All cases
Catholic Church in Heilbronn Defiled
November 5, 2012, GermanyIn Schöntal (Heilbronn) the sacred space of the Catholic Church was defiled and there was an attempted burglary in the sacristy.
Chapel Spraypainted with Insults in Haßfurt
November 2, 2012, GermanyA gothic chapel, a protected heritage monument which had just been renovated, was vandalised by graffiti in Haßfurt. The words which were spraypainted onto the chapels walls read things like "F...king sick child abusers" and "I serve Satan".
(Scotland) National Secular Society Pressured Highlands Council to Drop Prayers
October 31, 2012, United KingdomThe Highlands Council Scotland had the tradition of incorporating a prayer in its agenda before each meeting. However, during the summer the National Secular Society wrote a letter to the Council demanding it remove prayer from its formal agenda or it would face legal action. The Council has now dropped prayer from its formal agenda.
Church Burglarized in Saint–Lys
October 28, 2012, FranceUnidentified individuals broke into the parish church in Saint-Lys on the 28th of October. The incident was discovered by the parish priest when opening the church for church services. Upon initial investigation it has been reported that the priest's chair, two stools, a desk, a lectern, and an altar cloth were stolen. In addition, the pews in the church were dislocated.
House Owner Sentenced For Not Selling to a Homosexual Couple
October 27, 2012, FranceA man was condemned because he refused to sell a house to a same-sex couple. The 69-year-old was sentenced to pay 800 Euro to the court and 300 Euro each to the same-sex-couple in damages, plus the legal fees.
Left Wing Politicial Youth Insults Jesus
October 26, 2012, AustriaIn a newspaper of the "Young Greens" of Austrian region Vorarlberger depicts Jesus with a funny smile as a gay man holding a sign "gay Jesus". While the magazine gives explicit instructions for sexual behaviour of youth, it also recommends to wear three knotes in a belt, signifying "wealth, unchastity and disobedience" mocking the evangelical counsels of Christian tradition.
Desecration of Graves in Duisburg
October 26, 2012, SlovakiaOn the 26th of October 2012, thieves in Duisburg (Nordrhein-Westfalen), Germany, desecrated over one hundred graves and scavenged for metal. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.
Two Churches Desecrated in the Bretagne
October 24, 2012, FranceAt St. Cornelcy the crucifix that sits above the Tabernacle was broken in half. In August, the altar at Locmaria-Plage had been painted with satanic symbols.
Christian B&B Owners Fined for Denying a Room to a Homosexual Couple
October 22, 2012, United KingdomChristian bed and breakfast owners Mike and Susanne Wilkinson lost a lawsuit on their married-couples-only policy and were fined over 3.500 pounds for denying a double room to a homosexual couple. The Wilkinson's Bed&Breakfast is located in their own house where they live with their children. The courts apply a "zero tolerance" policy on grounds of "unlawful discrimination".
Reported Attacks Against Places of Worship in Hungary
October 22, 2012, Hungaryin 2012 the Holy See reported on attacks against places of worship in the following places: 23 March 2012 Szakadát 20 April 2012 Tatabánya-Bánhida 21 May 2012 Kápolnásnyék 02 July 2012 Pécs, Rácváros 21 August 2012 Pusztaszabolcs 25 August 2012 Pécs –Postavölgy 06 October 2012 Kékesd 06 October 2012 Szabadbattyán
A Fire in the Church of Notre-Dame-aux-Neiges
October 19, 2012, FranceOn October 19 the sacristy of the Church of Notre-Dame-auy-Neiges was vandalised. The damages were extensive as the fires were lit inside the church after the sacristy was vandalised.
Burglars Concentrate on Churches in Thüringen
October 18, 2012, GermanyIn many counties of Thüringen churches have been broken into by burglars who have caused damage while trying to steal money and religious images and statues.
Green Party Parliamentary Group Seeks to Disestablish Christian Institute for Youth and Society
October 17, 2012, GermanyThe Christian community The Reichenberg Fellowship and its German Institute for Youth and Society have become the object of a parliamentary inquiry that the parliamentary group of the Green Party has directed at the state government of the German state of Hessen on October 19.
Mourners Insulted at Catholic Cemetery in Sarajevo
October 16, 2012, Bosnia and HerzegovinaOn the 16th of October, 2012, a group of mourners were blocked from putting down a gravestone at a Catholic cemetery in Sarajevo. The perpetrators did not let them pass and insulted them.
Russian Orthodox Cathedral Vandalised in Geneva
October 14, 2012, SwitzerlandBetween the hours of 23 and 6 between the 13th and 14th of October unidentified individuals spray painted the facade of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Geneva. This was discovered at 10 Monday morning when Archbishop Michel arrived to open the church for the day. He said that is was the first time in the churches 150 year history that it was attacked.
Disturbance in Cologne Cathedral by Supporters of the Russian Punk-Band “Pussy Riot”
October 13, 2012, GermanyThree masked fans of the Russian punk-band “Pussy Riot” disrupted the Sunday Mass in Cologne’s Cathedral as a sign of solidarity to members of the punk-band who had been convicted of causing disturbances in a church in earlier this year.
