All cases
Vandalism to Church in Riedlhütte
April 29, 2013, GermanySignificant damage was done to the church of Riedlhütte in Germany. The microphones in the church were damaged and thrown into the holy water, a statue of Jesus on the altar was damaged and the four crosses in the church entrance were damaged. The total damage is estimated at 1,200 euros.
Three Teenagers Broke Into Church in Crailsheim
April 26, 2013, GermanyThree teenagers broke into a church in Crailsheim, German with the intention of stealing money. They broke through a window and the door of the office. A resident heard the noise and called the police who arrested the teenagers. They caused an estimated damage of 1000 euros.
Explosives Sent to Church Officials Wrapped in Sex Toys
April 25, 2013, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)Bombs wrapped in sex toys were sent to two different Catholic officials, the Bishop of Pamplona and a director of a Legionaries of Christ school in Madrid. The apparent perpetrator was the anarchist group calling themselves the Anticlerical Group for the Promotion of the Use of Sex Toys. Although the first bomb did not explode, the second detonated, injuring a postal worker.
Common Greeting with Reference to God Discouraged in Department of Health
April 24, 2013, AustriaIn the course of a debate on the health care reform in the National Assembly of Austria, the spokesman of physicians of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), Andreas Karlsböck criticised Health Minister Alois Stöger of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) because he had discouraged or even prohibited the use of the common German greeting “Grüß Gott” (a greeting which literally means “Greet God”) in the Department of Health.
Numerous Human Rights Violations Against Pro-Family Demonstrators
April 23, 2013, FranceThe recent attacks on pro-family mass-demonstrations included: tear gas against children, overbearing police force, unconstitutional state action and human rights violations, death threats against organisers on social media and stabbing of a protester, as well as violations of freedom of assembly.
Archbishop of Brussels Andre Leonard Attacked
April 23, 2013, BelgiumFour activists of the feminist group Femen disturbed a conference at the university of Brussels. The topless women interrupted Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard's speech by throwing water out of Lourdes bottles at him. Screaming loudly they held up a poster "Stop Homophobia". On their bare chests they had written blasphemous comments.
Burglary in St. John’s Church in Rostock
April 23, 2013, FranceUnidentified perpetrators broke into the St. John's church by forcing their way through a window. Almost every interior door was damaged. The offices were raided and cupboards and containers ransacked. Computer accessories worth several hundred euros were stolen. The case was taken over by the Crime police.
Vandalism in St. Peter's Church in Wesel
April 23, 2013, GermanyVandals brutally damaged the parish church of St. Peter’s church in Wesel, Germany. They broke their way in and once inside broke more doors, ransacked the cupboards and drawers in the sacristy and tried to open two safes.
Burglary at Church in Dettelbach
April 23, 2013, GermanyA church in Dettelbach, Germany, was broken into by unidentified perpetrators who stole a case of sacred objects. They entered by breaking the door of the sacristy and then tried to open a safe that was in a closet but they did not succeed. It is believed that the perpetrators escaped through the cemetery because one of the stolen items was found there. The damage caused is of an estimated 1,500 euros.
Home-schooling Prohibition Challenged at European Court of Human Rights
April 22, 2013, SwedenAlliance Defending Freedom and the Home School Legal Defence Association have asked the European Court of Human Rights to hear the case of a Swedish family heavily fined for home-schooling their daughter. Although the 13-year-old girl flourished in her home-schooling environment, local Swedish authorities fined her family the equivalent of more than $28,000.
Homosexual Activists David Berger Claims "Gay Haters Get Out of Talk Shows"
April 21, 2013, GermanyIn an appeal to the media in Germany, Mr Berger, writer and theologian, claims that people critical of the homosexual life style must not be allowed to voice their thoughts in talk shows any more. In the name of human dignity and human rights, critics ought to be silenced.
Burglary Attempt in Two Churches
April 19, 2013, GermanyA youth attempted to break a safe in the St. James’ church in Saterland, Germany. He tried to escape but in his haste he caused an accident so the police caught him. It turned out he had broken into the St. Jacob’s church as well.
Femen Releases Anti-Christian Image on Facebook
April 16, 2013, FranceThe anti-Christian campaign group Femen released a painting on their Facebook page on April 16. The painting is modelled after "La tentation de saint Antoine" and shows a naked Femen activist crucified, saying "Femen" instead of "Inri" on the inscription.
