All cases
Pope Demeaned by Headline “Junta Buddy Replaces Nazi Boy”
June 10, 2013, GermanyThe German daily “taz” commented on the inauguration of the pope with the headline “Junta buddy replaces Nazi Boy” (Juntakumpel löst Hitlerjungen ab). After about 50 individual complaints to the German press council it ruled that the headline constituted an offence against the duty to take care (Sorgfaltspflicht). The Central Committee of the German Catholics (ZdK) sharply criticised the statement and the fact that the press council refuses a reprehension concerning the violation of religious feelings. The press council states that “assessments” on the Catholic doctrine such as “Old geezer I. followed old geezer II” are provocative but are covered through the right to freedom of opinion.
Attempted Burglary and Vandalism at Church in Frohngau
June 4, 2013, GermanyBurglars broke the door to the sacristy of the church in Frohngau, Germany and rummaged through drawers and cabinets. They also broke open the door leading into the church. Nothing was stolen but there was property damage amounting to about 400 euros.
On-going Vandalism, Burglary and Spray Painted Insults in Thomasberg
June 2, 2013, GermanyEarly in June vandals entered St. Joseph’s church in Thomasberg, Germany, stole the altar cross and some money and then broke candles for the offertory and damaged the icon of Mary. Several days later it was discovered that the organ had been damaged and candles burned. In mid-June the offertory candles were found to have all been burned down and matches were distributed throughout the church. At the end of June the Church door and showcase were painted with the words: "Kirche ist scheiße, Türken auch - wir wollen euch das Geld klauen.” - “Church is shit, Turks also - we want to steal your money."
Witness Reports of Online Mobbing for Christian Positions
May 29, 2013, GermanyA letter to the editor by kath.net user „trierer“ about what he experienced in a German online discussion forum sheds light on the exclusion of Christians and Christians values from the public.
Repeated Urination in the Entrance Area of Church in Traunstein
May 29, 2013, GermanyThe second entrance of the church of St. George and Katharina in the city centre of Traunstein has been repeatedly used as toilet facility a local source reported. In one case our source caught an adolescent by over-hearing the adolescent bragging to his friend about having urinated into the church on various occasions before.
Freedom of Assembly Limited by Court Order in Germany
May 21, 2013, GermanyChristian-inspired non-governmental pro-life organisations often express their faith and their convictions by protesting in front of abortion clinics, or by simply standing in front of clinics or counselling centres in order to offer conversation and alternatives. In the German cities Freiburg and Munich, this activity has been severely limited. Local courts have given in to the pressure by the targeted locations, which could have been mainly financial ones. Courts have restricted the form of manifestation as well as established a geographical ban. Appeals are on-going.
Hostile Climate With Regard to Religion esp. Christianity
May 21, 2013, GermanyAnti-religion groups have created a climate hostile to frank discourse. Besides defamation campaigns and negative stereotyping, hate incidents have come to the Observatory’s notice. Activists physically prevented a professor to enter an auditorium to voice deviating views. Anti-religion slogans and images are often used in hurtful manners, such as the public destruction of crosses, the image of Jesus as a crucified pig, or slogans such as “We are here to hurt your feelings” or “If Mary had had an abortion, we would have been spared people like you”.
Home-schooling Prohibited
May 21, 2013, Germany“Home-schooling” is prohibited. Parents’ rights are commonly understood to include the right to choose the form of education of one’s children, including the possibility of non-institutional education, such as so-called home-schooling. Germany, however, allows home-schooling only in the most exceptional circumstances. In general, parents do not have the option to home-school their children. Offenders have to pay fines, and occasionally prison sentences are pronounced.
Vandalism Forces Churches in Breckerfeld to Install Security Cameras
May 18, 2013, GermanyIn a Catholic church in Breckerfeld, vandals left cigarette butts on benches and in the holy water, chewing gum on the organ and broke the Easter candle. A similar incident happened to the Protestant community in Breckerfeld. Both churches are accustomed to leaving the church unlocked so that people can enter at any time to pray or visit. In order to keep out the vandals they have decided to install surveillance cameras and tighten security measures by locking the organ and the loft of the church.
Church Building Ransacked in Wolfsburg
May 6, 2013, GermanyUnidentified perpetrators broke into the Holy Spirit church building at Vorsfelde-Wendschott and ransacked several rooms. All the cabinets were searched and the lamp in the entry way was smashed.
Robbery in the Church in Marburg
May 5, 2013, GermanyA small amount of money was stolen by unidentified thieves from the church in Marburg, Germany. In early May the thieves stole two loudspeakers from the same church.
Vandalism to Church in Riedlhütte
April 29, 2013, GermanySignificant damage was done to the church of Riedlhütte in Germany. The microphones in the church were damaged and thrown into the holy water, a statue of Jesus on the altar was damaged and the four crosses in the church entrance were damaged. The total damage is estimated at 1,200 euros.
Three Teenagers Broke Into Church in Crailsheim
April 26, 2013, GermanyThree teenagers broke into a church in Crailsheim, German with the intention of stealing money. They broke through a window and the door of the office. A resident heard the noise and called the police who arrested the teenagers. They caused an estimated damage of 1000 euros.
Vandalism in St. Peter's Church in Wesel
April 23, 2013, GermanyVandals brutally damaged the parish church of St. Peter’s church in Wesel, Germany. They broke their way in and once inside broke more doors, ransacked the cupboards and drawers in the sacristy and tried to open two safes.
Burglary at Church in Dettelbach
April 23, 2013, GermanyA church in Dettelbach, Germany, was broken into by unidentified perpetrators who stole a case of sacred objects. They entered by breaking the door of the sacristy and then tried to open a safe that was in a closet but they did not succeed. It is believed that the perpetrators escaped through the cemetery because one of the stolen items was found there. The damage caused is of an estimated 1,500 euros.
Homosexual Activists David Berger Claims "Gay Haters Get Out of Talk Shows"
April 21, 2013, GermanyIn an appeal to the media in Germany, Mr Berger, writer and theologian, claims that people critical of the homosexual life style must not be allowed to voice their thoughts in talk shows any more. In the name of human dignity and human rights, critics ought to be silenced.
Burglary Attempt in Two Churches
April 19, 2013, GermanyA youth attempted to break a safe in the St. James’ church in Saterland, Germany. He tried to escape but in his haste he caused an accident so the police caught him. It turned out he had broken into the St. Jacob’s church as well.
Attempted Burglary in St. George’s Church in Neustadt
April 16, 2013, GermanyAn unidentified perpetrator tried to break into the St. George’s church through the door of the sacristy. He used a screwdriver which left visible marks on the door. His attempt of burglary failed but the door was damaged.
Magazine Defames Benedict XVI and His Secretary
March 2, 2013, GermanyDue to the Pope's resignation, in a caricature on its title page, the German magazine, Titanic, implied Pope Emeritus Benedict and his secretary, Archbishop Gänswein to be engaging in homosexual sex, uttering "Finally - sex!". This hurts religious feelings of the faithful, defames both and deepens a negative stereotype against church hierarchy.
Church Burglarised and Desecrated in Oberhausem
February 27, 2013, GermanyUnidentified criminals burglarised and vandalised the Catholic church St. Josef in Oberhausem, North Rhine Westphalia. The act included desecration of the tabernacle, the altar and a relic. Several precious stones were taken and the registry was left in disarray.