All cases
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."
U.K. Foreign Office Agency says Evangelical Christians in the Global South Should “Reinterpret” the Bible
July 17, 2017, United KingdomThe Barnabas Fund has highlighted a Wilton Park (an executive agency of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) report from 2016 in which it describes biblical sexual morality as 'hateful' and evangelical Christians in prejudicial terms. A key recommendation of the report is "challenging the interpretation of sacred texts."
Political Party Tried to Boycott Inauguration of Virgin Mary Monument
July 15, 2017, SpainParty members of Podemos failed to prevent the inauguration of a monument dedicated to the Virgen del Rocío when they were denied authorization to hold a second protest march.
Man Attacked for Wearing a Cross in Berlin
July 14, 2017, GermanyIn the early morning hours of July 14, 2017, three teenagers attacked a 39-year-old man on a tram who was wearing two wooden Christian crosses on a chain around his neck. They pointed at the necklace and asked in broken German "what's that?" The teenagers, who appeared to be North African, proceeded to taunt him with insults and slapped him in the face repeatedly.
Church Desecrated in Villarreal
July 14, 2017, SpainThe Basilica San Pascual de Villarreal was desecrated on July 14, 2017. One or more perpetrators forced open the tabernacle and stole the ciborium containing consecrated hosts. This act of desecration requires that a Mass of reparation be celebrated according to Canon Law.
Iraqi Man Threatened to Kill Church Members
July 9, 2017, United KingdomZana Hassan interrupted a Sunday afternoon church service in Barnard Castle, County Durham on July 9, 2017 “shouting and swearing.” After being arrested by police, he threatened to “kill all the English,” making references to the war in Iraq. He was later convicted of a racially aggravated offense.
Arson at Church in Luleå
July 5, 2017, SwedenThe Catholic Church in Luleå Sweden was the victim of arson on July 5, 2017. The fire was started at two places outside of the church, one of them being the main entrance of the church. The parish priest, Nelson Mendoza Caserial, is shocked and surprised about the attack. He has stated that the church had not received any prior threats, either to the congregation, the employees, or himself. He lives in a house on the church property and was sleeping when the police alerted him at midnight. "I was really shocked and still shaking. I have not slept a wink since the police came and told us that the church was on fire," he said.
Spanish law on Religious Freedom to Change
June 29, 2017, SpainThe Spanish congress has passed a vote to change the law guaranteeing ideology, religion and freedom of worship in Spain. The Parliamentary Group Spokesman Joan Tarda stated that the law needs to be renewed as the Spanish society today no longer resembles the society of the 1980s and thus needs to be updated. New drafts of the law will have to be submitted prior to the end of the next session.
The Arran Organization Lleida Launches Obscene Campaign Against Bishops
June 27, 2017, SpainThe Catalan separatist youth organization launched a campaign against the Bishop of Solsona, Xavier Novell, and Cardinal Archbishop of Valencia, Antonio Cañizares. Arran distributed a poster with the image of Antonio Cañizares and Xavier Novell practicing anal sex as "denunciation" of the Church's position on homosexuality.
Saying Grace in Christian Kindergarten Prohibited
June 26, 2017, SwedenAn independent religious kindergarten in Umeå, Sweden, was forced to stop saying grace before meals by the county government. The Education Act says that religious elements may be included in education at independent schools, but they must be voluntary in order for the children to participate. The law does not say that the children themselves must agree, but rather that their parents consent on their behalf. The county argued that the children have not made the choice to participate in saying grace and have thus prohibited it. Preschool Director Britt Marie Mårtensson said they replaced grace with "Thank you for the sun and the rain and the food on our table."