All cases

Filtered by: Intolerance towards Religious Symbols

Crucifix Desecrated by a Pig’s Head in Bellocq

November 1, 2010, France

On the road to Lahontan, in Bellocq, south of Daw, a Calvary scened called Palin, was covered by an entire pig’s head, attached to the wood by a piece of string.

Tabernacle and Holy Sacrament Desecrated in Billière

October 29, 2010, France

Vandals broke in the XIIth century church of Saint Laurent de Billière, near Pau, on Friday, October 29th. The tabernacle was forced opened and the consecrated hosts scattered on the ground.

University Supports Profane Show Despite of Students and Staff´s Complaints

October 28, 2010, Spain

The Dean of University of Valladolid, Marcos Sacristán, after being warned about the blasphemous content of Leo Bassi´s play, decided to offer the university premises for its performance. Students and staff of University of Valladolid had requested Dean Sacristan to ban the play because of its offensive content.

Mountain Guide Destroys Mountain Top Crosses

October 28, 2010, Switzerland

The Swiss mountain guide Patrick Bussard vandalized and destroyed three crosses on tops of mountains in 2010 after he had conducted a petition against religious symbols in public. He faced a fine for property damage and violating freedom of religion in January 2012.

"Free-Thinkers" Take Action Against the Presence of Crosses On Mountaintops

October 24, 2010, Switzerland

The "free-thinkers" of Switzerland, the association of people without religious confession (Vereinigung der Konfessionslosen), are campaigning for a ban of religious symbols not only in public institutions, but also all mountain should be cleared of them.

127 Graves Desecrated in Igny-Comblizy

October 23, 2010, France

61 headstones were revered and their crosses unsealed and another 66 graves also but less heavily damaged. Graves, headstones, flowerpots and funerary objects were thrown all around the cemetery.

Saint-Louis Church in Brest Tagged

October 21, 2010, France

Anti-Catholic and Satanic symbols were found on the walls and doors of the church of Saint-Louis in Brest. Elected officials are shocked and say in a written statement: “All places of worship, whatever they are, are places that must be respected.”

Steady Increase of Desecrating Acts in French Cemeteries

October 12, 2010, France

Ongoing: A report of the Gendarmerie Nationale underlines the fact that most desecrations since 2005 have been aimed at Christian cemeteries and other Christian places of worship.

Mother Denied to Bury her Executed Son According to her Christian Faith

October 12, 2010, Belarus

Mother of an executed prisoner cannot pray at her son's tomb. It is unclear whether he had seen a priest before execution.

Theft and Desecration in Bazas’ Cathedral

October 9, 2010, France

An unknown number of burglars entered the cathedral, broke-opened the tabernacle and took a 1930 monstrance of brass and wood. They also broke several stained windows. For Father Arnaud, the parish priest, “this attacks the very essence of our faith.” He experienced this burglary as “a sacrilege and a desecration,” he said.

Painter Exhibits “Madonna Carrying Hitler Child”

October 6, 2010, Italy

Exhibition in Italian city Salemi shows a painting of Madonna holding child Hitler. Jewish and Christian Church leaders have condemned the display.

Vandalism in Austrian Church Building

September 29, 2010, Austria

Repeated vandalism including defecation committed by youth in church building in Upper Austria.

Chapel Desecrated in Bastia, Corsica

September 26, 2010, France

The chapel of the crypt of Notre-Dame de Lourdes, in Bastia, was attacked most likely on Monday, September 27th. The altar was sprayed with urine and statues of the Virgin were plunged into a water vase, head down.

20 Graves Damaged in Frontenay-Rohan-Rohan

September 21, 2010, France

About twenty graves were desecrated, tombstones and memorial plaques scattered in the Catholic cemetery of Frontenay-Rohan-Rohan.

Attacks on Pro Life Activists

September 7, 2010, Austria

Ongoing attacks against sidewalk-counseling pro life activists in Vienna filmed and published online.

Statue of the Mary Removed At School in Malaga

September 3, 2010, Spain

A statue of the Virgin of Fuensanta (local patron) at the Carazony college in Malaga was removed in September at the request of parents. Another group of parents launched a campaign to ask for it to be reinstated.

Church Vandalised in Juniville

August 26, 2010, France

During the night of August 26th to 27th, the church of Juniville has been attacked and vandalised: candles were thrown on the ground, the tabernacle was broken and posters were torn and burned on the ground.

Parliament Attempt to Undermine Religion from the Public Square

August 24, 2010, Spain

The political parties Esquerra Republicana, Izquierda Unida, and Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds, requested Parliament to pass a law to remove any religious sign and faith-related traditions -specially those related to Catholicism-, from the public square.

Cemetery Vandalised in Laon

August 22, 2010, France

During the night of Saturday 21st to Sunday 22nd of August, about fifty graves in the German military cemetery of Laon were vandalised. Crosses were extracted from the ground or completely broken.

Cemetery Vandalised in Hénin-Beaumont

August 8, 2010, France

Fifteen graves and a Catholic chapel have been targeted. A cross was destroyed. Among the graves vandalised, three vaults were particularly damaged. The doors of three grave buildings were broken open and their windows broken. On other graves, funerary objects such as crosses or flowers pots were broken and scattered all around the cemetery.