All cases
Orthodox Church Destroyed by the Albanian Authorities
August 26, 2015, AlbaniaOn the 26th of August, local officials destroyed the Orthodox church St. Athanasius, which is located in the village of Dhermi, in southern Albania.
Broken and Desecrated Statue of the Virgin Mary in Reunion, France
August 23, 2015, FranceA Statue of the Virgin Mary has been purposely destroyed, its chest impaled on a spit, and the other pieces of the statue were left in a plastic bag on the side of a road. This event happened next to the chapel Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix a few days before the 23rd of August. The sight of the destroyed statue has shocked locals, and drivers passing by haven't dared to disturb the broken pieces. No explanation yet has been given to this act of vandalism.
Kindergarten Teacher Fired for Explaining Christmas Story
August 21, 2015, AustriaA city-run kindergarten in Vienna has fired a teacher because she “violated the kindergarten’s neutral stance on religion” by explaining that on Christmas, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This was in response to the children's questions about the holiday. In the letter informing the teacher of the school board’s decision to fire her, one reads that city-run kindergartens “accompany children of diverse religious faiths as well as without religious faith; therefore the religious meanings of traditional feasts are not mentioned and must instead be replaced by other content (for example during advent by themes such as ‘family’, ‘friendship’, or ‘community’). You have not followed this approach, but instead informed the children several times … about the Christian meaning of Christmas”. The teacher explains, "I have answered only the questions of the children . . . I am a Christian, but not a religion teacher."
Desecration in Gex and Colloges Churches in Pays de l'Ain France
August 16, 2015, FranceOn Sunday, August 16, 2015, a ciborium containing consecrated hosts and chalice were stolen from the church of Gex. The same day, a ciborium, a chalice, and a reliquary, registered in the inventory of Historical Monuments, were stolen from the church of Collonges.
Chapel Vandalized in Nantes, France
August 16, 2015, FranceThe outside wall of a chapel of Christ Roi in Nantes was spray painted during the night of the 15th/16th of August. The tag says : "Don't open. Integriste. Inside". The wrongdoers remain unknown. http://www.christianophobie.fr/breves/nantes-precisions-dun-lecteur-sur-la-chapelle-taguee
Attempted Arson in Chapel Saint-François of Rennes
August 14, 2015, FranceThe chapel Saint-François of Rennes was the victim of an attempted arson during night between August 13 and 14th.
Haute-Loire Churches Hit with Burglaries
August 14, 2015, FranceA burglary was committed in the sacristy of the church Sainte-Foy de Bains (Haute-Loire) on August 14, 2015. The criminals stole sacred objects: a chalice and a ciborium.
Anti-Christian Hate Crimes on the Rise in Sweden
August 5, 2015, SwedenThe sharpest rise is seen among crimes with christianophobic motives, which have tripled in the past five years, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet – Brå).
40 Christian Tombs Desecrated in French Cemetery
August 3, 2015, FranceOn the 3rd of August, local policemen found that 40 graves had been desecrated in a cemetery in the town of Labry, in northeastern France. 35 funeral ornaments, mostly crucifixes and plaques were displaced, and 4 were broken.
Chapel Vandalized in Walloon Brabant
August 3, 2015, BelgiumDuring the week of the 3rd of August 2015, the small chapel Notre-Dame de Walcourt, which had been restored for free a few years ago by a volunteer, was vandalized with spray paint. The tag represented a person giving a finger to what seems to be a crown. The perpetrators remain unknown.
Two Orthodox Religious Murdered in Ukraine
July 30, 2015, OtherA priest and a nun, both members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, were murdered within days of each other in the Ukraine.
UK Schools Watchdog Ignores Bullying of Christian Students
July 30, 2015, United KingdomColin Hart, director of the Christian Institute, has said Ofsted and the Department for Education (DfE) have given “inadequate attention” to the “bullying of Christian pupils”.
Student Physically Forced to Attend Sex Education
June 22, 2015, GermanyIn North Rhine-Westphalia, a 10 year old boy was forcefully removed from his home and forced to attend sex education without his parents’ consent.
