dieringhauser street in Gummersbach. He also took the container and its contents.
Satanic Graffiti on Church in Urbino Duomo
February 17, 2013, ItalyInverted crosses and 666 were found on two doors of the church. The three doors were dented as well, one whose neoclassical façade was rebuilt by Valadier in 1801, following a strong earthquake in 1789.
Church in Orléans Twice the Target of Vandals
February 14, 2013, FranceThe church of Saint-Paterne in Orléans, France, became twice the victim of vandalism. Sometime during the night of the 11th to 12th of February, three of its poor boxes were pillaged, and then again from the night of the 14th to 15th of February, the door of the tabernacle was forced open and the ciborium emptied of its contents, the hosts spread over the floor. A covering was taken, but not the ciborium. In addition, the church Notre-Dame des Miracles, also in Orléans, was robbed.
T-Shirt Company in Pamplona Prints Derisive Cartoon Picturing a Catholic Bishop
February 13, 2013, SpainThe Spanish T-shirt company Kukuxumusu, known for its humorous T-shirt designs picturing cartoon animals such as sheep and bulls, printed a shirt with a bull dressed in Catholic bishop’s clothing flanked by two sheep, one of whom he is suspiciously touching. The other sheep is pulling up the “bishop’s”garment to reveal a devil’s tail. Many found this both offensive to their faith and a needless mockery of the serious matter of pedophilia.
Anti-Pope Protests in Notre Dame Cathedral
February 12, 2013, FranceFemale activists undress and shout anti-pope slogans to comment the resignation of Pope Benedict XYI in the Paris Cathedral of Notre. Toplessly, they hammered at bells and shouted "Crisis of faith,", “Pope no more!” “Bye-bye Benedict!”, “No more homophobe!” and "In gay we trust!".
Polish Erasmus Student Arrested in Cadiz for Destroying a Crucifix
February 12, 2013, SpainA twenty-four year old Polish Erasmus student in Cadiz was arrested after purportedly entering a church and throwing a crucifix to the ground, breaking the arms and legs off of the eighteenth century religious piece. A church official tried to detain the youth, but he escaped and was later apprehended by police to await trial.
Catholics Insulted by Depiction of Key Shrine Lourdes
February 11, 2013, FranceFrench Catholics were insulted by an historically inaccurate article published in the French weekly, Le Point, on the 155th Anniversary of the pilgrimage site, Lourdes.
YouTube Video Calls For Violence Against Priests
February 10, 2013, InternationalOn February 10th a youtube video was uploaded by user „Porco Dio“ containing several blasphemous pictures and comments such as "God Swine", "Our Lady the Pig", "Bastards in white" (referring to priests) and “I would like to cook a nice plate of mixed things with that saint Joseph". They also ridicule the Lord’s Prayer.
Anti-Christian Counter Manifestation to Pro Life Activity
February 9, 2013, FranceDuring a prayer meeting in front of the abortion clinic of the l’Hôpital Tenon in Paris, pro-lifers were confronted with a counter demonstration of the group “Hâter la République” (“Rush the Republic”) which held up posters depicting Jesus carrying the cross comparing the cross to an UID, a contraceptive loop. It said: “Jesus too… had a loop!”
Graffiti on Walls of Church in Vigasio
February 9, 2013, ItalyTwo young girls entered the church and using black spray paint made a smiling devil who "hates the Vatican”, a slanderous stylized crucifix and wrote insults in English.
University Assistant Professor Loses Job Due to Opposition to “Gay Marriage”
February 7, 2013, GermanyA Cologne university professor lost his job because he had spoken for Christian values and against “gay” marriages in a TV appearance. The university claimed that such views were not to be tolerated.
Vandalism and Arson in Two Churches in Cusio
February 6, 2013, ItalyWithin two days there were 4 arson attacks and 6 cases of vandalism in the parish of Saint Catherine and Saint Audenzio Pettenasco. The fire did not spread through the buildings but curtains were burnt and the wooden upper part of the entrance that supports the choir and a precious organ were damaged. A hammer was used to destroy the gate of the Shrine of Our Lady of Bocciolo, an awl was used on other doors and insults were written against the church.
Church of Saint-Germain de Charonne in Paris Marked with Graffiti
February 6, 2013, FranceThe Church of Saint-Germain de Charonne in Paris was marked with the words, “The only church that illuminates is the one that burns.”
Christian Graves Vandalised in Bages D’Aude
February 4, 2013, FranceRight before All Hallows Eve three tombs in the cemetery of Banges D’Aude were vandalised, with their decorations and flowers destroyed. A complaint was placed with the Gendarmerie.
Burglars and Fire at Catholic Church in Dorsten
February 4, 2013, GermanyBurglars targeted the Catholic church of St. Boniface in Dorsten. They stole several items as well as cash and set the community centre on fire. According to the police the damages amount to several hundred thousand euros.
Church Vandalised in Lyon
February 1, 2013, FranceAt the parish the Name of Jesus in Lyon the parish priest discovered on February 1st that the facade had been vandalised with the statue of Jeremiah removed from its niche and beheaded on the floor.
Graffiti Threatens Christians in Ljubljana
February 1, 2013, SloveniaUnknown perpetrators sprayed on a wall of a shopping center on one of the thoroughfares in Ljubljana on 1 February 2013 a graffiti threatening Christians with violence. “Kristjani – klali smo vas 1945 – klali vas bomo 2013” - “Christians – we slaughtered you in 1945 – we shall slaughter you in 2013”, was sprayed in large letters on a wall.