All cases

Labor Union Mocks Holy Week Procession in Seville

April 11, 2014, Spain

The Confederación General de Trabajadores (an anarchist worker’s union) held a procession in Seville in protest of the dismissal of several bus workers at the Damas Bus Company. The procession was also an amalgamation of other groups such as feminists who were protesting a reform of the abortion law. The procession was a mockery of a Holy Week procession and was called the “Blessed Rebellious Pussy (vulgar word for female genitals) Procession and the Holy Entombment of Socio-labor Rights.”

Swedish Nurse Fired for Refusing to Assist in Abortion

April 10, 2014, Sweden

In January 2014 a Swedish nurse has filed a complaint of religious discrimination with Sweden’s equality commission after the hospital where she interned as a midwife sacked her for refusing to assist in abortions. The Ombudsperson for Discrimination concluded that Mrs Grimmark has not been discriminated because her conscientious objection stood against the ”availability of abortion care” and the ”protection of health” of patients requiring abortion.

Chapel Saint-François in Rennes Vandalised

April 9, 2014, France

Unidentified people broke into the Chapel of Saint- François in Rennes on April 9th breaking open the door to the sacristy. They left lying on the floor the vestments, liturgical linens, and other sacred objects. The perpetrator(s) emptied the poor boxes, but most importantly, the tabernacle was opened and the ciborium tampered with.

Children Vandalized a Saint-Laurent de Rozoy-sur-Serre Church

April 9, 2014, France

Three children at the age between 7 and 11 vandalized the church of Saint-Laurent de Rozoy-sur-Serre in France. They turned the seats of the church, threw objects on the altar and the prayer books scattered on the floor. The police was able to catch them because of the traces of their shoes.

German Father Imprisoned for Opting his Child out of Sex Education

April 7, 2014, Germany

On Monday, April 7th, Arthur Wiens was jailed for opting his child out of a sex education class in which nine-year-olds are taught about sexual intercourse with a plush vagina and rubber penis. Wiens spent a week behind bars, and his wife is threatened with a similar punishment.

Left-Wing Radicals Attack Peaceful Prayer Group in Zurich

April 6, 2014, Switzerland

In Zurich, during an initiative called “Yes to the Child,” a pro-life rally was held in which those assembled prayed the rosary and various speeches were given on issues involving the protection of life. The date and location of the rally had not been publically announced, but near the end of the rally left-wing radicals attacked the group, throwing condoms at them. The police were quick to intervene. The spokesman at the rally initiated a prayer to pray for the attackers.

Insulting Graffiti at the Vatican on Right Side of Bernini’s Colonnade

April 5, 2014, Italy

Bernini’s Colonnade, which had been restored in preparation for the canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, was found to have graffiti on the right side with the words, in poor English, “Catalic is Hitler.” Implying that a Catholic is like Hitler.

Attempts to Secularise the Church of Saint Catherine in Brussels

April 4, 2014, Belgium

A petition has been started by the “Friends of Saint Catherine” in Brussels to counteract the imminent cession of the church of Saint Catherine to the city. To add insult to injury, because the church is commercially very strategically placed, the state wishes to turn this place of worship into a place for selling fruits and vegetables even against the wishes of the locals.

Religious Statues Broken in the District of Linz-Land

April 3, 2014, Austria

Two saint statues were damaged between Friday, March 28th and Thursday, April 3rd. The statues had been located in a niche in front of the church of Hofkirchen im Traunkreis in the district of Linz-Land. The amount of damages was not officially known. The police have undertaken an investigation and are requesting leads in order to find the culprit(s).

Catholic Church in Târgu Mureş Targeted for Graffiti

April 2, 2014, Romania

A Catholic church in Târgu Mureş, Romania, was found with the graffitied image of a swastika cross and suspicions lie with the extremist organisation called Noua Dreaptă (New Right).