All cases
(Scotland) Word "Lord" Removed from Prayer as Offensive
November 15, 2007, United KingdomThe word "Lord" was removed from a primary school grace before meals after one parent complained the mention was offensive. Contrary complaints of other parents lead to a subsequent reinstatement of the term.
Law Upheld which Interferes with Church Affairs
November 14, 2007, Czech RepublicThe Czech Constitutional Court dismissed the proposal by a group of senators to abolish a controversial amendment to the church law that churches say limits their rights.
Blasphemous Images in Weekly Magazine
November 13, 2007, Belgium"Humo", a Belgian Dutch-speaking weekly that is known for its liberal and satirical opinions, published a representation of a man urinating in a chalice with the accompanying text: "And Jesus changed wine into urine". Our sources report that this was not the first time "Humo" published blasphemous representations.
Report of Think Tank Suggests to Downgrade Christmas
November 1, 2007, United KingdomChristmas should be downgraded in favour of festivals from other religions to improve race relations, says a report of the Institute for Public Policy Research, a Labour Think Tank.
Syriac Priest Abducted
November 1, 2007, TurkeyA priest from the Syriac Christian community has been kidnapped in southeast Turkey.
Ringing of Church Bells Prohibited
November 1, 2007, NetherlandsLocal authorities prohibited the ringing of church bells for noise reasons in Tilburg, Holland. A court verdict annihilated the decision in November.
Catholic Airport Worker Suspended for Displaying a Picture of Jesus
October 10, 2007, United KingdomManchester, England - A Catholic airport worker was suspended for displaying an image of Jesus on a staff room wall after a Muslim colleague made a complaint against him.
Christian Foster Parents Forced to Retire From Fostering Children
October 10, 2007, United KingdomA Christian couple was being forced to retire from fostering needy children on conscientious grounds after the local council imposed rules requiring them to discuss homosexuality with the children.
Students of non-Islamic religions discriminated against in Turkey
October 1, 2007, TurkeyThe European Court for Human Rights requested Turkey to bring its education system and domestic legislation into line with Article 2 of Protocol 1 to the ECHR. What triggered this decision was the discovery that religious culture and ethics classes, mandatory in primary and secondary schools, provided exclusively specific instruction in the guiding principles of the Muslim faith and its rites.
Blasphemous and Hurtful Art Funded by and Displayed on Ibiza
September 30, 2007, SpainThe art exhibition "Vamos a Ibiza" (Let's go to Ibiza) by artist Ivo Hendriks shows John Paul II having passive homosexual sex, and Jesus Christ on the way of the cross while a character – half man, half woman - holds a penis to his mouth. The exhibition was authorized and funded by the Ibiza local authorities, and it took place inside the former L'Hospitalet church.
Defaming Art Funded by and Displayed in Madrid
September 26, 2007, SpainMadrid City Hall and Madrid Community co-sponsored a comic exhibition which shows the Pope consuming pornography, having sex with nuns, and sheep, produced by Italian artist Federico Solmi. Madrid’s mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón is the chairman of the exhibition. The general coordinator, Armando Unsaín, said that "it might be possible that the content of the exhibition offended a minority, but no further consideration should be given to the complaints. We live in a democratic society, and the Church has not been unpolluted to deserve no criticisms."
Verbal Assult Reported in Hungary
September 14, 2007, HungaryThe Holy See reported one case of verbal assault in Hungary on 14 September 2007.
Anti-Christian Exhibition With Public Funding
September 13, 2007, SpainThe exhibit attacks monotheism, and blames it for all wars; extols the divine Elvis Presley as the new atheist god; and traces a parallel between totalitarianism (Communism, Nazism, etc) and its leaders (Stalin, Mao, Kim II Sung, Mussolini, Hitler) and the hierarchy of the Church.
Violence and Damages to Orthodox Church
August 20, 2007, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFour unidentified people allegedly broke into the Orthodox Church in a mixed settlement in Bugojno. They set a table and the priests’ robes on fire, and proceeded to desecrate the church. Two individuals were prosecuted for the latter event and sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment with a two-year suspended sentence. The Bugojno Municipal Assembly agreed to compensate the Church for the damage and installed video surveillance.
