All cases

Two Catholic Parish Websites Hacked

April 24, 2014, International

Two Catholic parish websites, the parish of Saint Louis of the French in Madrid, and the parish of Notre Dame de Nazareth in Paris, were both hacked by the same perpetrator. The picture (see below) could be found when one tried to access the website. The site of Saint Louis of the French has been restored. Both website are hosted by the Conference of Bishops of France.

Memorial of John Paul II Vandalised in Krakow

April 24, 2014, Poland

The monument to John Paul II in Krakow was graffitied with a star of David during the week before the Sunday canonisation of the late pope. The police set up a perimeter while the monument was being cleaned, but rest silent as to the origin of this act of vandalism.

Article Questions Whether or Not Government in Ljubljana has Anti-Christian Agenda

April 22, 2014, Slovenia

A group called KUL, founded in 2009 by Christian youth in Slovenia concerned with defending life and fundamental human rights, posted an article on their internet site on the 23rd of April, 2014 called, “Christianophobia: Is Mayor Zoran Janković violating human rights and promoting intolerance against Christians in Slovenia?” after Zoran Janković’s municipality had forbidden a mass to be celebrated for unborn babies at the hospital center of the public university of Ljubljana.

Church in Villers-Cotterêts Robbed

April 21, 2014, France

On returning from the Easter Vigil, the local priest in Villers-Cotterêts discovered that someone had forced entry into the church. The sacristy was in disarray, and the poor box had been robbed. This box had already been padlocked because of an earlier theft, but the thief still managed to break in, leaving damages amounting to 80 euros. The box had been recently emptied.

Muslim Disrupts Easter Mass

April 20, 2014, France

In the region of Jura, France, during a celebration of Easter Mass in the community of Notre Dame de Dole, a Muslim entered, and, putting his carpet next to the altar, began to read parts of the Coran and then proceeded to write in Arab in the parish registry. The same man had already disturbed the Palm Sunday liturgy in two different places, so the police had been warned, and when they showed up on the scene on Easter they calmly asked the man to leave.

Insulting and Blasphemous Graffiti Near Entrance to the Chapel of Locmaria

April 20, 2014, France

Near the entrance to the chapel of Locmaria, which is part of the parish of Carnac, sometime during the night of Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday, graffiti was painted on a public signpost. This graffiti made blasphemous and insulting comments that made reference to Catholic fascists and a homosexual Jesus. The rector, Father Jérôme Sécher, filed a complaint with the local authorities.

Attempts to Prevent Palm Sunday Precession in Morbihan

April 19, 2014, France

The parishioners of the church of Saint-Gildas in l’île d’Houat were the victims of a failed attempt by members of the Association of Freethinkers of France to prevent the Palm Sunday procession. These protestors tried to work within the legal framework, saying that the procession did not have the correct municipal authorisation also claiming that it did not fall within any of the three categories of legal processions. Their attempt failed this year, but the question still remains whether or not such attempts will be successful in future years.

Catholic Lay Blog Attacked

April 18, 2014, France

The Catholic lay blog “Le Salon Beige” was put out of order by attacks against the server from an unknown source. This happened three times in four days, one time on Good Friday, the other times on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

Church Vandalised in Region of Neuchâtel

April 18, 2014, Switzerland

A church in Chaux-de-Fonds in the region of Neuchâtel was vandalised during the night by a man who damaged the organ, destroyed the Easter decorations, and ripped out the speakers. The perpetrator appears to have been mentally unstable and was later escorted to a psychiatric hospital. The church intends to keep its opening hours in spite of the event.

Christian Convert Knifed in Hvalsø

April 11, 2014, Denmark

A 48-year-old Christian convert seeking asylum in Denmark was knifed several times by an unknown assailant in the kitchen of the Asylum center in Hvalsø. The victim received blows with a knife in the neck, arm, and back. The victim said that he had previously received death threats for having converted from Islam to Christianity, but no safety measures had been taken.