All cases
No Charges Filed against Porn Makers for Church Sex Film in Tilburg
August 15, 2017, NetherlandsProsecutors rejected a complaint from Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Tilburg after two actors were filmed having sex in the confessional box. The video was posted on a Dutch porn website earlier this year. Dutch authorities said the pornographic film was offensive but there was no longer a blasphemy law in the Netherlands. A reparation Mass was held due to the desecration in the church.
Terror Threat in Lausanne and Geneva
August 13, 2017, SwitzerlandA 28-year-old man planned a terror attack in Lausanne and on a church in Geneva, according to evidence found on his mobile phone.
Wooden Christ Statue Decapitated on Mountaintop
August 7, 2017, AustriaA hand-carved figure of Jesus Christ on a cross was placed at 789 meters on the north side of the Traunstein mountain in Gmunden, Austria by members of the alpine club as a gift to a member. They discovered the statue had been decapitated with a saw when they arrived to present the gift on August 7, 2017. Police are investigating.
Prison Worker Loses Employment Tribunal Appeal over Sermon
August 4, 2017, United KingdomA Christian prison worker has lost his latest appeal in the courts over his discipline by HMP Littlehey. Rev Barry Trayorn who worked as a gardener, but volunteered in the chapel, fell into trouble after delivering a talk to prisoners about homosexuality and sin. Following a complaint, he was disciplined then later resigned. In 2016, an employment tribunal ruled that his employers acted within the law. A judge confirmed in August 2017 that ruling was fair, claiming his words could "legitimise mistreatment of homosexual prisoners." Trayhorn will take his case to the Court of Appeal.
Mosaic of the Virgen del Carmen de Huelin Vandalized
July 31, 2017, SpainThe popular ceramic mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Jesus child located on the beach promenade in the Huelin neighborhood of Malaga was damaged by vandals for the second time in four months and 15 days after having been repaired.
Knife Attacker in Hamburg Wanted to Kill Christians and Young People
July 28, 2017, GermanyOne person died and seven were injured in Hamburg on July 28, 2017 when a 26-year-old Palestinian ("Ahmad A.") attacked people with a knife in a Edeka market in Hamburg-Barmbek. The attacker, who lived in a refugee home, was known by authorities to have been radicalized and said his goal was to "kill Christians and young people" and die as a martyr.
German Greens Created "Anti-Feminist" Wiki; Targeted Christian Public Figures
July 28, 2017, GermanyThe Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, the foundation of the German Green Party, created a website called "Agent*In" that listed individuals and organizations said to be "anti-feminist" in order to better find and combat them. The majority of the persons and organizations listed were Christians or Church organizations. After public criticism, the website was temporarily taken offline.
Statue of Saint Beheaded in Neusiedl am See
July 27, 2017, AustriaUnknown perpetrators broke off and stole the head from a 300-year-old statue of Saint Rosalia in the middle of the main square of the town in Burgenland. Police initiated an investigation after local residents discovered the vandalism on July 27, 2017.
Attempted Arson by Molotov Cocktails at Dresden Church
July 27, 2017, GermanyIn the early morning hours of July 27, 2017, unidentified individuals threw two Molotov cocktails at the evangelical Martin-Luther-Kirche in Dresden resulting in at least 1,000 euros in damage. Police are investigating.
Vandalism in the Cathedral of Ibiza
July 27, 2017, SpainPolice arrested a young man after he struck a tombstone in the cathedral with a hammer and painted the words “Vergonya ke sagna” (Shame that bleeds) in red. The tombstone lists names of those killed at the beginning of the Civil War in 1936. A nun observed the vandalism and told a priest, who with the help of a French tourist, tried to hold the attacker to prevent him from fleeing. After an investigation, the police arrested him for a crime against religious sentiments and disrespect for the deceased.
Sweden to Deport Christian to Iran Despite Danger
July 26, 2017, SwedenSweden has rejected the asylum claim of Iranian Christian actress Aideen Strandsson and will deport her back to Iran, where she likely faces time in an Iranian prison -- or worse. In Iran, where it can be deadly to convert to Christianity, Strandsson kept her conversion largely a secret. But when she came to Sweden, she requested a public baptism. Iranian intelligence most likely is aware of her conversion and she has received threats on social media. Strandsson has said "I don't know what will happen to me, I know the punishment for me in Iran is death," she said. But "I have hope in Jesus, it's just the last hope I have in my life."
Church of Ciplet Vandalized
July 25, 2017, BelgiumUnknown vandals emptied a fire extinguisher and covered benches with toilet paper in the nave of the church of Saint-Maurice de Ciplet. A piece of furniture in a chapel was also destroyed. Nothing was stolen and the police began an investigation.
Equalities Minister Said Churches Should Follow Public Opinion on Gay Marriage
July 23, 2017, United KingdomJustine Greening, who is also Education Secretary, said churches and other religious groups should “keep up” with public opinion on same-sex marriage.
Offensive Grafitti on Church in Brest
July 23, 2017, FranceAn unknown perpetrator sprayed a vulgar message on the door of the church of Saint-Martin de Brest along with an inverted cross.
Theft from Tabernacle in Tintigny
July 23, 2017, BelgiumOn Sunday morning before Mass, Fr. Pierre Jehenson discovered that two ciboriums had been stolen from the tabernacle of the village church of Rossignol.
U.K. May Scrap Single-Faith Schools
July 23, 2017, United KingdomChristian schools may soon be required to ensure that half of their students are from different religious backgrounds, due to concerns that Christian-only schools "heighten community divisions."
Christian Refugees on Lesbos Threatened; Prevented from Seeking Asylum
July 22, 2017, GreeceSeveral clashes broke out around July 22, 2017 at Lesbos Island’s Moria Camp for refugees, with Greek authorities arresting 35 Muslim rioters who threw large rocks at police officers and set fire to tents both inside and outside the bounds of the camp. A disabled Christian was nearly burnt alive while sleeping in one of the shelters. "Christians are being prevented from holding church services, worshiping and praying by their Muslim neighbors. Moreover, reports of tents being burned down, violence, bullying, harassment and severe threats paint a very bleak picture of the quality of life for Christians caught up within the camp," according to the British Pakistani Christian Association.
Planned Attack on Pope in Fatima Foiled
July 21, 2017, PortugalA Moroccan man was expelled from Portugal after police foiled his planned attack on Pope Francis during his visit to Fatima in May 2017.
Bibles Found Burnt in Lonay
July 18, 2017, SwitzerlandA member of the Evangelical Church of Lonay discovered that five bibles had been taken from its festival tent in the middle of the night and burned. Nothing else was taken or damaged.
More than 25 Catholic Pages Blocked by Facebook as "Spam"; Later Restored
July 17, 2017, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)Between the night of July 17 and the morning of July 18, 2017 Facebook unpublished more than 25 Catholic pages in English, Portuguese and Spanish with no explanation to page administrators. After restoring the pages around 1:00 in the morning of July 19th, Facebook gave a statement to ACI Prensa: "The pages were reestablished. The incident was a malfunction of the spam detection mechanism in our platform. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused." In 2016, Facebook came under fire for allegedly censoring trends to news deemed "conservative."