All cases
European Parliament to Vote on Establishing Abortion as a 'Human Right'
June 2, 2021, FranceThe European Parliament, the EU's law-making body, is to vote on a new report that seeks to manifest abortion as a human right and degrades conscientious objection as "denial of medical care". The report forwarded by Croatian politician Matić is to be voted on at the next plenary session due to take place from 7 to 10 June in Strasbourg. Pro-Life groups see a violation of the established principle of abortion lying in the competence of the member states and not the EU. The European Centre for Law and Justice fear that this could lead member states to put the new report into national legal practice.
Complaint against Ringing of Church Bells in Devon
June 1, 2021, United KingdomThe All Saints Church in Kenton, Devon, could have its chimes silenced. The reason is a complaint from a member of the public. Build in the 14th century the Church's clock currently chimes every quarter of an hour. One new resident in the area has now complained to silence the same. All Saints Church vicar Rev John Williams admitted to 'The Telegraph' that he is aware that the noise measured by Environmental Health is higher than the current permitted. He added: "While some residents don't mind hearing the clock at night and find it comforting, we are nonetheless required to oblige with the law". The church council is now looking for sponsors to buy a £2,000 mechanism to silence the clock chimes at night. Kenton parish council is now worried that by the time they managed to raise the money the local council could have already silenced the clock.
New Northern Irish Conversion Therapy Ban Could Criminalise Prayer
June 1, 2021, United KingdomLGBT+ activists are pushing for a nationwide ban of conversion therapies, which would criminalize prayer, preaching, pastoral support and even parenting which opposes the LGBT+ assumptions. Human rights lawyer Jason Coppel urges that this action "would criminalise the legitimate expression of religious beliefs". The Christian Institute "will not hesitate" to take legal action if Northern Ireland's executives introduce "a badly drafted CT ban" which criminalizes "ordinary everyday practices of the church".
Historical Church vandalised in Lützenkirchen
June 1, 2021, GermanyUnknown perpetrators defaced an over 300-year-old church in Leverkusen in Germany. The culprits are responsible for graffiti sprayed on the chapel's walls, signs scratched into the bricks, holes drilled into the copper downpipes and traces of fire found on the massive oak door at the chapel's side entrance. Additionally, the vandals have damaged a monument at the Anna Chapel. Karl Georg Emmels, former church council estimates the damage to be several thousand Euros. A reward of 500 Euros for information leading to the culprit has been offered and the police are investigating.
Vandalism and Attempted Robbery in a Church in Nicotea
June 1, 2021, ItalyThe little church of Santa Chiara in Nicotera has been vandalized by unknown persons. A hole was found in the wall of the sacristy although the intentions behind these attempts are unclear. As the neighbors explained, "there is nothing to steal here, nothing of particular value". The incident actually took place at the beginning of the summer but it was discovered much later given that the church remains closed most part of the year. The police are carrying on an investigation to track down the perpetrators.
Italy: Teenagers desecrated church, later apologize to avoid police charges
May 31, 2021, ItalyFour teenage girls were caught by the church's CCTV cameras while entering and desecrating the place. The sanctuary Porto di Legnago in Verona, Italy did not press any charges against the perpetrators. The camera caught them entering the church at around 1 p.m., they are seen tearing off the rosary beads from a statue and defacing a board near the entrance of the church. The parish priest, Don Moreno Roncoletta, used his Facebook page to invite the perpetrators to apologise to the church unless they wanted the video footage to be handed over to the police. After being shared more than 1,700 times the perpetrators came forward and apologised to the sanctuary. Father Moreno considers the case closed and is not pressing any charges.
Radical Left Groups Violently Attacked Public Catholic Procession in Paris
May 30, 2021, FranceOn 30 May, a public Catholic procession in Paris, commemorating the city’s 19th-century martyrs, was violently attacked by several radical left groups. From the beginning on the procession was accompanied by interruptive whistling and booing. Soon the verbal attacks became physically violent. Flags were torn down and even heavy object thrown at them. The perpetrators also started to kick and punch participants of the procession, one elderly man was knocked to the ground suffering serious head injuries that needed to be stitched. The procession was then blocked by around 50 demonstrators and the police asked the believers to take refuge in a near by church until the situation was under control again. The police are investigating.
Twenty Graves Destroyed in the Cemetery La Ronde
May 30, 2021, FranceMore than 20 graves have been ransacked in the communal cemetery of La Ronbe during the night of 7th and 8th May. The plaques and flowers were destroyed. The police opened an investigation
News article: Scotland: Churches to receive fund for more security
May 29, 2021, United KingdomChurches in Scotland are going to profit from a fund that aims to protect places of worship, which are particularly at risk of religiously motivated attacks. The Scottish Government provides a total sum of £500,000 in their Hate Crime Security Fund for security measures. Places of particular risk are eligible for 100 per cent funding. The fund opened in May and is thought to run for two months. Providing support by the end of September. Places of worship can receive up to £20,000 in funding to install security measures. Scotlands parliamentary officer at the Chrisitan public policy charity CARE, Michael Veitch commented: "In recent years, there have been alarming attacks on places of worship in Scotland including churches, synagogues, and mosques. This money will enable congregations to install security measures to act both as a deterrent to criminals and a reassurance to worshippers. Whilst the maximum grant available to individual places of worship is less than in England, the fact that 100 per cent grants are to be provided to the most at-risk settings is especially welcome. We hope that this assistance for places of worship will become a regular feature in Scottish Government budgets.We also call on Ministers to send a strong message that religiously-motivated hatred has no place in modern Scotland including hatred against Christians, which often receives less media coverage."
Vandals Desecrated 'Way of the Cross' in Verona
May 29, 2021, ItalyVandals have violated the Way of the Cross leading to the Cemetery in Pizzoletta, near Verona. Although the stolen plates are neither valuable nor ancient, they carry religious and ideational value for the community. The act of vandalism and theft happened just a few days after the Way of the Cross has been restored. During the pandemic, the Way of the Cross, which encompasses fourteen stations, had suffered various attacks. It is unclear if the case has been reported to the police.