In Amberg, Hochsauerlandkreis, on the 29th of January the sacred space of the Protestant Resurrection Church was devastated and chalices for communion were stolen.
During a visit by Mrs. Judith Reisman to the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Zagreb on January 29, 2013, the dean of this faculty, Prof. Dr. Nenad Zakošek, said, among other things: “If anyone indoctrinated them (students), then it is the Catholic Church.”
Christian parents are outraged over the contents of the governments new sex ed. programme. The government insisted and made opting out illegal, until the constitutional court found that the contents were against the law.
The French gay activist lobby groups hosted a pro-gay marriage on the 27th of January. Unlike the pro-family rally of the 13th of January, whose posters and messages focused on images or phrases that reminded onlookers of the traditional family and of children’s need for a mother and father, the 27th of January demonstration signs were largely aimed at insulting Christians and the Pope. Some signs were calling for the “Pope to tie his own fallopian tubes.” Others called the Virgin Mary the first “surrogate mother”, while still others stated that gays were "less likely to harm children than priests".
A poster advertisement for the play "Fine Dead Girls" contained an image with two Blessed Virgins embracing each other as lesbians. The play took place in the Zagreb theater Gavela. The poster was withdrawn after protests.
(October 2006 - January 2013)In October 2006 an employee, Ms Eweida, was banned from wearing a cross on a necklace by British Airways, UK. Court ruling in January 2008 upheld prohibition for Christians, but not for other religions' symbols. On January 15th, 2013, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Ms Eweida's rights had been violated.
The rights of homosexual couples trumped those of Christians, according to a ruling of the Employment Appeal Tribunal. The European Court of Human Rights dismissed the Christian applicant Gary McFarlane and left the balancing out of rights to national appreciation.
Lillian Ladele, a Christian registrar, was disciplined because of her stance on civil partnerships. The European Court of Human Rights dismissed Ladele’s application on January 15th, 2013 and left the balancing out of rights to the national authorities.
The Employment Tribunal found ‘No Discrimination’ despite the ruling that a Christian nurse cannot wear a cross for religious reasons though a Muslim can wear a hijab for religious reasons. On January 15th, 2013, the European Court of Human Rights confirmed that the hospital could make such policies - if justified by health and safety reasons.
On January 15th, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in the four UK Freedom of Religion cases: one was ruled in favour and three against. The decision of the Court is not yet final and can be appealed to the Grand Chamber of the Court.