All cases
Service Interrupted By Feminist Demonstrators
March 8, 2020, SpainOn the Day of the Lady Worker, a group of feminist demonstrators with feminist and anti-church slogans went into the monastery of Sant Cugat during the 12 o`clock service. They disturbed the mass and named the reconstruction a "machismo, sexist and patriarchal institution". Before entering the church, they did a performance in front of the church and put a banner on the walls.
Madrid Municipality Threatens an Evangelical Church with Sanctions for Carrying out alleged Conversion Therapies
March 3, 2020, SpainAccording to the Spanish Ministry, they will consider imposing "significant sanctions" on an Evangelical church in Madrid that exceeds 20,000 euros. In this church, therapies to cure homosexuality were offered and carried out. Now it is to be examined whether the church has thereby violated the Spanish LGBTQ law. "We will not tolerate any regression in our society and in what we have in our hands, which is to impose sanctions, we will not shake hands, we will not take a step back in the fight against LGTBIphobic behaviour," said Alberto Reyero, Minister of Social Policies.
Police ‘Transphobia’ Investigation Breached The Right to Freedom of Expression
January 25, 2020, United KingdomOn the 25th January, a discussion started after Harry Miller, an ex-policeman, was called by the Humberside Police to check about some complaints about his posts on Twitter. In one Tweet he questioned if transgender women would be real women. The police officer had to "check the thinking", although he had committed no crime. After being reported as a "hate incident", Miller sued the police for breaching free speech. The court declared the intervention of the police "unlawful" in February.
Legal Extension of IVF Met with Staunch Opposition in France
October 6, 2019, FranceTens of thousands of French protestors took to the streets of Paris on October 6th to protest the draft bioethics law which passed the lower house of parliament on September 25th. The bill would, amongst other provisions, allow all women under 43 the right to "medically assisted procreation," including in-vitro fertilization (IVF), regardless of their relationship status, or sexual orientation. Currently, French law only allows access to IVF to heterosexual couples unable to have children through natural means, who are either married, or who have lived together for two years.
Anti-Discrimination Law Expanded in Switzerland
November 28, 2018, SwitzerlandThe Swiss Ständerat (Council of States) passed a law on November 28th adding discrimination based on sexual orientation to the existing criminal law prohibiting discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or religion. A broader version of the legislation, which included "gender identity" was passed by the Nationalrat (National Council) in October. Critics of the law noted that it could restrict freedom of expression and conscience, particularly for those who hold a traditional view of sexuality and marriage. Those who violate the law could face a prison sentence of up to three years.
University Fired Priest after Rosary of Reparation for Glasglow Pride Parade
July 19, 2018, United KingdomA Catholic priest in Glasgow has been removed as a university chaplain after hosting a rosary of reparation for the city’s gay pride parade. The July 16 Rosary service was held in response to a gay pride event in the city on July 14. After complaints from LGBT groups, University principal Pamela Gillies announced that “Following due consultation, Father Mark Morris will not return to his chaplaincy role at the university in September,” the BBC reported.
Government Fired Doctor for View that Gender is Determined by Biology
July 8, 2018, United KingdomDr David Mackereth was deemed "unfit" to work as an assessor at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over his refusal to use transgender patient's preferred pronouns because of his view that gender is defined by biology and that God made humans male and female. The Equality Act identifies those undergo or who propose to undergo gender reassignment as part of a protected class. Failure to use preferred pronouns is interpreted as unlawful discrimination.
Polish Supreme Court Rules against Printer; Tribunal Reversed in 2019
June 14, 2018, PolandPoland's Supreme Court ruled against a printer who refused to create a roll-up banner for an LGBT business group because he did not want to "promote" the gay rights movement, citing his Catholic religious beliefs. The Court held that although there may be legally justifiable reasons to refuse services based on religious objections, in this case they did not apply. UPDATE: In June 2019, the Constitutional Tribunal ruled that the law the printer was convicted under was unconstitutional, because punishment for refusing to provide services on the grounds of beliefs interfered with the service providers’ rights to act according to their conscience.
Canada Summer Jobs Funding Program Becomes Religious Freedom and Conscience Rights Controversy
March 20, 2018, CanadaThe Canada Summer Jobs program funding application for 2018 requires that applicants sign a statement supporting, among other things, abortion and transgender rights in order to be eligible for funding. Hundreds of applicants, including Christian charities, pro-life groups, and churches have refused to sign the attestation because of the government's positions on moral issues.
Swedish Social Democrats Seek to Ban all Religious Schools
March 13, 2018, SwedenThe governing party announced the proposal on March 13, 2018, citing concerns about "systematic gender segregation and opinions that do not belong in Swedish schools." Although no examples of problems in Christian schools were cited, they would be included in the plan. Jewish schools would be exempted.
Government Guidance Ensures "Gender Inclusive School Environment"
December 13, 2017, United KingdomNew government guidance by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) encourages schools to “ensure the visibility” of transgender perspectives in the classroom.
Equalities Minister Said Churches Should Follow Public Opinion on Gay Marriage
July 23, 2017, United KingdomJustine Greening, who is also Education Secretary, said churches and other religious groups should “keep up” with public opinion on same-sex marriage.
Swedish Prime Minister: "Priests Should Perform Same-Sex Marriages
June 24, 2017, SwedenSwedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has suggested that all Church of Sweden priests be compelled to perform gay marriages, or "do something else." Currently the Swedish church holds the position that “no priest should be obliged to officiate at the wedding of a same-sex couple.” Löfven said priests who are unable to bless gay marriage are in the wrong vocation and that the Social Democrats are working to ensure that priests "will consecrate everyone."
Motion Filed for Catholic Church to Pay Property Tax
April 4, 2017, SpainThe political party "Ahora Getafe" has filed a motion for the Catholic Church and other religious entities to pay property taxes, despite its exemption. Due to the Concordat Agreements of the Spanish State with the Holy See in 1979, the Catholic Church was given a variety of privileges including not having to pay property taxes.
Parliamentary Group Called for a Ban on Broadcasts of Mass on Public Television
February 20, 2017, SpainA parliamentary group in the Congress of Deputies presented a proposal calling for broadcasts of Mass on public television be prohibited, which they ask to be considered/debated by a commission that oversees RTVE, Spain’s public television station, and its affiliates.
Order of Nuns Fined for Firing Lesbian Teacher
July 14, 2016, ItalyAn order of nuns was ordered to pay 25,000 Euros to a teacher for discontinuing her employment based on the incompatibility of her sexual orientation with the Catholic school’s ethos.
Green Party a Threat to Religious Liberty in Australia
May 21, 2016, InternationalArchbishop Anthony Fisher warned that religious liberty is at stake in Australia's national elections because of the Green's proposed $32 million "Safe Schools" Program which would charge parents, schools, and churches with discrimination if they fail to conform.
Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner to Investigate Catholic Church's Marriage Pamphlet
November 12, 2015, OtherTransgender politician, Martine Delaney, lodged an anti-discrimination complaint in September and on November 12, the commissioner announced it will begin investigation.
Proposed Mandatory LGBT Education in Scotland Would Violate Parents' Rights & Put Teachers' Jobs in Jeopardy
November 1, 2015, United KingdomPro-LGBT group Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) has launched a petition demanding that children as young as five learn about homosexual, bisexual and transgender issues, and this week it addressed the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee.
Prison Minister Fired for Preaching "Homophobic" Bible Verses
October 31, 2015, United KingdomReverend Barry Trayhorn, volunteering as a chaplain at a prison for sex offenders, recited verses from Corinthians which include homosexuality in a long list of sins, along with adultery, theft and drunkenness during a service.