Parish Church of St. Francis of Sales, Marseille, Set on Fire
October 11, 2012, FranceIn the neighbourhood of Vaudan two arsonist entered the Church of St Francis of Sales and set the altar vestments on fire causing considerable damage. The two unnamed individual have been detained.
Ban on Distribution of Bibles at Public Schools in Berlin
October 10, 2012, GermanyThe International Gideons are known for distributing pocket Bibles for free - mostly at schools, hospitals, hotels and medical practices. They were denied to further distribute Bibles at public schools in Berlin by the ministry of education and cultural affairs.
Church Set on Fire in Lithuania
October 10, 2012, LithuaniaOn October 10th 2012, a church in Stalgenai was set on fire. The fire was extinguished in time to save the church.
Arson at a Church in Marseille
October 9, 2012, FranceOn October 9, fire was set to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in the district of Vauban (VI). Two doilies at the entrance of the church placed on two small tables were burned, causing severe damage. Two individuals have been arrested and placed in custody in connection with this investigation of "arson." Allegedly it was not their first time of setting fire to the church.
Pro-Life Offices Vandalised
October 8, 2012, AustriaThe Vienna offices of Human Life International (HLI) were attacked and damaged during a World Prayer Congress for Life held on October 4th – 8th. During the attack the glass entrance door was broken and jars filled with black paint were through at the building, some of them making it an in and smearing computers inside. The front door of a building in which participants stayed over night was barricaded putting the people into significant risk.
Two Churches Vandalised in Mayenne
October 7, 2012, FranceTwo churches were vandalised in Mayenne in Meslay-du-Maine and Bignon-du-Maine on October 7, 2012. "There have been destructions of statues inside buildings, other ones were thrown down and taken away," said Lt. Col. Alain Lantz, commander of the gendarmerie company Laval.
Church at Marmoutier Abbey Vandalised and Burglarised
October 7, 2012, FranceOn the night of the 7th of October the Church of St Etienne at Marmoutier Abbey, Alsace, France was broken into. The burglars stole seven challises and spread hosts on the floor.
Hostile Graffiti on Church in Vienna
October 6, 2012, AustriaUnknown perpetrators have spraypainted the Catholic church Kirche Am Hof, which is one of the main Vienna churches in the inner city.
Exhibition in Belgrade Hurts Religious Feelings
October 6, 2012, SerbiaUnder the title "Ecce Homo", the Centar za kulturnu the dekontaminaciju (“Centre for Cultural Decontamination”) displayed an exhibition of Swedish photographer Elisabeth Ohlson despite protests. The exhibition shows Jesus Christ in sexual orgies, such as in an image of the last supper with women dressed up and place in sexually explicit manners. Jesus, who holds up the Eucharist, wears black high heals under his white dress.
A Dozen Graves Vandalised in Royan
October 6, 2012, FranceIn the cemetery of Tilleuls Royan a dozen graves were targeted by vandals, probably on the night from October 5th to 6th. Memorial plates and flower pots were broken. Police are investigating.
German Parents Lose Custody of Their Children for Homeschooling
October 5, 2012, GermanyA district court in Darmstadt, Germany has revoked custody of four children from their parents and ordered it turned over to the Jugendamt, Germany’s child protective agency.
Christian Graves Vandalised in a Cemetery of Landes
October 5, 2012, FranceA dozen Christian graves were vandalized in the village of Moustey (Landes). The incident occurred in the night of Thursday, October 4 to Friday, October 5. A dozen headstones were damaged and knocked over. Plates and funerary equipment was damaged, motocross tires left deep scars and damages on the ground along walkways and on the central cross.
Desecration of Two Churches in Soissons
October 4, 2012, FranceOn October 4, two churches were broken into, robbed, and desecrated in Soissons. In the church of Sainte-Eugénie, the presbytery and the door were broken open, the tabernacle was opened, papers and money was stolen.
70 Christian Graves Desecrated near Albi
October 4, 2012, FranceSeventy graves were damaged at a small cemetery adjacent to a Catholic church. An investigation was opened after the discovery in Albi on October 4th. Seventy crosses were overturned and laid on the ground, 16 of them were broken, and funerary objects were vandalized in the cemetery in the area Fonlabour. The desecration was not signed nor claimed, said the departmental director of public safety (DDSP), the Commissioner Pierre-Marc Panazio, an AFP correspondent.
Church in Lithuania Set on Fire a Second Time
October 4, 2012, LithuaniaA church was set on fire and burned to the ground on October 4 2012. This was the same church where an attempt at burning the church was made in September 2012.
Vandalism in Lithuanian Church
October 4, 2012, LithuaniaOn October 4th 2012 vandals broke the windows of a church in Raudondvaris and damaged a statue inside the church.
Pro-Life Activists Continuously Attacked
October 3, 2012, GermanyPro-Life activists continuously suffer attacks from radical groups, including physical attacks and property damages; as well as negative stereotyping by the media; and an infringement on freedom of assembly and expression by a ban mile.
