All cases

St. John the Baptist Church in Lecce Vandalized With Offensive Graffiti

February 16, 2015, Italy

The church of Saint John the Baptist in Lecce was vandalized. A statue of the Virgin Mary was spray painted in red and graffiti saying "God is a transgender" and that "Priests are pedophiles" was painted. Other graffiti clarified that the reason for the attack was the pro-family conference organized the previous week by organizations "Se alla famiglia" and "Alleanza Cattolica". Offending graffiti also attacked a judge and former deputy Minister Alfredo Mantovano, who spoke at the pro-family event.

Statues in Church in Friedrichshafen Severely Vandalized

February 16, 2015, Germany

A church was vandalized and desecrated in Friedrichshafen in Baden-Württemberg. The Catholic community of the parish of St. Peter Canisius of the diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart was very much in shock.

French President Condemns the Murder of Christians Without Referring to Their Faith

February 16, 2015, France

In his statement after the murder of 21 Coptic Christians by Daesh in Libya, President Hollande did not mention the word "Christian" or that these people were killed by Islamic State for their Christian faith at all, but he merely referred to the victims as "Egyptian citizens."

After Numerous Acts of Vandalism Bishop Orders Removal of the Eucharist

February 10, 2015, France

In a response to the repeated, severe acts of vandalism which have taken place in ten French parishes during the last few weeks, the bishop of Bellay-Ars ordered that the Eucharist should be removed from all parishes and chapels of his diocese.

Abortion Opponents Compared to Jihadists

February 9, 2015, Sweden

Mona Sahlin, the national coordinator against violent extremism at the Swedish Ministry of Justice, stated during a panel discussion on religion and democracy that Ellinor Grimmark, a Christian midwife who refuses to participate in abortion, was an "extreme religious practitioner who is fighting in a similar way as do the people fighting for the Islamic state.”

Series of Desecration and Thefts at Churches

February 8, 2015, France

Five French churches were the victims of theft, vandalism and desecration within three days at the hands of unknown perpetrators.

Student Beaten in Dormitory for Christian Faith in Berlin

February 8, 2015, Germany

According to the police, a 24-year-old student was first verbally insulted and then severely beaten by two attackers on his way to his student dormitory, solely "because of his Christian faith." During the assault, the offenders put a knife to the student’s throat. Security staff intervened, but the two perpetrators escaped by car.

Graves Devastated in Severan

February 7, 2015, France

According to the local sources, twenty graves were vandalized in the downtown cemetery of Severan. The unknown perpetrators were exceptionally brutal toward Christian symbols that adorned the graves. Police is investigating.

Arson of Protestant Church in Plauen / Saxony

February 5, 2015, Germany

In Stockheim (in the diocese of Augsburg) an arson attack took place in Protestant St. Michael's church. The fire was discovered by the sexton of the church who together with his wife managed to extinguish the fire in the altar area. Despite their efforts, according to the police report, the fire spread to the rest of the church. The couple was taken to the hospital for the observation. According to a police report, there is evidence of intentional vandalism, even though religious motivation has not yet been publicly confirmed.

Conscientious Objection At Stake After Five Public Hospitals Refuse to Perform Abortions

January 31, 2015, Croatia

The Ministry of Health in Croatia vowed to ensure abortion in all public hospitals, regardless of doctors' conscientious objection. According to the Ministry every public hospital must have a team that performs abortions. This policy came as the result of the discovery of five hospitals, in which gynecologists refused to perform abortions based on their right to conscientious objection.