Attempted Burglary in St. George’s Church in Neustadt
April 16, 2013, GermanyAn unidentified perpetrator tried to break into the St. George’s church through the door of the sacristy. He used a screwdriver which left visible marks on the door. His attempt of burglary failed but the door was damaged.
Church in Hauture in Fos-sur-Mer Vandalised
April 15, 2013, FranceDuring the night from April 14th, 2013, a Church in Hauture in Fos-sur-Mer was broken into by vandals. They broke into a window to get inside the church. After forcing open the tabernacle and finding nothing inside they stole money from the donation box for the candles. They left the church after defecating onto the organ, using the altar cloth for wiping.
LGBT Activists Calls for Murder of Catholic Campaigner
April 14, 2013, FranceAt a radical LGBT manifestation in Lyon on Sunday, April 14, a participant held up a sign saying "Keep calm and kill Frigide Barjot". Comedian Barjot was the main person behind the pro-family mass demonstrations in France opposing same sex marriage and adoption.
Ban on Christian Teacher from Deptford Green School in London
April 12, 2013, United KingdomA classroom ban on a Christian school teacher who condemned the “homosexual lifestyle” in front of year 11 pupils aged 15 and 16, has been upheld by the High Court. Science teacher, Robert Haye’s appeal against the decision to ban him indefinitely was rejected by the judge. After telling his class that the way homosexual people lived was a “sin”, according to the bible, he was sacked and prohibited from teaching at any school.
Christian Worker Bullied by Muslims at Work
April 11, 2013, United KingdomAfter defending a Christian colleague at work last year, some of Mrs. Halawi's Muslim colleagues complained to managers with unsubstantiated claims about her conduct. As a result, the management removed her ‘airside pass’ without properly considering her side of the story. This meant she was unable to keep working at the airport. Mrs. Halawi said that she had frequently been bullied by her Muslim colleagues for her Christians faith.
Appeal Against Acquittal of Musician Javier Krahe Denied by Courts
April 11, 2013, SpainThe Thomas More Law Center appealed the acquittal of musician Javier Krahe, a verdict delivered the previous year, and were denied by the Spanish court. The charge was derision of religious beliefs and offense against religious feelings as Krahe had previously made a video entitled “How to Cook a Crucifix” in which a crucifix was buttered and then put into an oven. The court decided that such behavior was within the limits of artistic freedom and denied that the charge could be upheld.
(Northern Ireland) Printing Firm to be Sued for Refusing to Print Gay Magazine
April 5, 2013, United KingdomThe Christian owner of a printing firm in Northern Ireland faced being hauled to court over his refusal to print a gay magazine. Nick Williamson says printing the material would go against his religious beliefs. But the editor of MyGayZine, Danny Toner, approached a solicitor and referred the matter to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
Graffiti and Desecration to Church in Caorso
April 1, 2013, ItalyIn the night of Easter Sunday graffiti was spray painted in the churchyard of Santa Maria Assunta in Caorso. Drawings were made of satanic pentagrams with lots of red candles at both ends. A wafer was stuck on the door with the words "Animate vacuum" (empty soul).
Catholic Parish Targeted by Government
March 29, 2013, RussiaAs a consequence of a “foreign agents“ law that was signed by President Vladimir Putin last year, Russia caused headlines with its persistent attempt to crack down foreign funded non-governmental organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Transparency International. Now the latest reports state that the government has started targeting churches as well, e.g. fining a Catholic parish in Nowotscherkassk for 450,000 Rubles (11,200 Euros).
Reproach of Police Misconduct at Pro-Family-Manifestation
March 25, 2013, FranceFrench Christians launched a petition for the resignation of Manuel Valls, French Minister of the Interior, and Bernard Boucault, Prefect of Police, and to sanction all police staff who committed abuses against the peaceful demonstrators at the Pro-Family-demonstration "Manif pour tous" in Paris on Sunday 24th of March. According to the organisers, the number of protesters had been greatly underestimated by the police, and in order to try to contain the actual 1,4 million the police employed unnecessary forceful measures.
Palm Sunday Services Interrupted by LGBT Activists
March 24, 2013, FranceDemonstrators for LGBT causes disrupted the Palm Sunday service on the 24th of March at the Cathedral in Metz, France. They were calling out slander, waving rainbow flags demanding that the bishop withdrew his support of the pro-family demonstration in Paris. The protesters were members of CNT and individuals.