Santeuil Church Vandalised and Soiled with Faeces in Eure-Et-Loir
June 10, 2015, FranceThe Santeuil church was vandalised by unknown perpetrators who burst into each room of the church, destroyed doors, statues and belfry. Additionally, they soiled the church with faeces. The case was reported to the police and investigation decided to examine the DNA in the neighbourhood to find the culprit.
Arson In The Church Of St. Chrysole in Comines
June 6, 2015, FranceThe doors to the church of St. Chrystole in Comines was burned as a result of the arson. Thanks to the quick reaction of police and firefighters, the flames did not reach the interior of the church. Local faithful and volunteers were terrified and quickly helped to clean the soot.
The Chapel of Sainte-Bathilde Damaged in Seine-et-Marne
June 4, 2015, FranceThe Sainte-Bathilde Chapel was hit by vandals who destroyed statues in the garden behind the shrine. One represented St. Bathilde on which flammable liquid was found. Another statue of St. Therese had been attacked and broken into pieces.
Silent National Christian-Inspired Protest Mocked By Opponents
May 24, 2015, ItalyOn 24th of May 2015, an Italian network called Sentinelle in piedi ("Standing Watchmen“) organized a protest against the proposed draft laws on "homophobia" and same-sex unions and expressed their dissenting views by standing for an hour in silence at over 100 public squares all over Italy. The reason for that is the belief that new laws, if approved, would curtail freedom of speech for Christians. Opponents used offensive slogans and provocative gestures, including simulating homosexual acts. The participants of the Sentinelle in piedi were partly hindered by the protests. Opponents were mostly LGBT activists.
Arson in the Lutheran Church of Altena
May 19, 2015, GermanyA fire caused damages worth thousands of Euros in the Lutheran Church in Altena in Nordhein-Westfalen. Police suspect arson, because all evidences lead to burglary in which the sacristy was broken and ravaged. Without the quick reaction of the firefighters, the church would have been lost. The faithful and local priests felt offended by this horrible act.
Baker Found Guilty After Refusing to Bake Cake Supporting Same-Sex Marriage
May 18, 2015, United KingdomA bakery in Northern Ireland was found guilty of "direct discrimination" after its Christian owner declined to provide a decorated cake with the words 'support gay marriage’. The owner said he could not fulfill the order because it conflicts with his Christian beliefs about marriage.
Disruption, Threats, and Insults at a Catholic Procession
May 14, 2015, ItalyA group of Muslims disrupted a Catholic procession in the Italian municipality of Conselice which was held in honour of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Reportedly seeing the procession as provocation, the group started to threathen and insult Catholics and claimed that the procession offended Islam. Participants were scared and shocked by this aggression.
Attack at Marriage Referendum Event Causes Life-Threatening Allergic Reaction
May 13, 2015, IrelandA 10-year-old girl suffered a severe allergic reaction after an egg attack at a "No-Campaign" event in Meath, Ireland. "Yes-Campaigners" threw objects, including eggs, at people who were expressing opposition to same-sex marriage. "No-Campaign" leader Mr. Manning said that the atmposphere created by "Yes-Campaigners" was "toxic”.
Burglary in St. Apostles at Neumarkt in Cologne
May 12, 2015, GermanyAn unknown perpetrator broke into the church of St. Apostles in Cologne on May 12th, and stole figures of Jesus Christ from the cloister. Moreover, the thief caused damages worth thousands of euros. This theft offended and angered the religious faithful.
Vandalism Spree Against Chapels on the Island of La Reunion
May 12, 2015, FranceMany chapels and other places of worship on the island of La Reunion were devastated with satanic slogans and red Stars of David.
Judge Ordered French Town to Remove the Statue of Saint John Paul II
May 5, 2015, FranceAuthorities in the small French town of Ploermal are obliged to remove a statue of Saint John Paul II built in 2006. The reason which was given was the "ostentatious character" of the monument located in the public square, which is in contradiction with the secular principles of the state. This decision shocked local faithful and Mayor Parick Le Diffon vowed to appeal.
Figure of Jesus Christ destroyed by Turkish Muslim
May 3, 2015, GermanyA Turkish Muslim armed with a kitchen knife destroyed the figure of Jesus Christ located on the Sendlinger Tor in Munich. Additionally, he attacked eyewitnesses and devastated all vases and flowers which were next to the cross. The case has been reported to the police, but the man was declared as a mentally ill and he has been brought to a psychiatrist. It is not clear whether the act was religiously-motivated.
