All cases
Catalonian Separatists say Church is the Enemy
September 26, 2017, SpainAt a press conference held on September 26, 2017 in front of the cathedral in Tarragona, officials from the pro-Catalan independence political party CUP (Candidatura d'Unitat Popular) called the Catholic Church a "power structure to crush" that "discriminates against women and LGBT groups." It has also called for the elimination of aid to Christian schools and removal of a favorable tax status for churches.
Graffiti Found on Seville Church
September 23, 2017, SpainThe Church of Santa Marina, canonical headquarters of la Hermandad de la Resurrección (the Brotherhood of the Resurrection), was vandalized with an upside-down white cross painted on the main door of the church.
"Kill all Christs" Graffiti Painted on Street
September 23, 2017, GermanyThe phrase "Kill all Christs" next to a heart containing "IS" was discovered painted on a street in Bischoffen-Niederweidbach on September 23, 2017. This acronym for Islamic State was also found painted in the same pink color on a road sign.
Muslim Street Prayer Called for Fighting Infidels
September 22, 2017, FranceDuring their Friday prayers, muslims in Clichy gathered in front of the city hall on the street. The imam, who directed this prayer, chanted: "Fight the infidels without exception, as they fight you without exception, and know that Allah is with the pious." (9:36 of the Koran).
Mayor of Castellón Orders Removal and Demolition of Ribalta Park Cross
September 16, 2017, SpainThe decision to remove the cross from Ribalta Park came after a non-binding report by experts who claimed it was a Francoist symbol. The cross was built in 1944 and devoted to fallen soldiers. However in 1979, with the approval of all political parties including the Communist Party, the decision was made to preserve the cross in the park and to eliminate any Francoist connotations. It was then consecrated to the victims of the violence. The Association of Christian Lawyers contends that the effort to remove the cross is because of its Christian meaning, not because of Francoist connotations.
Lipton Removes Crosses from Product Packaging
September 15, 2017, InternationalAfter controversy over the Lidl supermarket group removing crosses from Santorini churches on the packaging of Greek foods, it appears that Lipton, a holding of the Unilever Group, also eliminated crosses from their packaging, including its Russian Earl Grey tea. The illustration is of an Orthodox church, but with the crosses removed from the domes.
Desecration of a Historic Armenian Cathedral in Southeast Turkey
September 15, 2017, TurkeyEighteen months after the Turkish government seized control of the largest Armenian cathedral in the Middle East, secretly taken photographs inside Diyarbakir’s Surp Giragos Armenian Apostolic Church reveal considerable damage to the sanctuary and walls of the now desecrated church in southeast Turkey.
UPDATE: Belgium Wants to Expel Son of "Hate Imam"
September 15, 2017, BelgiumBelgian State Secretary for Migration, Theo Francken, withdrew the right of residence for Souhaib Amaouch, the son of the already-expelled Imam of Dison. Amaouch, now an adult, has been in a youth detention center since August 22, 2016 for inciting hatred against Christians and jihadist propaganda in a video shot in Verviers.
Thirty Graves Vandalized in Moselle Cemetery
September 15, 2017, FranceIn mid-September, the communal cemetery of Montigny-les-Metz in Moselle was vandalized and unknown individuals tore the crucifixes from thirty graves and placed them in a bag which was left in the cemetery.
European Parliament Classifies Laws against Abortion as “Violence Against Women and Girls”
September 12, 2017, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)On September 12, 2017, the European Parliament adopted a parliamentary report which charges “the denial of sexual and reproductive health and rights services, including safe and legal abortion, is a form of violence against women and girls” by a vote of 489 in favor, 114 opposed and 69 abstentions.
Styria: Arson in Church
September 11, 2017, AustriaSeveral confessional doors in the Church of the Holy Family in Kapfenberg (Diocese of Graz-Seckau) were set on fire. Because the fire was quickly discovered by church visitors, a greater degree of damage was avoided. The property damage includes the confessionals, a song book stand, and charred song books. Police were called to investigate.
