All cases
Trust Fund CEO Fired over Rented Space for Traditional Church.
May 13, 2021, United KingdomThe CEO of Scotland's largest grant-making trust, Kenneth Ferguson, has been fired for allowing the Stirling Free Church to rent Trust premises. Robertson Trusts Chairwoman Shonaig Macpherson is accused of having shammed and humiliated the organisation's CEO, over his link to the Stirling Free Church and their biblical views on marriage. A ruling in the case is expected soon.
Repeated Acts of Vandalism and Desecration in Tailfinger Church
May 13, 2021, GermanyThe church of Saint Francis on Langenwand has been vandalised multiple times. Unknown perpetrators have entered the church where they graffitied the walls, tore off the barrier tapes to delimit the seats and left cigarette burns on the seat cushions and the kneelers. The altar has also been desecrated when the culprit(s) cleared the sacred goods away. The police have been informed.
Catholic MP's Twitter account temporarily suspended for Tweeting "Man can't get pregnant"
May 12, 2021, SpainCatholic MP Francisco J. Contreras in Spain got his Twitter account suspended for 12 hours after posting a Tweet saying that man can't get pregnant since they have neither an ovary nor a uterus. Twitter claimed that tweet to be 'inciting hatred'. Contreras published the tweet in response to an article claiming that a man gave birth to a child. The suspension fueled an already sensitive discussion.
Historical Cave Church in Turkey Destroyed
May 11, 2021, TurkeyThe Marta Shimoni Church in Mehri, Turkey has been desecrated by currently unknown perpetrators. Since the Church is built into a cave and thus cannot be destroyed like any other church, the nature of the attack must have been severe. Footage obtained by the International Christian Concern (ICC) Organization shows items and relics inside the Church being destroyed, amongst others pictures of Jesus Christ, rosaries and crosses. It is unknown whether the incident was reported to the police or not.
Historic Statue of the Virgin Mary in Chapel in Uzbornia Forest Destroyed by Vandals
May 9, 2021, PolandOn 9 May 2021, unknown perpetrators destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary. The over 100-year-old statue was ripped from its pedestal and then shattered. The statue was placed in the historical chapel in the Uzbornia forest in Poland which was built in 1880 and renovated in 2013. The city council, Mariusz Zając and other parishioners abhor the act. The police are investigating.
School Chaplain Reported to Terrorist Watchdogs after Giving a Sermon on Christian Values Sues School
May 8, 2021, United KingdomTrent Colleges' school chaplain Reverend Dr Bernard Randall held a sermon at the schools chapel in June 2018, in which he encouraged students to respect and debate upon 'identity beliefs' and 'identity ideology'. Rev Dr Randall was afterwards reported to the governments' anti-terrorist unit 'Prevent' and forced out of his job. The school claimed that the sermon was "harmful to LGBT+" Students, and Rev Dr Randalls views were extremist. The former chaplain is now taking Trent College to court for unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment and victimization. A hearing is awaited for June 14, 2021.
Doctor wins legal fight over total ban on public worship in Switzerland
May 7, 2021, SwitzerlandA swiss Court in Geneva ruled the ban of public worship as unlawful. As safety precautions regarding the spreading of COVID-19, Geneva banned religious services and events except for funerals and weddings with restricted capacity. Although religious gatherings were banned, public gatherings were still allowed to take place. Dr Sommeruga, who was assisted by ADF International took the ban to Court. He is "delighted to celebrate this win for religious freedom".
Bellevue Church Vandalized with anti-Christian Tags Again
May 7, 2021, FranceSimilar hateful tags to the ones in January appeared again on the walls of the Church in Bellevue, Fort-de-France. One tag said "Church of the Devil". The incident was reported to the police.
Stolen Baptistery Found in Frankenberg
May 6, 2021, GermanyA baptistery stolen from an evangelical church in the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg in Germany has been found. The baptistery from the 17 century has been found and brought back to its rightful place. According to the local authorities, the baptistery made of brass has been stolen from the evangelical church back in March of 2021. The police did not give any information about how they discovered the baptistery due to ongoing investigations. It is to be assumed that since the incident the church has not been able to carry out any baptisms.
Finnish Bishop-Elect Charged for 'Hate Speech' for Editorship of Booklet on Homosexuality in 2004
May 4, 2021, FinlandThe designated bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, Dr Juhana Pohjola, has been charged for 'incitement to hate speech against a certain group of people' by the Finnish Attorney General's Office. Similarly to the case of Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen, the reason for the charges placed against Dr Pohjola is his editorship of a booklet published by the Luther Foundation Finland (ELMDF) in 2004 and written by Räsänen. Beforehand, all charges have been dropped by the Helsinki Police because they could not identify any broken law by the booklet since same-sex marriage was only legalised in Finland in 2017.