All cases
Practicing Catholic Rejected as a Member of the European Commission
October 1, 2004, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)Rocco Buttiglione was dismissed by the European Institutions as EU Commissioner because of his Catholic convictions.
Greek Orthodox Church Damaged by Bomb Explosion
August 1, 2004, CyprusGreek Orthodox Church in Northern Cyprus was damaged by bomb explosion in Cyprus conflict.
Orthodox Cathedral Turned into Public Toilet
April 19, 2004, SerbiaThe Orthodox cathedral of Christ the Savior in Pristina, still under construction, with its consecrated foundations and cross, where Holy Liturgy was periodically served before the war while it was still under construction, has been turned into a public toilet, while the property around the church has become the squatting ground of Roma emigrants from the Republic of Albania.
Christian Student Union Reported to Police for Hosting Speaker With Traditional Biblical View on Homosexuality
February 26, 2004, United KingdomThe Christian Union of the University of Cambridge was reported to the police after the distribution of 12,000 copies of St John's gospel to students and the lecture given by Phillip Jensen, the Dean of St. Andrew´s Cathedral, in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional biblical view on homosexuality.
Staff Sacked after Refusing Sunday Work
February 1, 2004, United KingdomStaff sacked after refusing Sunday work.
Christian Groups Listed as "Dangerous Sects"
January 1, 2004, France(1996 - 2005) Legal developments put religious freedom at risk. Christian groups listed as dangerous sects. State power to interfere with religious exercise established by law.
Police Investigate Anglican Bishop Because He Said Some Homosexuals Changed to Heterosexuality
November 12, 2003, United KingdomThe Bishop of Chester was investigated by the Cheshire constabulary in November 2003 after he told his local newspaper of research showing that some homosexuals re-orientated to heterosexuality. The police passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service who decided not to prosecute.
Pastor Charged for Preaching on Homosexuality
June 20, 2003, SwedenPastor Ake Green charged with committing a "hate crime" for preaching a sermon on homosexuality in Borghold.
Catholic Nun Used for Condom Campaign
March 28, 2003, FranceImage of Catholic nun used for pro condom campaign in Toulouse.
Two Council Workers Threatened with Dismissal for Participating in Homosexual Adoption
March 25, 2003, United KingdomThe Sefton (North West of England) Council workers, Norah Ellis and Dawn Jackson, refused to take part in adoptions for gay parents as not compatible with the Christian concept of family. As a consequence they have been threatened with dismissal for not doing their job.
Christianophobic Exhibit in Moscow
January 14, 2003, RussiaVisitors are shocked by christianophobic exhibit in Andrei Sakharov Museum in Moscow as it shows Jesus and Mary in humiliating positions. Intention of organizers described as exposing hypocrisy of religion.
Christian Minority Rights Threatened
January 1, 2003, Kosovo(2000-2003) Christian minority rights are at stake in Kosovo. Churches were attacked and destroyed. The denial of Jesus was demanded from youth at gunpoint.
Law Criminalizes Elements of Christianity
December 31, 2002, SwedenNew law prohibits criticism of homosexuality and makes biblical applications to today a criminal offence.
Call for Head Teacher to be Suspended for Defending a Christian View of Marriage
June 5, 2002, United KingdomA highly respected comprehensive school head teacher, Bill Beales, faced calls for his suspension after he told pupils that Christians were being “placed on trial” for defending their beliefs on marriage.
Preacher Arrested For Public Order Offence
April 1, 2002, United Kingdom(October 2001-April 2002) Evangelical preacher arrested and fined for displaying a sign in public saying ‘Stop Immorality’.
Suspect Treatment of Christian Communities
February 1, 2002, BelgiumChristian groups qualified as sects. Volunteers detained.
Religious Sister Cruelly Murdered in Satanic Ritual
June 6, 2000, ItalyIn the night of June 6th, 2000 in the Italian town of Chiavenna in the Lombardy, Sister Maria Laura Mainetti was murdered by three teenage girls in a ritual act of satanism.
Catholic Priest Falsely Accused of Participation in Satanic Rites
May 1, 2000, ItalyFather Giorgio Govoni, 59, pastor of Staggia di San Prospero Church in the province of Modena, Italy, was accused of being a member of a group of pedophiles who engaged in sexually violent and harmful acts with minors, including participation in satanic rites in the Massa Finalese Cemetery. He was cleared after his death by the court of second instance.
Church Vandalized After Anti-Gay Homily in Newcastle
October 28, 1999, United KingdomJesmond Parish Church in Newcastle upon Tyne was covered with obscene phrases and pornographic graffiti after Rev. Holloway preached about homosexuality in the teachings of the Bible. The graffiti included drawings of men having sex, and insulting expressions such as "Holloway Out", "Bigot" and "Down with Holloway".
Pastor Jailed for Expression of Pro-Life Opinion
March 11, 1998, GermanyPastor jailed for calling an abortion specialist “professional killer” and “torturer” in Erlangen.