Pro-Marriage Posters Removed
May 1, 2015, IrelandMothers and Fathers Matter, a group that urged people to vote “No” in May’s gay marriage referendum in Ireland, said there was a campaign of harassment and intimidation from those on the “Yes” side of the debate. Posters were torn and removed in Dublin and elsewhere at the beginning of May 2015. Pictures of this act have been celebrated as an "act of bravery" on social media.
Islamic Terrorists Planned Suicide Bombings at St. Peter's Square
April 24, 2015, ItalyA terrorist ring based on Sardinia had been planning an attack against the Vatican since 2010, involving two suicide bombings at St. Peter's Square. The network supported itself through illegal migrant trafficking. False work contracts helped facilitate asylum for Pakistani and Afghanistan men posing as migrants. Fake customs declarations and flawed money transactions partly financed the activities. Italian counter-terrorism operatives issued arrest warrants for 18 men and arrested nine of them across Italy.
Play Equates John the Baptist with Islamic Terrorists
April 24, 2015, AustriaThe regional theater of Graz premiered its version of "Salome” in which John the Baptist is a radical fundamentalist. It claims that there is really no difference between him and Islamic State terrorists.
Attack on Churches Foiled
April 22, 2015, FranceFrench police arrested an Algerian Muslim man suspected of planning an attack on "one or two churches" near Paris. According to the Paris prosecutor, documents linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State were found at his apartment and a contact in Syria had advised him to target churches.
Hacker Attacks Vatican Website
April 16, 2015, InternationalTwice in one week, the Vatican website was partly inaccessible due to attacks from hackers. On Twitter someone named "Turk Hack Team Herakles" claimed responsibility, saying he would continue until the pope apologized for referring to a Turkish genocide against Armenians 100 years ago.
12 Christians Killed by Muslim Migrants
April 16, 2015, ItalyItalian police said that 15 Muslim migrants were arrested after they threw 12 Christians overboard on a boat in the Mediterranean Sea on the way to Italy. Migrants from Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Mali, and Guinea were arrested in the Sicilian city of Palermo and charged with multiple counts of aggravated murder, motivated by religious hate.
Castres : Dozens of Christian Tombs Vandalized
April 15, 2015, FranceThe Saint-Roch cemetery in Castres (Tarn) was vandalized on 15th April, 2015. Dozens of tombs were ransacked, funerary objects systematically thrown to the ground.
Tomb Desecration during Easter in Lębork
April 5, 2015, PolandDuring Easter, unknown perpetrators profanated buried corpses in tombs in the churchyard in Lębork in the district of Pomerania. The bones were taken from their coffins.
Damages to Religious Symbols in Madrid Cemetery
March 30, 2015, SpainThe cemetery of Brunete in Madrid was vandalized during the night of March 30th. Tombs, crucifixes, and other religious symbols were either destroyed or damaged. Graffiti was found, which said: “PP (the Conservative Party) is a son of a bitch” As the Spanish Conservative Party is considered by many to be associated with Christianity, local Christians felt personally insulted by the vandalism.
Street Preacher Fined, Judge Rules on Appropriateness of Bible Verses in Public
March 24, 2015, United KingdomTaunton street preacher Mike Overd has been convicted of a Public Order offence for using a particular bible verse in a public conversation with a man who identifies as homosexual. The judge ruled that another bible verse would have been more appropriate and would have prevented the fine.
Blasphemous and Offensive Performance in Bologna
March 13, 2015, ItalyDuring an event in Bologna, organized by the LGBT organization “Circolo Arcigay”, participants took part in obscene and sexually vulgar scenes depicting the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. The city authorities demanded the stop to the events, which were described as "blasphemous and offensive to the dignity of the Christians."
"Congress of Christian Leaders" Called "Congress of Radical Christians" in News Coverage
March 12, 2015, GermanyKnown for his bias against Christians, Christian Baars, reporter for NRD.de, published an article about a Christian Congress which took place in February 2015 in Hamburg. "Scholz unterstützt Kongress radikaler Christen" (in English, "Scholz supports Congress of Radical Christians") is the title of the article. Olaf Scholz is the First Mayor of Hamburg. Christians considered the article to be biased and insulting.