Man was Attacked for Wearing a Cross in Berlin
September 11, 2017, GermanyThe Berlin police reported that a 23-year-old man from Afghanistan was attacked and injured for wearing chain with a cross on it. He was approached by two men on evening of September 11, 2017 in Neukölln. According to the police report, he stated that the attackers had asked him why he had become a Christian. One of the two perpetrators tore the chain from the man's neck and beat him while the other held him down. The police called the incident "dangerous bodily harm" with a "religious background."
Arson in the Church of Saint Denis d'Hellemmes-Lille
September 10, 2017, FranceA fire was discovered in the late afternoon of September 10, 2017 and appeared to have been intentionally set in three separate places, including the the altar of the church of Saint Denis d'Hellemmes-Lille. The fire brigade came quickly and was able to extinguish the fire. The organ suffered the most damage and is no longer useable. The police opened an investigation.
Desecration in Madrid Church
September 6, 2017, SpainUnknown perpetrators broke into the parish of the Virgin of Bethlehem in Alcalá de Henares during the night of 5th and 6th of September 2017. They looted the altarpiece of the high altar, including the tabernacle containing consecrated Hosts, the ciborium of a chapel and a small monstrance containing a consecrated Host. The attackers threw the consecrated Hosts on the floor. Police were called and a Mass of Reparation was scheduled.
Christian Celebration in Turkish-Cyprus Temporarily Prohibited
September 5, 2017, CyprusThe Cypriot Orthodox Metropolis of Morphou was banned from holding its annual patron saint feast service. The ban was passed at the last minute and the official justification was that it was not possible to guarantee the safety of the Christian celebration because of the simultaneous Muslim festival of Kurban Bairam.
Three Roadside Crucifixes Heavily Damaged in Styria
September 4, 2017, AustriaAccording to police in St. Stefan im Rosental, three roadside Jesus figures were forcibly removed from crosses, demolished, and stolen. Only parts of the figures remained on the crosses. All three cases were reported between August 31st and September 5th, 2017. In total, a loss of several hundred euros was incurred. Police investigated.
Nestlé and Carrefour Removed Cross from Greek Yoghurt Packaging
September 4, 2017, InternationalThe world’s largest food and beverage company Nestlé has removed the Christian cross from its Greek yogurt packaging depicting the famous blue-domed Anastasis Church in Santorini, Greece. Supermarket brands Carrefour Lidl have used similar images.
Wayside Crucifix Demolished in Southern Styria
September 2, 2017, AustriaThe figure of a crucified Jesus Christ was destroyed, left hanging without arms or legs, on a wayside cross on a hiking trail in the district of Harla. The vandalism was discovered during the weekend of September 2, 2017. The priest of the parish of St. Johann im Saggautal expressed the community's shock, noting that offertory boxes had been broken in the past, but this extent of violence against a crucifix is "shockingly new." A complaint was filed by the diocese.
Church Profaned in Layrac: Young People Smoked Shisha on the Altar
August 31, 2017, FranceAfter a report of continuing disorderly conduct in the church of Saint Martin de Layrac, surveillance equipment revealed that a group of young people had been sitting on the altar smoking the lighted shisha with candles during the month of August. The police intervened and the parents were summoned.
Lidl Supermarket Group Removed Crosses from Santorini Churches on Greek Products
August 31, 2017, InternationalThe supermarket chain Lidl promotes its Greek ERIDANOUS products with images of the famous Anastasis Church in Santorini, Greece, complete with its world-renowned blue dome roof. However, the packaging image has photoshopped out the crosses from the tops the orthodox churches. Lidl spokesman said "We are avoiding the use of religious symbols because we do not wish to exclude any religious beliefs," and "We are a company that respects diversity and this is what explains the design of this packaging." The company later apologized, "Our intention has never been to shock. We avoid the use of religious symbols on our packaging to maintain neutrality in all religions. If it has been perceived differently, we apologize to those who may have been shocked."