All cases
Vandalism of Christian Wayside Shrine in St-Germain-en-Laye
December 16, 2012, FranceThe French Observatoire de l’Christianophobie was notified of an act of vandalism against a statue of St Genevieve in St-Germain-en-Laye the 16th of December. The glass encasement of the image of the Saint was destroyed leaving the statue somewhat damaged.
Series of Thievery in Austrian Churches
December 15, 2012, AustriaSince summer 2012 a series of thefts has been going on in Austrian churches around Melk. Figurines have been taken and in mid-December images have been cut out from flags used for processions.
Insults and Removal Claims for Crucifix in Federal German Minister for Consumer Protection
December 15, 2012, GermanyCalls to remove the cross from the Federal German Minister for Consumer Protection argue that the public display of the crucifix was no surprise in an arm-exporting country - "because the crucifix was a pungent glorification of violence and an learning tool towards anti-Semitism."
Protestant Church in Drensteinfurt Vandalized
December 15, 2012, GermanyOn 15th December 2012 the Protestant church in Drensteinfurt (NRW) was broken into. The altar and the place for the commemoration of the dead were desecrated.
Church Desecrated by Burglars in Drensteinfurt
December 15, 2012, GermanyOn the 15th of December 2012, Burglars broke into an Evangelical church building in Drensteinfurt (Nordrhein-Westfalen), Germany and desecrated the interior. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.
Catholic Intellectual Threatened For Opposing Gay Adoption on TV
December 12, 2012, GermanyFollowing his appearance in a talkshow opposing homosexual adoption on German public service television, Martin Lohman, a Catholic intellectual has received severe threats via Email. He was sent an anonymous email stating the following: "I am homosexual, I have AIDS and I live in Bonn and I am now set on giving the gift of my immune disease to you, too. Should you feel a little prick of a needle soon, then that was most likely me with my needle."
Homeschooling Parents Portrayed as Sectarian Fundamentalists by Spiegel TV
December 12, 2012, GermanyHomeschooling family experiences negative stereotyping by Spiegel TV documentary: “We were not only a little disappointed and upset when we saw the outcome, which offends our Christian convictions and does not give unbiased information about the subject matter. My wife is called the 'chief inquisitor'. The reporter suggests that our children are victims, socially isolated children, controlled by their stubborn fundamental-Christian parents."
German Christian Rights' Activist Heavily Insulted And Threatened After Opposing Gay Adoption on TV
December 10, 2012, GermanyIn the German public service broadcaster ARD’s talk show “Tough but Fair” (“Hart aber Fair”), on Monday, December 3rd, the question whether homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children was debated. Women’s and Family Rights activist Birgit Kelle argued that children need a mother and a father. Following her appearance on the show, a journalist of the said ARD commented on his twitter account: “I think she is a witch. Witches get burned.”
Desecrations at Saint Rambert, Lyon
December 10, 2012, FranceOne or more unknown persons broke into the Church of St Rambert in Lyon, France, and proceeded to damage the tabernacle, desecrating the Eucharist. Several liturgical objects were stolen and the altar damaged. In response, the parish priest convened an evening of prayer.
Sign of the Cross Forbidden to Pupils by History Teacher in Narbonne
December 7, 2012, FranceOn a school trip to the nearby Cathedral of Saint-Jus, students of the local school Therese Leon Blum where warned against making the sign of the cross upon entering the Cathedral. As a punishment, the teacher mentioned three hours of after-hours at school. One of the parents wrote to the council to complaint but did not receive a response.
Sacred Heart Church in Bielefeld Depredated
December 5, 2012, GermanyIn Bielefeld the sacred Heart Church was depredated. The tabernacle on the high altar was broken into and consecrated hosts were defiled.
Orthodox Church Vandalised in Munich
December 4, 2012, GermanyIn Munich on 4th December 2012, an Orthodox church was desecrated, icons destroyed and the devotional profaned.
Orthodox Church in Munich Desecrated
December 4, 2012, GermanyThe Apostolic Nunciature of Germany reported that on the 4th of December 2012, unknown perpetrators defiled an Orthodox church in Munich, Germany. Icons were desecrated and devotional objects profaned.
Desecration of Greek-Orthodox Church in Munich
December 4, 2012, GermanyOn December 4th, a unknown man locked himself into the little Greek-Orthodox church in Salvatorstraße. The man destroyed the glass window of an icon of Marie and stole the items that were left there by thankful believers. Later he escaped through the sacristy.
Two Figures Destroyed at Church in Venice
December 4, 2012, ItalyVandals destroyed two ceramic figures representing St. Francis and St. Clare. The figures were displayed in the wall of the church of the Sacred Name of Jesus.
Reported Attacks Against Places of Worship in Italy
December 3, 2012, ItalyThe Holy See reported attacks against places of worship in the following places in Italy 27 June 2012 Teramo 16 August 2012 Foggia 08 September 2012 Gonnosfanadiga in Sardegna 18 October 2012 Oristano 15 November 2012 Luino (in provincia di Varese) 29 November 2012 3 December 2012 S. Chiara (Venezia)
Restitution of Property to Catholic Church in Czech Republic Accompanied with Dirt Campaign Against the Church
November 29, 2012, Czech RepublicA controversial campaign by the oppositional Social Democrats directed against the Church Property Restitution Bill has turned into a major brawl with Czech Catholics and other churches.
Parish Church in Gotha Broken Into
November 29, 2012, GermanyIn Gotha the parish church was broken into. The sacred space was defiled and the organ destroyed.
EU Attempted to Remove Christian Symbols of Commemorative Coin
November 29, 2012, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)The National Bank of Slovakia announced that the European Commission, the union’s executive arm, had ordered it to remove halos and crosses from special commemorative euro coins. The European Union finally gave in- the coins are to be minted as planned.
Chapel of Regional Pilgrimage Site Vandalized
November 29, 2012, FranceThe chapel Notre-Dame de la Roche in the area of Rhône, which is a regional pilgrimage site, was vandalized and profaned in November 2012. The chapel was restored in May 2013.