All cases

Filtered by: Intolerance towards Religious Symbols

Church Service Stormed, Pastor Beaten

April 2, 2008, Russia

Pentecostal service stormed by perpetrators, pastor beaten, parishioners threatened with pistols held to their heads.

Socialist Pupils Association Encourages Members to Vandalize Churches

March 20, 2008, Austria

In a newsletter Austrian "Aktion Kritischer Schüler" (Socialist Pupils Association) encourages members to take the occasion of the international day against racism (March 21st) to vandalize churches.

Catholic Bishop Before Parliament for Insisting on Crucifixes in Every Classroom and Truly Catholic Sex-Ed

March 14, 2008, United Kingdom

The Catholic Bishop of Lancaster UK today gave a spirited response to accusations by secularist MPs in a Commons Committee who accused him of trying to establish religious "fundamentalism" in his schools. Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue told the Committee that schools in his diocese should see it as their prime duty to teach the Catholic faith and to evangelise and that this constituted neither "proselytism" nor "fundamentalism".

Priest Given Suspended Sentence for Loud Bell

January 11, 2008, Greece

A Greek Orthodox priest was given a suspended 70-day sentence after residents complained he rang his church bell too loudly and too often.

Gallery Offends Christians

January 6, 2008, United Kingdom

The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead displays statue of Christ with erect penis by gay Chinese-born artist Koh.

Overview of Anti-Christian Vandalism in France in 2007

December 31, 2007, France

Many acts of vandalism have occured in France in 2007. Please find here a list of examples of various incidents against Christian sites.

Fire Set to Catholic Chapel

December 24, 2007, Russia

Intentional fire was set at a Catholic chapel in the Cossack village of Leningradskaya, the Krasnodar Region. The motivation of the attack and its perpetrators remain unknown but it could be religious hate.

Christian Symbols Targeted rather than Religious Symbols in General

December 18, 2007, International

The war on Christian Christmas symbols wages in many countries. Interestingly, it seems not to be about religion in general. It seems to be against Christian symbols. Find here a collection of cases from the United States.

War on Christmas and Its Symbols

December 17, 2007, United States

Catholic League in the U.S. collected several instances of where Christmas symbols were banned, removed or mistreated in the United States. In Europe, similar instances took place.

Biennale of Contemporary Art Displays Profaned Jesus Crucified Hanging from Lingerie

November 22, 2007, Spain

The Sevilla Biennale of Contemporary Art presented an artwork of German-born Josephine Meckseper intended to merge the concepts of sex and the religious symbolism of Holy Week. Meckseper displays Jesus Christ hanging from lingerie. Christians were offended, but Pablo Suarez, the Museums General Director in Andalucia highlighted freedom of expression without censorship. The Biennale is mostly funded with taxpayers' money.

(Scotland) Word "Lord" Removed from Prayer as Offensive

November 15, 2007, United Kingdom

The word "Lord" was removed from a primary school grace before meals after one parent complained the mention was offensive. Contrary complaints of other parents lead to a subsequent reinstatement of the term.

Blasphemous Images in Weekly Magazine

November 13, 2007, Belgium

"Humo", a Belgian Dutch-speaking weekly that is known for its liberal and satirical opinions, published a representation of a man urinating in a chalice with the accompanying text: "And Jesus changed wine into urine". Our sources report that this was not the first time "Humo" published blasphemous representations.

Report of Think Tank Suggests to Downgrade Christmas

November 1, 2007, United Kingdom

Christmas should be downgraded in favour of festivals from other religions to improve race relations, says a report of the Institute for Public Policy Research, a Labour Think Tank.

Ringing of Church Bells Prohibited

November 1, 2007, Netherlands

Local authorities prohibited the ringing of church bells for noise reasons in Tilburg, Holland. A court verdict annihilated the decision in November.

Catholic Airport Worker Suspended for Displaying a Picture of Jesus

October 10, 2007, United Kingdom

Manchester, England - A Catholic airport worker was suspended for displaying an image of Jesus on a staff room wall after a Muslim colleague made a complaint against him.

Blasphemous and Hurtful Art Funded by and Displayed on Ibiza

September 30, 2007, Spain

The art exhibition "Vamos a Ibiza" (Let's go to Ibiza) by artist Ivo Hendriks shows John Paul II having passive homosexual sex, and Jesus Christ on the way of the cross while a character – half man, half woman - holds a penis to his mouth. The exhibition was authorized and funded by the Ibiza local authorities, and it took place inside the former L'Hospitalet church.

Defaming Art Funded by and Displayed in Madrid

September 26, 2007, Spain

Madrid City Hall and Madrid Community co-sponsored a comic exhibition which shows the Pope consuming pornography, having sex with nuns, and sheep, produced by Italian artist Federico Solmi. Madrid’s mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón is the chairman of the exhibition. The general coordinator, Armando Unsaín, said that "it might be possible that the content of the exhibition offended a minority, but no further consideration should be given to the complaints. We live in a democratic society, and the Church has not been unpolluted to deserve no criticisms."

Orthodox Churches Attacked by Molotov Cocktails or Stoned

July 20, 2007, Kosovo

On July 20th, in Kozarac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Orthodox Church was stoned and the windows of the church were broken. In another incident on October 19th, a Serbian Orthodox church in Gjilan/Gnjilane, Kosovo was attacked with Molotov cocktails, but the interior of the church was not damaged.

Gay Parade Supporters and Participants Mock Christian Beliefs

June 30, 2007, Spain

Before and during the Gay Pride Parade Christianity was mocked by Spanish actors Pablo Puyol, Carlos Fuentes, Mariola Fuentes and Pepón Nieto who addressed the gay community encouraging them to "do as much as possible to gain eternal damnation", and "to got a step further on the way to hell". Participants wore bishops' outfits and carried anti-Christian signs.

Public Funds for Blasphemous Book

May 31, 2007, Spain

The regional governming authority of Extremadura funded with public funds the book „Sanctorum e In Breedin“ containing photographs displaying pornographic images together with Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, and other Catholic sacred symbols. St. Roque is shown having an erection while holding his dog; Archangel Gabriel's picture displays the angel in sexual climax; extrements are shown over the chalice in substitution of Holy Communion; Jesus Christ is depicted as a transsexual; San Juan de la Cruz is shown having oral sex; and so on.