Desecration of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Békéscsaba
July 27, 2007, HungaryThe Romanian Orthodox church in Békéscsaba suffered an arson attack in the evening of July 24 by unknown people.
Orthodox Churches Attacked by Molotov Cocktails or Stoned
July 20, 2007, Bosnia and HerzegovinaOn July 20th, in Kozarac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Orthodox Church was stoned and the windows of the church were broken. In another incident on October 19th, a Serbian Orthodox church in Gjilan/Gnjilane was attacked with Molotov cocktails, but the interior of the church was not damaged.
Gay Parade Supporters and Participants Mock Christian Beliefs
June 30, 2007, SpainBefore and during the Gay Pride Parade Christianity was mocked by Spanish actors Pablo Puyol, Carlos Fuentes, Mariola Fuentes and Pepón Nieto who addressed the gay community encouraging them to "do as much as possible to gain eternal damnation", and "to got a step further on the way to hell". Participants wore bishops' outfits and carried anti-Christian signs.
Police Investigate Leaflet Advertising Church’s Easter Services
June 22, 2007, United KingdomChurch worker Julian Hurst, was handing out invitations for his church's Easter service. Police seized the literature after complaint by homosexual man that church should not be allowed to advertise.
Public Funds for Blasphemous Book
May 31, 2007, SpainThe regional governming authority of Extremadura funded with public funds the book „Sanctorum e In Breedin“ containing photographs displaying pornographic images together with Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, and other Catholic sacred symbols. St. Roque is shown having an erection while holding his dog; Archangel Gabriel's picture displays the angel in sexual climax; extrements are shown over the chalice in substitution of Holy Communion; Jesus Christ is depicted as a transsexual; San Juan de la Cruz is shown having oral sex; and so on.
Blasphemious and Hurtful Art Funded by and Displayed in Valencia
May 31, 2007, Spain"Art" in Valencia: Piece "Jaula de Canarios" (Canaries Cage) shows an image of God covered with birds excrement. Another piece shows nuns dancing with members of the military force; and another one displays Jesus and the Virgin Mary being "cooked" in a pan. Sacred images have been beheaded, and the original heads replaced with Disney's characters.
Traditional Patronal Festival Stripped of Original Christian Meaning
May 26, 2007, SpainRepresentatives of Esquerra Unida and ERPV at the Sueca City Hall, Valencia, decided to suppress the religious connotation of the traditional festival that honors the Virgin of Sales. The proposal seeks to strip it of any religious meaning disregarding its Catholic origins. The representatives decided to run the festival under a new dedication, the "Rice Festival".
Three Christians, Employees of a Christian Publishing, Tortured, Stabbed and Killed
April 18, 2007, TurkeyThree Christians tortured, stabbed, and killed in Turkey. Four of the five men detained, confessed having committed the crime for nationalist and religious reasons.
Bishop in Court for Criticing Homosexual Behaviour
April 15, 2007, BelgiumIn April 2007 André-Mutien Léonard, then the Roman Catholic bishop of Namur gave an interview in the weekly magazine Télé Moustique, where he was asked his opinion on homosexuality. In his answer he referred to Sigmund Freud and deduced that homosexuality was essentially psychological in nature. The court cleared the bishop - but the fact that he went through trial is of great concern.
Catholic Church Forced to Withdraw from Adoption
April 1, 2007, United KingdomNew gay rights law forces the Catholic Church to pull out of offering adoption services in the UK.
Church Attacked in Kosovo
March 30, 2007, KosovoIn Dean/Decane, Kosovo, the wall of one of the Serbian-Orthodox church’s most revered sites, a 14th-century monastery, was damaged by an anti-tank missile. On 4 May, the Kosovo police service said they had identified a suspect, but no arrest was made.