Dutch MP Fined for Critical Comment on Homosexuality
December 30, 1996, NetherlandsA politician was fined in the first instance for hate speech in criticizing homosexuality. Even though the court of second instance lifted the sentence, the hypersensitivity of the first court is a worrying sign.
Conscientious Objection Denied
January 1, 1996, United Kingdom(1995/1996) Several instances have been collected in which staff were denied the right to conscientious objection and lost their jobs.
Holy Monastery of Prophet Elias in Cyprus Savagely Bombed by Turkish Air Force
July 9, 1974, CyprusThe Monastery of the Prophet Elias of Maronite Monks, situated near the village of Ayia Marina Skyllouras, in the Nicosia district in Cyprus, was bombed during the second phase of the Turkish invasion. The Turkish air force savagely attacked the religious building which caught fire and was badly damaged.
Church of Ayios Procopios, Cyprus Desecrated after the 1974 Turkish Occupation
July 1, 1974, CyprusAyios Procopios, a Byzantine church of the 11th or 12th century situated in the village of Synkrasi, in the Famagusta district, in the Republic of Cyprus, was desecrated after the military had occupied the region by force. The iconostasis was destroyed and the portable icons were stolen. The church is today a refuge for birds.
Wall-Paintings at Antifonitis Monastery in Cyprus Destroyed
July 1, 1974, CyprusAntifonitis Monastery, a Byzantine monastery, built at the end of the 12th century, was destroyed as a consequence of the Turkish invasion. The heads of the two Archangels in the apse of the church were ruined. Turkish illicit dealers in antiquities cut into pieces and removed from the walls the representations of the Day of Judgment and the Stem of Jesse, vandalising a large part of them.
Clergy Advised to Remove Roman Colar for Safety
January 1, 1970, United KingdomMembers of the clergy were advised to take off their Roman collars when they are on their own, to reduce the risk of being attacked. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury should remove the collar outside church.
UK Government Laywers Tell Christians: Leave Faith at Home or Find a New Job!”
January 1, 1970, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)Government lawyers have told the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that Christians should “leave their religious beliefs at home or move to another job” when faced with a clash between the requirements of their faith and their employment.
French Government to “Dissolve” “Religious Pathology” and “Excesses” in the Church
January 1, 1970, FranceInstead of tackling the enormous number of anti-Christian vandalisms, President Hollande announced a new 'the National Observatory of Secularism' to come into being this year, tasked with closely monitoring religious organisations for any potential 'excesses.' French Interior Minister Manuel Valls highlighted various Catholic organisations, stating that "All excesses are being minutely registered in case we have to consider dissolving it."
Women At Pro Life Manifestation Attacked
January 1, 1970, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)Male pro-abortion protesters physically attacked several pro-life women during a rally on March 10 in Warsaw, pushing and kicking them. The pro-lifers were part of the organization Fundacja Pro and were carrying a controversial banner of a woman who died during an abortion.
Women At Pro Life Manifestation Attacked
January 1, 1970, PolandMale pro-abortion protesters physically attacked several pro-life women during a rally on March 10 in Warsaw, pushing and kicking them. The pro-lifers were part of the organization Fundacja Pro and were carrying a controversial banner of a woman who died during an abortion.
Church Broken Into in Garevac
January 1, 1970, Bosnia and HerzegovinaBetween the 22nd and the 23rd of May 2012, a church was broken into in Garevac, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The perpetrator(s) stole chalices which were used for Holy Communion.
Attempts to Silence Bishop for Voicing His Opinion About Gender Ideology
January 1, 1970, SpainThe Spanish political party, the United Left, presented a motion to the regional Parliament to convict the Bishop of Córdoba, Demetrio Fernández, for having spoken out his opinion on gender ideology. According to the motion, the bishop’s weekly pastoral letter entitled “Gender ideology breaks the family” was an acute case of discrimination. The motion, signed by spokesman Francisco Tejada, called on the government of Andalusia to “launch the legal mechanisms in the context of their power to prevent cases of abuse and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Priest Attacked After Confronting Thieves in Church
January 1, 1970, ItalyAfter celebrating the midnight Mass, parish priest, Father Massimo Malinconi returned to the rectory where he found four burglars.
Vaucluse Church Vandalized
January 1, 1970, FranceThe stained glass window depicting Jesus Christ in the church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Tour was found smashed.
Catholic School in Bubry Sacked by Vandals
January 1, 1970, FranceThe kindergarten and elementary private Catholic school Sainte-Hélène Bubry was attacked and the damage is estimated at several thousand euros.
Graffiti Attack on the Family Home of St. Bernadette in Lourdes
January 1, 1970, FranceMunicipal services in Lourdes took two weeks to remove obscene drawings and inscriptions painted on the family home of the revered Saint, despite complaints by neighbors and an alert from the online journal “Lourdes-Info.” The perpetrators of the vandalism are unknown.