All cases

Cemetery in Nice Vandalized on Palm Sunday

April 9, 2017, France

Fourteen graves were damaged in the Cimiez cemetery, which borders a Franciscan monastery on a hill in Nice, in the afternoon of Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017. Crosses were broken, funerary books and decorative items were knocked over and broken. The municipality said, “It is with indignation that we condemn these unacceptable acts that call for a firm criminal response. There is no place for these hateful acts. That is why we asked the funeral administration to file a complaint.” According to the city, the individual responsible for these acts may be identified from the CCTV recordings.

Women Attacked after Mass in Brussels

April 9, 2017, Belgium

Two Polish women were on their way to the bus station to return home after having attended Mass at the church of Notre Dame de la Chapelle on Palm Sunday. As they walked through what was described in media reports as an “the Arab quarter” on their way to the Midi station, they were attacked by a man who cursed at them both in Arabic and French calling them “dirty Christians” and “whores” (“sales chrétiennes” and “putes“). Because the women were carrying palms from the Mass, the man was able to identify them as Christians. One of the women was knocked down and then kicked. She did not sustain any major injuries, but was in pain. The police were called but the attacker fled before they could arrive. The Polish Christian community responded by hiring security for the doors before and after Mass.

Good Friday Procession Cancelled due to Complaint by Secularist Group

April 8, 2017, Spain

The Andalusian Education Inspection cancelled the Good Friday procession for school children in Dos Hermanas due to time pressure for parents and complaint by a secularist group, Sevilla Laica. The parents of the affected children gathered signatures to reverse the decision as the procession is a voluntary activity and their children “were very excited” (“estaban muy ilusionados”).

Demolition of Cross Recommended by Organization in Castellón

April 8, 2017, Spain

The Association of Friends of Ribalta have recommended demolishing the cross in the Ribalta Park as they say that it is a fascist symbol and thus does not comply with the law of historical memory. A petition against the Association of Friends of Ribalta’s claim is circulating. It is not the first time that the cross's existence has been up for debate. In 1979, there was a political vote on the issue and the cross was allowed to remain standing.

Mass Disrupted by Flares

April 8, 2017, Spain

A Mass was interrupted in the Cathedral of Bilbao and parishioners had to leave the church as a group of squatters hurled flares inside the Cathedral. Police were called but no one was detained.

Catalan Club Received Complaints for Offensive Show

April 7, 2017, Spain

A club in Barcelona received several complaints after its Good Friday show included an actor dressed as Jesus dancing with a cross. Adults who attended the show were offended and started a petition to ensure that the show was not repeated. They called the show “a mockery to the religion of Christianity to its believers and what it really means to celebrate Easter” (“una burla hacia la religión cristiana, hacia sus creyentes ya lo que realmente significa la celebración de Semana Santa”).

Church Vandalized in Blois

April 7, 2017, France

The Church of Saint-Saturnin de Vineuil was vandalized sometime between March 8th and March 30th. The Diocese lodged a complaint with the police for "degradation of the property of others on account of religion by means dangerous for people."

Mongolia Magazine Puts "Transgender Jesus" on Cover

April 6, 2017, Spain

In response to the bus campaign of Hazte Oír promoting a traditional view of gender with the slogans "Boys have penises; girls have vulvas. Do not be deceived," Mongolia magazine used an image of a transgender Jesus as its cover image. The magazine cover also has slogans such as “God has a penis” and “God has a vulva” (“Dios tiene pene” and Dios tiene vulva”).

Christmas and Easter School Holidays to Change Names

April 6, 2017, Spain

The Christmas and Easter school holidays will be re-named "first and second period" in the region of Castile and Leon in Spain for the academic year 2017/18 so as to be disassociated with the Christian holidays.

German Family's Homeschooling Case Filed at European Court of Human Rights

April 6, 2017, Germany

The Wunderlich family brought its case against Germany to the European Court of Human Rights in April 2017. In 2013, the Christian parents began homeschooling their children. German authorities took temporary custody of the children and imposed criminal penalties on the parents for not sending their children to school. The European Court of Human Rights will examine whether Germany violated the Wunderlich’s fundamental right of parents to direct the education of their children.