A Newly Restored Chapel Vandalised in Nice
October 3, 2012, FranceThe chapel of Saint-Jacques de Nice, which had been vandalised in June, was again targeted. After breaking into the door, the perpetrators attacked the statues that decorated the interior of the church building. Several of them were "beheaded". The deputy mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, immediately denounced the act of vandalism in a statement through an act of "unfair, incredible and malicious act committed in the heart of a place of worship."
Traditional Bible Reading Marathon Not Permitted in Paris
October 1, 2012, FranceEvangelical Protestants who have organized an annual "Marathon of the Bible" with over 500 participants reading and sharing in Paris since 2003, did not obtain the permission to hold a session in 2012.
Religious Radio Programme Arbitrarily Cancelled
October 1, 2012, CroatiaFor twenty years Croatia’s national radio station (HRT) had, through an agreement with the Bishop’s Conference, broadcast a five minute programme, “Praised be Jesus Christ” edited by the local archdiocese. This agreement was ended by the HRT: it cancelled the programme without warning or explanation.
Vatican and Several Cathedrals Virtually „Occupied“ in App
September 29, 2012, InternationalIn the augmented reality app „Junaio“, several of the world’s large cathedrals are decorated with a banner displaying the text “Abortion Pills, A Gift From God” and instructions how to do an abortion yourself with a medicine called misoprostol.
Christian Pro-Life Group Legally Threatened by Abortion Giant
September 28, 2012, United KingdomMaria Stopes International (MSI), one of the biggest abortion providers worldwide located in the UK, threatened to take legal action against a pregnancy pro-life center (Good Counsel) for distributing and providing some information about the negative effects of abortion on mental health.
Christians Threatened in Muslim-Christian Area in Bulgaria
September 27, 2012, Bulgaria“Christians are threatened” said a resident of the Roma neighborhood in Iztok, a suburb in Pazardjik (Bulgaria) in the television program "Fatherland Front" (Otechestven front) with Martin Karbovski.
St. Oswald in Traunstein Vandalized Again
September 26, 2012, GermanyThe St. Oswald Church in Traunstein, Germany was presumably spray painted by the Antifascist group “ANTIFA”. In this church, Pope emeritus Benedict XVI celebrated his first mass as a priest. The motivation for this attack is unknown. Several objects were spraypainted including a bust of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. The bust had been vandalised two times already before.
National Pro-Life-Manifestation Attacked by Radical Left Wing Groups
September 23, 2012, GermanyEvery year in September, a national pro-life-manifestation - the March for Life takes place in Berlin. Radical groups disturb the peaceful marchers each year - with methods ranging from insults and hurtful chanting, to blocking of roads or venues, to property damage or physical violence.
A Catholic Bookstore Vandalised in Bordeaux
September 23, 2012, FranceThe Catholic bookstore located in front of the church of St. Eloi was vandalized on September 22-23. The store has been vandalised for the 26th time. The window was partly destroyed. For several years, the store has been the target of many attackes. This however, does not seem to impress the public authorities, the town hall or the mainstream media nor prompt them to take action.
Attempted Fire in Church in Lithuania
September 23, 2012, LithuaniaOn September 23rd, 2012 someone made an unsuccessful attempt to set a church in Kulautuva on fire.
A Church Stained With Muslim Signs in the Rhône
September 21, 2012, FranceOn the night of Friday 21 to Saturday 22 September the church of the city of Chassieu was sprayed with orange colour with the signs - "Islam is gaining momentum”, the name of terrorist and the new idol of suburbs "M.MERAH."
Pharmacists' Freedom of Conscience Uncertain
September 19, 2012, GermanyWhile the law does not protect the freedom of conscience for German pharmacists, a letter from the ministry, dated 1986 upholds it. Legally, the letter is not binding. The uncertainty of whether this letter would be followed by today’s courts constitutes a difficulty in the ethical considerations and the freedom of acting according to one’s conscience of pharmacists in Germany.
„Homeschooling“ Still Prohibited
September 19, 2012, GermanyParents rights are commonly understood to include the right to chose the form of education of one’s children, including the possibility of non-institutional education, such as the so-called homeschooling. Not so in Germany.
Compulsory Sex Ed Problematic for Christian Families
September 19, 2012, GermanyGermany’s strict federal laws on compulsory school attendance do not allow any opt out with regard to sexual education.
Disrespectful Fashion Show Promotion
September 19, 2012, LithuaniaThe Lithuanian fashion label Robert Kalinkin promotes the fashion show of his new spring/summer collection 2013 on October 10th entitled “Jesus Mary” with disrespectful posters in Vilnius obviously transgressing the boundaries of good taste.
Christian Bed & Breakfast Owners Report Torrent of Hateful Messages
September 19, 2012, United KingdomThe Christian owners of a bed and breakfast in Britain, Mike and Susanne Wilkinson, have received countless hate-filled messages in the wake of refusing to give a homosexual couple a double room.
Prime Minister Thinks Teachers Should Not Be Allowed to Teach that Homosexual Behavior Was a Sin
September 16, 2012, United KingdomPrime minister David Cameron thinks that faith schools should not be allowed to teach that homosexuality is a sin, according to a quote featured by the Daily Mail.