Community Metal Cross Broken and Dragged Away
March 30, 2007, Bosnia and HerzegovinaIn Prozor, Bosnia and Herzegovina, four people broke down a metal cross that belonged to the Catholic community from a nearby village, and dragged it a few hundred meters away. The four defendants signed a plea agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office in Mostar, admitting their guilt. Three defendants were sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with a probation period of one year, and one defendant got a sentence of three months’ imprisonment.
Regulations Barring Religious Schools from Teaching against Homosexuality
March 22, 2007, United KingdomRegulations Barring Religious Schools from Teaching Against Homosexuality Approved Sexual Orientation Regulations Pass House of Lords. Concerned Christians prayed outside of the Houses of Parliament.
Turkish-Origin Youth Gang Bullies Protestant Parish
March 21, 2007, GermanyA Turkish youth disturbed Protestant church services for weeks at a time by making noise in front of church windows in Oberstenfeld (Baden-Wurttemberg).
Catalog Containing Anti-Christian and Hurtful Images Funded by City
March 15, 2007, SpainThe City Hall of Leida issued with public funds a catalog in support of a cartoon exhibition showing the evolution of homosexuals groups over the time. The catalog contained pornographic drawings were mixed with Christians symbols; (an artwork of Nazario Luque Vera). The mayor of Leida, Xavier Sàez, was requested to apologize and to stop the further distribution of the catalog but denied any wrongdoing.
Orthodox Churches in Process of Rebuilding Vandalized and Robbed in Kosovo-Metohija
January 30, 2007, KosovoA roof surface of almost 50 square meters of lead roofing was stolen from the Serbian Orthodox Church consecrated to Our Lady in Prizren which is in process of rebuilding after the devastation of Albanian mass riots in 2004.
Religion Teacher Mobbed At Madrid High School
January 26, 2007, SpainFernando Perez Crespo, teacher of religion at Carlos III High School, filed a formal complaint for mobbing. For the last four years, the schedule for his class had not been respected by the school authorities, parents who had requested religious instruction discovered that their children had been enrolled in other courses instead of Perez Crespo's religion class. At times Mr. Perez Crespo was compelled to use the school bathrooms or the smoking room to for teaching.
Girl Banned From Wearing Cross at School
January 10, 2007, United KingdomA British schoolgirl has been barred from wearing a crucifix necklace in class, the Daily Mail reported.
Christian Prayers Replaced By Quiet Moment
January 1, 2007, United KingdomTotnes Town Council replaced Christian prayers at the start of its meeting with a moment of silence.
Overview of Anti-Christian Vandalism in 2006
December 31, 2006, FranceAcording to National Sources, 172 acts of vandalism against all religions have occured in France in 2006. A large number of those were perpetrated against Christian places of worship. Please find in the following an exemplary list of indicidents.
Repeated Attacks Against the Orthodox Church in Kosovo
December 31, 2006, KosovoChristian sites, ministres and believers have been targeted by various attacks in Kosovo during the year 2006. Here is a non-exhaustive list of these actions:
Scottish Registrars Blackmailed for Rejecting Same-Sex Unions
December 30, 2006, United KingdomThe Western Isles Council´s registrars have received hate mail and death threats because they refused, on moral grounds, to conduct civil partnership ceremonies. The registrars said that same sex unions would be conducted in fulfilment of the law, but no wedding-alike ceremony would be provided. Gay groups fired back indicating they would follow a human rights suit against the council to ensure gay couples on the Isles the same „rights“ as those elsewhere.
Madrid Restaurant Fined for Refusing to Host Gay Wedding Reception
December 29, 2006, SpainThe La Favorita restaurant in Madrid has been fined 12,000 € by the City Hall for refusing to serve a gay wedding party, according to the El Mundo newspaper. The council considers that the owners have committed a ‘serious infraction’ and is guilty of discrimination.