Saint-Jean Cathedral of Lyon Broken Into
March 23, 2013, FranceOn Saturday, March the 23rd, around 6.30 pm, an Iranian citizen aged 28, was arrested and taken into custody. He had broken into the Saint-Jean Cathedral of Lyon and seriously damaged the astronomical clock with an iron bar.
Church of Saint-Similien Nantes Vandalised
March 23, 2013, FranceThe church of Saint-Similien Nantes was vandalised on the night of the 23rd of March. Someone hid in the confessional on Friday night and then desecrated the stoup and vandalised the organ. An ermine chasuble, the organ bench and the light of the tabernacle were stolen.
20 Graves Desecrated in Elne-Cemetery in Pyrenees-Orientales
March 22, 2013, FranceDuring the night of March 22nd more than 20 graves were desecrated in the Elne-Cemetery in Pyrenees-Orientales. This happened before in 2008 when 248 graves were vandalised, almost all of them Christian tombs.
Christian Youth Foundation in Dordrecht Accuses Local Government of Anti-Christian Repression
March 22, 2013, NetherlandsA Christian foundation for working with youth surprisingly lost its license to serve coffee and soda on the grounds that the youth centre was a gastronomical enterprise running on deficit and other permits would be necessary for non-profit activities. This was perceived as a governmental anti-Christian repression and is now debated in court.
Theft and Desecration in Church in Termoli
March 21, 2013, ItalyTwo youth entered the Church of St. Timothy in Termoli. One pretended to pray and when they were left alone made profane and sacrilegious gestures before stealing wafers and other sacred objects from the tabernacle. The theft was carried out on March 21 which corresponds to the satanic calendar as the "Second night of Tregenda”.
Catholic Bookstore Vandalised Once Again
March 15, 2013, FranceAnother Catholic bookshop (“Notre-Dame-de-France”) was trashed on the 15th of March in Paris. The windows were broken and books thrown on the floor. There have been 26 reports of similar incidents over the past year.
Pro-Life Women Attacked By Pro-Abortion Men at Manifestation
March 15, 2013, PolandMale pro-abortion protesters physically attacked several pro-life women, pushing and kicking them, during a rally on March 10th in Warsaw. The pro-lifers were part of the organisation Fundacja Pro and were carrying a controversial banner of a woman who died during an abortion.
Catholic Bookstore Vandalised in Paris
March 15, 2013, FranceThe window of a Catholic bookshop, Our Lady of France (former "Bookstore Petit Pont ") was smashed.
Attempted Arson at Saint-Nicolas Church in Fribourg
March 11, 2013, SwitzerlandOn March 11th at around 7pm, the cantonal police were called to the scene at Saint-Nicolas in Fribourg, as an employee restrained two individuals who tried to hang a banner in the cathedral. They had also poured gasoline into the stoup to set it on fire.
Coffins Opened and Graves Desecrated
March 6, 2013, CroatiaUnknown perpetrator(s) damaged two graves and opened the coffins. The damage was detected by a member of the family of one of the deceased. At an old concrete tomb of an unknown owner, the tombstone was moved and the coffin was opened, and there was another case involving the desecration of an earthen grave. Some of the earth that had covered the coffin, which was apparently opened, had caved in. Around the grave were scattered bones. The incident was recorded by the police who performed an investigation.
Church Vandalised in Lecce
March 3, 2013, ItalyVandals entered the St. Michael's Parish Centre in Lecce and set fire to a holy book that was on the lectern. Fortunately the fire was put out before more damage was done.
Magazine Defames Benedict XVI and His Secretary
March 2, 2013, GermanyDue to the Pope's resignation, in a caricature on its title page, the German magazine, Titanic, implied Pope Emeritus Benedict and his secretary, Archbishop Gänswein to be engaging in homosexual sex, uttering "Finally - sex!". This hurts religious feelings of the faithful, defames both and deepens a negative stereotype against church hierarchy.
Magazine Caricatures Conclave as Group Sex
February 28, 2013, FranceThe French Magazine Charlie Hebdo comments on the election of the new Catholic Pontiff with a caricature on its title page showing the cardinals having group sex and calling their sexual climax the descendence of the Holy Spirit. The faithful perceive this as hurtful and intolerant to their religious convictions.
Magazine Front Page Caricature Upsets Christians
February 27, 2013, FranceOn the occasion of the resignation of pope Benedict XVI and the conclave in which a new pope ought to be elected, the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, featured a caricature on its front cover which shows the cardinals engaging in group sex. The words suggest that it is their sexual pleasure which the cardinals mockingly call the Holy Spirit.
