All cases
Charity Drops ‘Church’ Name to Get Public Funding
August 29, 2009, United KingdomA charity in Scotland decided to drop the word ‘church’ from its title, saying that it creates “unnecessary barriers” to accessing public funding. The chairman of Perth-based Churches Action for the Homeless (CATH) said he had been told “off the record” that their perceived religious identity made it more difficult for them to receive grants. Trustees asked the charity’s supporters to suggest a new “fully inclusive” name for the group.
10.000€ of Damage in Church of Juniville (Ardennes)
August 28, 2009, FranceIn July and in August 2009, the church of Juniville was targeted several times by vandals who broke stained glass windows by throwing rocks at them. The costs of the fixing was estimated at about 10 000€.
Church Targeted by Vandals in Communay
August 26, 2009, FranceThe Xth century church of Communay was targeted by vandals during the night of August, 24th, 2009. Two crosses were unhooked and thrown to the ground. Candals and singing books were found all over the church and flower pots were thrown against a stain-glass window.
Church Vandalised in Maubeuge
August 26, 2009, FranceThe church of the Sacred-Heart of Maubeuge was the target of degradations. A parishioner put an and to the damage when he entered the church at approximately 6:30 p.m., thus putting to flight three young men. The three had left a devotional note to Allah.
Mobbing of Christians at Islamic School
August 18, 2009, NetherlandsChristians treated as second class teachers; pupils taught that “Christianity would be abolished in the end, all other religions would disappear and everybody will convert to Islam” at school in Amsterdam, and that “only Muslims can after all be good people.”
Christian Family Called Names and Spat on
August 15, 2009, United KingdomHarrassed Christian family sends report to the observatory
Manchester Street Preacher Questioned by Police
August 15, 2009, United KingdomFreedom of speech is being challenged in the case of Miguel Hayworth, a Christian street preacher in Manchester, UK who was silenced by police after publicly reading a passage from the Bible discussing homosexuality.
(Scotland) Bible Defaced In Art Exhibition
August 11, 2009, United KingdomObscene and offensive messages have been scrawled over a Bible at a taxpayer-funded exhibition in Glasgow.
Council Puts up Christmas Lights in August to Cater All Faiths
August 8, 2009, United KingdomResidents of Milnrow, Lancashire, were surprised to see council workers installing Christmas lights in August 2009, 127 days before Christmas Day. Rochdale Borough Council said the lights would be used to celebrate a number of festivals, starting with the Muslim feast of Eid in September. Other ‘holy days’ over the period between August and Christmas include Hindu Diwali celebrations in October, the Jewish feast of Hanukkah in December and even Yule, the pagan celebration of the winter solstice. The Council’s decision attracted derision from the national press and Milnrow residents. One local labelled the move “ludicrous” and said: “A worker told me they had to be up in time for all the religious festivals, but most of the lights refer to the Christian Christmas.”
Pop-Singer Madonna Offends Polish Catholics With Images, Contents and a Date
August 2, 2009, PolandPop-singer Madonna performed on August 15, the main Marian feast day of Polish Catholics, in Warsaw with for Christians offensive lyrics and images. Ads included sentences such as “There is no room for two queens in that country.”
Paediatrician Dismissed For Christian Views And Reinstated Upon Public Outcry
July 30, 2009, United KingdomExperienced community paediatrician dismissed from adoption panel over Christian views has been reinstated upon public outcry.
Severe Vandalism During Historical Commemoration
July 27, 2009, SpainAround twenty churches were vandalized on the night of July 26th in commemoration of the centenary of the „Tragic Week“ (a series of blood sheding fights between the Spanish army and the working classes) in Barcelona.
Christian Murdered Because of Faith
July 20, 2009, TurkeyGerman entrepreneur murdered in Istanbul most likely because of hatred towards Christians. CNN-Turk and Agence France Press quote the murderer to have stated in an interrogation that he had aimed at "killing Christians".
Repetitive Violence and Vandalism Against a Church in Toulon
July 1, 2009, FranceThe church of the Sacred-Heart of Toulon has been for the past two years the target of malevolent acts. Urine was found in the baptismal font, a church responsible was seriously assaulted, the tabernacle was vandalized and many thefts and degradation are to be deplored. The church had to be kept closed for several weeks in 2009.
A Priest Threatened And Assaulted In Toul
July 1, 2009, FranceFather Noël became a victim of intimidation and threats in Toul over the course of a year. He finally decided to leave the district of la Croix de Metz in Toul.
Civil Partnership Bill Passed to Committee Stage, Threatening Freedom of Conscience for Christians
June 26, 2009, IrelandA new Irish initiative that would grant rights to homosexual couples contains no conscience clause and lays out fines and potential prison sentences for registrars who refuse to carry out same-sex civil partnerships. Concerns from church leaders disregarded as Bill passes Second Stage consideration.
Homeschooled Child Seized by Swedish Government
June 25, 2009, SwedenSeven-year-old taken away from his family by Swedish authorities at Arlanda International Airport in Stockholm, for being home educated, although home education was legal in Sweden at that time.
Good Samaritan Church Has Windows Smashed
June 23, 2009, United KingdomThe Belfast church which had offered refuge to Romanian immigrants after a racisst attack was itself attacked.
Gay Pride Parade demeans Christianity
June 19, 2009, ItalyGay Pride parade in Rome depicts crosses with sex items, ridicules the suffering Jesus by live imitations and carries anti-Catholic flags.
First Communion Ritual Ousted of Meaning by Secular Flowering Festival
May 30, 2009, SpainThe City Major of Rivas-Vaciamadrid, José Masa, announced that he was going to organize a celebration for children between the ages of 8 to 10 similar to the religious first communion upon the request of the community. The festivities would be called "fiestas del florecimiento" (flowering festival). "It would be a 'laity first communion'; but I do not want to call it this way because then, the right wing blames me for the celebration of laity baptisms and marriages using Catholic Church rituals", he clarified.