Vandalism in Saint-Élisabeth Church in Paris
March 11, 2015, FranceAn act of vandalism and degradation took place on a work of art behind the choir at the foot of the Cross and St. Mary and St. John in the church of Sainte-Élisabeth-de-Hongrie in Paris. The perpetrators remain unknown. The pastor filed a complaint.
Replica of the Lourdes Grotto Vandalized in Delme, Moselle
March 10, 2015, FranceSeveral acts of vandalism targeted the Lourdes Grotto near the cemetery in Delme. Witness said that benches placed in front of the cave were destroyed. Police were notified.
Catholics Insulted by Demonstrators After Mass
March 8, 2015, FranceAs they left the church in Saint-Epvre in Nancy after Sunday services. parishioners were confronted with a feminist manifestation taking place right in front of the steps of the church. The activists were shouting hate slogans and vulgarities towards the people leaving the church, including young children.
Employment Tribunal Hears Christian Educator "Rightly" Dismissed for Faith
March 5, 2015, United KingdomChristian nursery educator, Sarah Mbuyi, was dismissed from her job after "gross misconduct" for saying that marriage is an institution between one man and one woman in conversation with a colleague. In an employment tribunal hearing, witnesses testified that Christian views on the topic should not be expressed in the workplace.
Church Vandalized in Pregny-Chambésy
March 5, 2015, SwitzerlandSeveral statues in the St. Petronilla Catholic Church in Pregny-Chambésy were profanated and damaged.
“Christ” and “Jesus” Considered Abusive by Marks & Spencer
March 1, 2015, United KingdomA pastor’s wife order for bouquet of spring flowers was blocked when she had tried to use words: "Thank you for your care and practical help for Margaret in her last days... With love from her church family, Christ Church Teddington". She was confronted with an on-screen warning: “Sorry there’s something in your message we can’t write.”
Aggression against Pro-Life Activists in Munich
February 28, 2015, GermanyThe German Christian pro-life group Jugend für das Leben ("Youth for Life") organized a demonstration on the Odeon Square in Munich followed by a Holy Mass at the University Church. The demonstration had previously been registered and approved.
Bremen Cathedral Target in Plans for Islamist Attack
February 28, 2015, GermanyFour Islamists from France attempted to commit terrorist attacks in Bremen in the Cathedral of St Peter, a Gothic cathedral adjacent to the Renaissance town hall, in a synagogue, and on a lively square. A massive deployment of police thwarted their plans, but the would-be attackers managed to escape.
Vandalism of Two Churches on the Same Day in Joigny
February 25, 2015, FranceThe City of Joigny and Fr. Romain Tavernier, a parish priest, submitted two complaints for acts of vandalism and theft which had taken place in two churches.
Profanation of a Church in Czestochowa
February 24, 2015, PolandUnknown assailants vandalised the church of the Mystery of the Resurrection in Emmaus in Czestochowa. The perpetrators drew satanic signs on the facade of the church.
French Media Misleadingly Calls Christian Cemeteries "Municipal Sites"
February 23, 2015, FranceThe French news channel BFMTV reported statistics about problem of the profanation of cemeteries in 2014. In its morning news, it reported that 206 cases were in Christian cemeteries, in Jewish cemeteries there were 6 cases, and in Muslim sites there were 4 cases. By its lunchtime news program, the channel had ceased to mention "Christian" cemeteries, instead, the phrase "municipal" cemeteries was used. References to Jewish and Muslim cemeteries were unchanged.
Christian Graves Desecrated in Matoury (French Guiana)
February 19, 2015, FranceSeveral graves in the cemetery of Matoury, French Guiana (15 km from Cayenne) were intentionally vandalized.
A Statue of the Virgin Mary Desecrated in Châtel
February 19, 2015, FranceUnknown perpetrators have committed various degradations and profanations in the main town of the resort of Châtel in Haute-Savoie. The statue of Our Lady of Skieurs in front of the church was the main target for the vandals.