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.
Church in Gotha Defiled
November 29, 2012, GermanyOn the 29th of November 2012, the inside of a church in Gotha, Germany, was desecrated. The perpetrator(s) also vandalised the Organ. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.
Desecration of Graves in Germany
November 29, 2012, GermanyBetween July and November the Holy See reported cases of desecration to graves in the following places: ·27 July 2012 Herzberg ·26 October 2012 Duisburg (NRW) ·9 November 2012 Unterrath (Düsseldorf). ·13 November 2012 Güdesweiler (Saarland)
Parish House of Church in Daaden Broken Into
November 27, 2012, GermanyIn Daaden on the 27th of Nov 2012 the parsonage of the church was devastated and a relique of St. Georg stolen.
Church of St. Alban Desecrated in Mainz
November 27, 2012, GermanyOn the 27th of November 2012, St. Alban’s church in Mainz was broken into and defiled. The perpetrator went into the sacristy and mindlessly hit everything he saw. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.
Church in Daaden Broken Into and Defiled
November 27, 2012, GermanyOn the 27th of November 2012, a Church in Daaden (Siegen) was broken into. The perpetrators desecrated the rectory, vandalised the church, and stole a relief of St. George, which is feared to be destroyed. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.
Parish Building Set on Fire in Latvia
November 23, 2012, LatviaThe adjoining building of a parish in Madona was set on fire on November 23rd 2012, the perpetrator was not found.
Church Broken Into in Globarice
November 22, 2012, Bosnia and HerzegovinaBetween the 22nd and the 23rd of November, 2012, a church was broken into in Globarice, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The perpetrator(s) stole money, a chalice with consecrated hosts, and a monstrance with consecrated hosts.
(Scotland) Artist Depicts Pope as a Nazi-Pedophile
November 20, 2012, United KingdomDutch artist Jeff van Weereld's piece “The Holy Truth“ on display in Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Scotland in November 2012, depicts the pope aroused, wearing a swastika shaped cross, and with his hands on two young boys. The artist claims to reflect „four facts“ of the Church: “There is high incidence of paedophilia, the pope did spend a good part of his formative years in the Hitlerjugend and the Wehrmacht, the church is friendly to the outside, but not necessarily within the hierarchy and they do tend to cover up things.”
Brussels Bans Annual Christmas Tree Display As It May Offend Muslims
November 19, 2012, BelgiumGovernment officials in Brussels banned the Christmas tree in the city center out of concerns that the local Muslim population might find it “offensive.” An “electronic winter tree,” will take the place of the traditional Christmas Tree and Nativity scene at the city center of Grand Place. Citizens protested.
New Legislation on Gay Marriage Might Get Teachers Fired
November 18, 2012, United KingdomThe British Parliamentary Undersecretary of State, Liz Truss, states she was not able to rule out the possibility that teachers refusing to use stories or textbooks favoring same sex- marriage face disciplinary consequences.
Anti-Christian Slogans Interrupt a Symposium for Life in Biarritz
November 18, 2012, FranceAttendants at the Symposium for Life held in Biarritz, following the 18th of November demonstration against same-sex marriage by Civitas, was interrupted by an anti-Christian demonstration. With signs saying “yes, yes to sodomy, no, no, no to the inquisition” held by men in nuns habits and women with devils horns the aim was one of offending. Worsening matters was the biased coverage by the press that failed to report on the anti-Christian nature of the demonstration.
TV Team Produces Satire on Church in Cathedral Without Permission
November 16, 2012, AustriaIn mid-November an episode of the satiric television serial “Wir Staatskünstler” (We official state artists) was filmed in the Catholic Cathedral of St Pölten without permission. Three actors working for the Austrian public service broadcaster ORF (state TV) were dressed up similarly to the group “Pussy Riot”, entered the church, imitated Islamic prayer moves and called upon “mother heaven”.
Church Vandalised in Switzerland
November 16, 2012, SwitzerlandA church in Hägendorf was broken into on November 16 2012. Statues of two Saints were set on fire. That did not succeed the vandals poured oil on the altar and set the apostle candles on fire.
Church in Märkische Heide Broken Into and Desecrated
November 15, 2012, GermanyOn the 15th of November 2012, thieves in Märkische Heide, Germany, stole the key to a church building, entered the church, and desecrated holy items. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.
Proposed EU Commissionar Faces Opposition for Holding Christian Views
November 13, 2012, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)A consortium of homosexualist, secular humanist and abortion groups campaigned against the appointment of the Maltese Dr. Tonio Borg as the new EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner. The objection, they said, was nothing more than that Dr. Borg was a Catholic, with “staunchly conservative and outdated” views on homosexuality, divorce and abortion. The campaign failed soon thereafter.
