All cases

Four Spanish Bishops Threatened with Prosecution for Criticism of LGBT law

August 31, 2016, Spain

Three of the bishops are being threatened with a criminal complaint for having written and published a condemnation of Madrid’s new “Law of Integral Protection against LGTBIphobia and Discrimination for Reasons of Orientation and Sexual Identity.” The fourth bishop is being criminally investigated for expressing support for the statement of the first three.

Security Guidance Sent to UK Churches after Murder of French Priest

August 31, 2016, United Kingdom

The organization National Churchwatch issued a new security guidance to every church in the UK in the wake of the murder of French priest Jacques Hamel by Islamist terrorists.

Nurse Fired for Talking about Faith with Patients

August 31, 2016, United Kingdom

A Christian nurse was fired for "gross misconduct" by the NHS for talking to her patients about her faith and occasionally offering prayer to help them prepare for surgery. Part of her job was to help patients complete a questionnaire, which included a question about religion.

Albanians Threaten to Burn Serbs and their Churches

August 28, 2016, Kosovo

Attempts by Serbs to mark the religious holiday of Assumption in several towns in Kosovo and Metohija were met with road blocks, threats of burning, rocks, tear gas, and an attack on the car of the deputy director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Dusan Kozarev.

Vandalism and Attempted Arson in Hautmont Church

August 27, 2016, France

Police opened an investigation after a bystander reported smelling smoke from the church of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption. Investigators discovered damaged statues, as well as missals, songbooks, and wreaths knocked to the floor. The altar tablecloth was burnt, but the fire did not spread to the rest of the church.

Four Summit Crosses Damaged in the Bavarian Alps

August 27, 2016, Germany

From May to August 2016 four wooden summit crosses in the Bad Tölz-Wolfrashausen region were destroyed by unknown perpetrators using an ax.

Nice Deputy Mayor Confirms "Burkini Ban" Also Applies to Nuns' Habits on Beaches

August 26, 2016, France

Rudy Salles defended the ban of the "Burkini" and said that the same ban would apply to Catholic nuns wearing habits on Nice beaches.

Mass Interrupted by Intruder Yelling Insults at Cardinal

August 26, 2016, Spain

Cardinal Archbishop of Valencia, Antonio Cañizares was offering Mass in Avila dedicated to St. Teresa of Avila when he was interrupted by an individual who entered the church shouting insults at the Cardinal such as “Nazi, thief, Fascist.”

Man Arrested After Threatening to "Kill a Priest" in Ariege

August 25, 2016, France

A thirty-year-old man was arrested by police after witnesses reported hearing him threaten several times to "kill a priest" and yelling "Allah Akbar." The man claimed it was a joke and was found to have been under the influence of narcotics.

Belgian Police Arrested Teen Pledging to Kill All Christians

August 22, 2016, Belgium

The 17-year-old boy was filmed declaring in Arabic, “Oh Allah, destroy the odious Christians. Oh Allah kill them all.”