All cases
Bomb Planted in Catholic Church in Zaragoza
October 3, 2013, SpainA bomb was set inside the Catholic “Basílica del Pilar” in Zaragoza. It exploded close to the organ and benches. The church and the market square in front of the basilica had to be cleared by the police. Local sources suspect an extreme left-wing group behind the bomb attack. These claims are supported by the fact that the words “This is our offering“ and a veiled figure holding a bomb were spray painted on a wall nearby the basilica. This bomb was the first attack on the basilica of Zaragoza since the Spanish Civil War.
Violent Language Used by Feminists and Other Left-Wing Organisations
September 27, 2013, SpainDuring a pro-choice rally, the coordinator of “Valladolid Women”, a feminist organization, shouted violence inciting words such as “We must burn the Episcopal Conference” outside of a lecture hall in which the Spanish Christian Lawyers Association AEAC was giving a lecture on the persecution of Christians. The Christian Lawyers Association has filed a complaint under the heading of incitement to hatred and violence.
Christian Cemetery Vandalised in Villecien, Yonne
September 26, 2013, FranceIn Villecien an old Christian cemetery was vandalised in the afternoon of September 26th. 61 graves were vandalised and inscriptions and religious statues were destroyed or removed.
Two Statues Destroyed at a Church in Haan
September 25, 2013, GermanyDuring a fair in Haan (North Rhine-Westphalia), unknown perpetrators tore the cross with the figure of Jesus off the church of St. Chrysanthus and Daria, beheaded the figure and took the head away. The perpetrators also tore an arm off the figure of a bishop and threw the arm into the garden of the kindergarten next door. In the last ten years, the figure of Jesus has been destroyed three times.
Statue Vandalised in Church in Sassari
September 25, 2013, ItalyThe historic statue of Our Lady of Hope (1934) in Sassari was taken down from its stand and broken into pieces.
Church and Bust of Pope Benedict XVI Spray Painted
September 22, 2013, GermanySt. Oswald church - the church in which Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his first mass - was spray painted with large letters. Local sources suspect radical left wing forces behind the incident. A bust of the former Pope in front of the main entrance was spray painted twice. In the first case the delinquent was identified, the second case remains unclear.
Dublin Church Bells Silenced After 130 Years
September 21, 2013, IrelandDue to complaints, the clock and bells at the Church of St. Bartholomew, Dublin, Ireland are temporarily out of service. The church is required to find a solution to stop the bells from ringing at night, or they will have to be switched off permanently.
Fire Damage in Church in Reggio Emilia
September 21, 2013, ItalyThe shrine of Our Lady in the church of St. Augustine in Reggio Emilia was set on fire. Fortunately the statue was unharmed but everything around it was destroyed.
Vandalised Madonna in Bari
September 10, 2013, ItalyThe Madonna in the Parish of St Nicholas in Bari was decapitated by vandals. The statue was carved in the rock at the base of a large crucifix and was probably broken by being thrown against the crucifix.
Government Takes Children From Christian Community
September 5, 2013, GermanyIn the early morning of September 5th, a massive police raid of 100 police and 60 social workers descended on two of the Christian Twelve Tribes Communities of Klosterzimmern and Wörnitz. The police seized 40 children from 16 families and took them away in 25 vans on allegations of physical abuse.