Church Burglarised and Desecrated in Oberhausem
February 27, 2013, GermanyUnidentified criminals burglarised and vandalised the Catholic church St. Josef in Oberhausem, North Rhine Westphalia. The act included desecration of the tabernacle, the altar and a relic. Several precious stones were taken and the registry was left in disarray.
Vandalism and Burglary in St. Joseph’s Church in Oberhausen
February 27, 2013, GermanyThe church of St. Joseph’s in Oberhausen, Germany was broken into by a burglar who after a failed attempt to enter through a window broke the door to the sacristy. He smashed an old alter relic when trying to open the next door into the church. The police were called and came with their tracking dogs but they lost the trail. All the cabinets in the church were broken and the contents dumped on the ground. Microphone and sound cables were torn out and on his way out the burglar stole gems.
Church Vandalised in Gummersbach, Hessen
February 22, 2013, GermanyAround 12 pm on the 22nd of February unknown perpetrators broke into the parish of Gummersbach, Hessen and stole the offertory. They pried it off the wall with scissors which seriously damaged the sacral space.
Church Vandalised and Burglarised in Lünen
February 21, 2013, GermanyIn the night of the 21st of February the registry of the St-Marys church of Lünen was broken into and gravely damaged. The place was left in disarray and the offertory was emptied.
Vandalism and Burglary in the Church of St. Mary in Lünen
February 21, 2013, GermanyUnidentified perpetrators broke into St Mary's Church in Lünen, Germany. They also vandalised the youth centre and the parish centre. Much damage was done but hardly anything stolen. In the youth centre one of the billiard tables was badly damaged.
Nail Bomb Placed in Almudena Cathedral in Madrid
February 20, 2013, SpainA nail bomb was found in the Almudena Cathedral by a priest who reported seeing a suspicious looking bag on leaving the confessional. The Cathedral was evacuated before anyone was hurt by the home-made device, and the police were able to deactivate it without any damage being done.
Offertory of Catholic Church in Dieringhausen Stolen
February 19, 2013, GermanyUsing a scissor a perpetrator pried the offertory off the wall of the Catholic Church on Dieringhauser street in Gummersbach. He also took the container and its contents.
Satanic Graffiti on Church in Urbino Duomo
February 17, 2013, ItalyInverted crosses and 666 were found on two doors of the church. The three doors were dented as well, one whose neoclassical façade was rebuilt by Valadier in 1801, following a strong earthquake in 1789.
Church in Orléans Twice the Target of Vandals
February 14, 2013, FranceThe church of Saint-Paterne in Orléans, France, became twice the victim of vandalism. Sometime during the night of the 11th to 12th of February, three of its poor boxes were pillaged, and then again from the night of the 14th to 15th of February, the door of the tabernacle was forced open and the ciborium emptied of its contents, the hosts spread over the floor. A covering was taken, but not the ciborium. In addition, the church Notre-Dame des Miracles, also in Orléans, was robbed.
T-Shirt Company in Pamplona Prints Derisive Cartoon Picturing a Catholic Bishop
February 13, 2013, SpainThe Spanish T-shirt company Kukuxumusu, known for its humorous T-shirt designs picturing cartoon animals such as sheep and bulls, printed a shirt with a bull dressed in Catholic bishop’s clothing flanked by two sheep, one of whom he is suspiciously touching. The other sheep is pulling up the “bishop’s”garment to reveal a devil’s tail. Many found this both offensive to their faith and a needless mockery of the serious matter of pedophilia.
Anti-Pope Protests in Notre Dame Cathedral
February 12, 2013, FranceFemale activists undress and shout anti-pope slogans to comment the resignation of Pope Benedict XYI in the Paris Cathedral of Notre. Toplessly, they hammered at bells and shouted "Crisis of faith,", “Pope no more!” “Bye-bye Benedict!”, “No more homophobe!” and "In gay we trust!".
Polish Erasmus Student Arrested in Cadiz for Destroying a Crucifix
February 12, 2013, SpainA twenty-four year old Polish Erasmus student in Cadiz was arrested after purportedly entering a church and throwing a crucifix to the ground, breaking the arms and legs off of the eighteenth century religious piece. A church official tried to detain the youth, but he escaped and was later apprehended by police to await trial.