Christmas Mass Interrupted in Montpellier
December 25, 2006, FranceThe bishop of Montpellier, Mgr Thomazeau, was celebrating midnight Christmas Mass in his cathedral when he was interrupted by ten individuals who entered uttering insults, yelling, and manifesting in various ways their hostility to the Christian faith; some were naked to accentuate the provocation. The police had to intervene in order to drive them out. The mayor showed great indignation and the faithful were very shocked by such behavior.
Orthodox Priest Was Killed With His Family
December 2, 2006, RussiaThe priest Andrei Nikolaev, his wife and three children have died after their house was set on fire in the village Pryamukhino, Tver region. This was not the first time someone tried to disserve the family or the church. Several months before the accident, the priest informed police and asked for help and protection. He even addressed the media for help but nobody answered. The killer doused the house with gasoline and set on fire.
Church Targeted by Molotov Cocktails
November 4, 2006, TurkeyThe Odemis Love Protestant Church in Odemis, near Izmir, was attacked with Molotov cocktails. The church, where the pastor and his family lived, had been the target of stone-throwing and harassment in the months prior to the event.
Catholic School Vandalized in Pozuelo de Alarcon
October 31, 2006, SpainThe Catholic School Monte Tabor was vandalized just a few days before its inauguration in September 2006. Early in the morning, wearing gloves, four youths broke into the school and caused significant damage to the establishment, estimated in the amount of 20,000 Euro. Doors, windows, desks, and chairs were destroyed, and the walls painted with anti-Catholic expressions, as well as attacks to the PP, the PSOE political opponents.
Gay Association Demeans Bible in Ad
October 18, 2006, United KingdomGay Police Association places ad in The Independent with a photograph of a bible next to a pool of blood.
Tourism Office Suggests to “Avoid Religious Symbols in Holiday Apartments”
October 17, 2006, AustriaAccording to the reports of www.kath.net, the business manager of the Office of Tourism in the municipality of Schruns/Tschagguns in Southern Tyrol, Manuel Bitschnau, asked landlords of 300 holiday apartments to remove religious symbols. This was done in the course of a program of “improvement” in the tourism sector. The reason he gave: people of religions other than Christian could feel offended.
Official Seat of Ecumenical Patriarchate Attacked by Grenade
October 6, 2006, TurkeyThe official seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate suffered an attack in Istanbul on October 6th and was damaged by a grenade.
Creationism Debate comes with Defamation of Christians
October 2, 2006, GermanyWolfgang Baake, general secretary of Christian Media Association (Christlichen Medienverbundes KEP) Germany, calls the reporting and public discussion of evolution vs. intelligent design vs. creationism “defamation” of Christians.
(BBC) Internal Memo Admits Anti-Christian Bias
October 1, 2006, InternationalThe British Broadcasting Corporation has admitted to a marked bias against Christianity among the network’s executives and key anchors.
Blasphemous Theater Play “La Revelación” Performed in Different Spanish Theaters
September 30, 2006, SpainStage play “The Revelation” of author Leo Bassi ridicules the Christian faith, by portraying God as illogical and blood thirsty, believers as cruel, and the Church as power hungry.
Catholic Church Targeted by Government Representatives
September 18, 2006, SpainIn July 2005 the Spanish Socialist Youth political wing (JSE) has requested the government to appoint a commission to review the agreements between Spain and the Holy See. The JSE General Secretary and speaker, Herick Campos, emphasized the need to put the Catholic Church "in its place, without any privileges because the Catholic hierarchy has abused of its condition of majority to influence government affairs, specially in issues related to education and finance". This was supported by government leaders in 2006.
Paint Bomb Attack on Pope’s Birthplace
September 10, 2006, GermanyOne day before the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. in his hometown Marktl (Bavaria), unknown perpetrators threw two paint bombs unto the front of his birthplace at about 5 o’clock in the morning. The building had just been completely renovated. After the attack, the lower part of the facade had to be completely redone. The perpetrators were not found.
Birth Place of Pope Benedict XVI Vandalized
September 10, 2006, GermanyOn Sept 10th, unknown perperators vandalized the birth place of Josef Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, in Marktl in Germany, by throwing colour on the newly restaurated front walls.