Desecration of Graves in Güdesweiler
November 13, 2012, GermanyOn the 13th of November 2012, a Christian cemetery in Güdesweiler, Germany, was vandalised by unknown perpetrators. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature in Germany.
(Scotland) Cardinal O´Brien Declared “Bigot of the Year”
November 12, 2012, United KingdomChristian believers and other people in Britain are expressing outrage after the country’s leading homosexualist lobby group declared the Cardinal Archbishop of Edinburgh, Keith O’Brien, “Bigot of the Year” for his opposition to “gay marriage”.
Woman Verbally Harassed in Turkey
November 12, 2012, TurkeyOn November 12th, 2012 in Batman, a woman who was participating in the worship services was verbally harassed and threatened about attending such meetings .
Church of St. James in Lübeck Broken Into
November 10, 2012, GermanyThe Church of St. James in Lübeck has been broken into. The donations for the poorest were stolen and the sacred space profaned. This is the 10th noted case of a church desecration in Lübeck this year.
Desecration of Graves in Unterrath
November 9, 2012, GermanyThe Apostolic Nunciature of Germany reported that on the 9th of November 2012, dozens of graves in a Christian cemetery in Unterrath (Düsseldorf), Germany were desecrated.
Church and Adjoining Building Vandalised in Latvia
November 8, 2012, LatviaOn November 8th 2012, the windows of a church in Cesvaine were broken and the doors to the adjoining building demolished. The information stand was knocked over and the some lights pulled down.
Caricature of Holy Trinity in Journal Hurts Feelings of Christians
November 7, 2012, FranceIn an attempt to support a bill legalising same-sex “marriage” the journal Charlie Hebdo published the 7th of November a front page image that depicted the three persons of the Holy Trinity engaging in homosexual intercourse. The caricature transcends any standards of decency. It does not respect religious feelings in a way that one might speak of hate incident.
Secularists Condemn Churches Involvement in Public Life
November 5, 2012, FranceThe Grand Society of France (the largest among Masonic organizations in France) declared that "... churches are restricted only to the spiritual sphere, and not to interfere legitimate public debate leading to evolution and progress of civil rights."
Catholic Church in Heilbronn Defiled
November 5, 2012, GermanyIn Schöntal (Heilbronn) the sacred space of the Catholic Church was defiled and there was an attempted burglary in the sacristy.
Chapel Spraypainted with Insults in Haßfurt
November 2, 2012, GermanyA gothic chapel, a protected heritage monument which had just been renovated, was vandalised by graffiti in Haßfurt. The words which were spraypainted onto the chapels walls read things like "F...king sick child abusers" and "I serve Satan".
(Scotland) National Secular Society Pressured Highlands Council to Drop Prayers
October 31, 2012, United KingdomThe Highlands Council Scotland had the tradition of incorporating a prayer in its agenda before each meeting. However, during the summer the National Secular Society wrote a letter to the Council demanding it remove prayer from its formal agenda or it would face legal action. The Council has now dropped prayer from its formal agenda.
Church Burglarized in Saint–Lys
October 28, 2012, FranceUnidentified individuals broke into the parish church in Saint-Lys on the 28th of October. The incident was discovered by the parish priest when opening the church for church services. Upon initial investigation it has been reported that the priest's chair, two stools, a desk, a lectern, and an altar cloth were stolen. In addition, the pews in the church were dislocated.
House Owner Sentenced For Not Selling to a Homosexual Couple
October 27, 2012, FranceA man was condemned because he refused to sell a house to a same-sex couple. The 69-year-old was sentenced to pay 800 Euro to the court and 300 Euro each to the same-sex-couple in damages, plus the legal fees.
Left Wing Politicial Youth Insults Jesus
October 26, 2012, AustriaIn a newspaper of the "Young Greens" of Austrian region Vorarlberger depicts Jesus with a funny smile as a gay man holding a sign "gay Jesus". While the magazine gives explicit instructions for sexual behaviour of youth, it also recommends to wear three knotes in a belt, signifying "wealth, unchastity and disobedience" mocking the evangelical counsels of Christian tradition.
Desecration of Graves in Duisburg
October 26, 2012, SlovakiaOn the 26th of October 2012, thieves in Duisburg (Nordrhein-Westfalen), Germany, desecrated over one hundred graves and scavenged for metal. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature of Germany.