All cases
Vicar Beaten By Youth in ‘Faith Hate’ Attack
May 30, 2008, United KingdomA parish priest was beaten up by three youths who hurled religious abuse during the attack. The assault took place in the churchyard of St Matthew’s Church in Bethnal Green, East London. Reverend Kevin Scully was left with two black eyes and a cut nose, and only escaped more serious injury because a member of the public intervened.
Sacrilegious Parade Takes Places in Anticipation of Corpus Christi Procession
May 28, 2008, SpainThe Toledo City Hall council representative in charge of community events, Carmen Jiménez Martín, authorized a profane parade the day before of the traditional and highly celebrated Corpus Christi procession. The theater company Morboria used grotesque characters and dressed them in religious gowns; women dressed as prostitutes were marching next to other participants dressed as saints; and a puppet represented the Virgin Mary. Sacred symbols were part of the profane decoration.
Formal Complaint for Government Participation in Catholic Funeral of Former President
May 20, 2008, SpainRepresentatives of the United Left (Izquierda Unida Republicana) of Asturias released a public announcement where they condemned the participation of civil servants in the funeral in Madrid by „not being able to distinguish public functions from private life.“ They requested that a laity protocol be applied in the future.
Atheist Complaint Against Catholic Service Announcements at Barajas Airport
May 20, 2008, SpainThe International Atheist Federation complained to President Rodriguez Zapatero requesting the immediate ending of the announcement of Roman Catholic services at Barajas airport, in Madrid.
Education Minister's Coming Guidelines May Ban Students from Wearing Crucifixes
May 16, 2008, IrelandEducation Minister Caitriona Ruane, a member of the Sinn Fein Party, is importing school uniform policies from London which led to schools being able to ban students from wearing crucifixes and Sikh religious bangles.
Christian Youth Festival violently disturbed by Anti-Christian Forces
May 4, 2008, GermanyThe Christian Youth Festival “Christival” experienced tremendous opposition on site. 15.000 peaceful youth disturb by socalled “anti-sexistic alliance” under the name of “No Christival” shouting slogans such as “Masturbation instead of Evangelization” or “Never again Jesus”.
Socialist Party Initiative Aims to Change The Name of Pius XII Street in Sevilla
April 25, 2008, SpainThe City Hall of Sevilla, run by the PSOE socialist party, has announced its intention to change the names of some streets associated with Franco and his regime. The proposal is a consequence of the Historical Memory Law that allows the removal of names and signs related to Franco's times. One of them is now considered to be Pope Pius XII and a street named after him. In the PSOE words, the Pope is a "francoist character", well-known as the "Nazi Pope".
BBC Screens Anti-Christian Series
April 24, 2008, United KingdomEastEnders, a BBC soap opera based on the life of Lucas Aaron Johnson, a pastor played by Don Giler, portrays Johnson as a twisted Christian preacher with strong religious convictions committing terrible crimes. The executive producer Diederick Santer said about the character: "Lucas is doing the Lord's work".
Pro-Life Politician Pelted with Bottles and Eggs
April 2, 2008, ItalyAn Italian pro-life politician was pelted with eggs and bottles during an April 2 campaign appearance in Bologna. At least 15 people were injured.
Church Service Stormed, Pastor Beaten
April 2, 2008, RussiaPentecostal service stormed by perpetrators, pastor beaten, parishioners threatened with pistols held to their heads.
Socialist Pupils Association Encourages Members to Vandalize Churches
March 20, 2008, AustriaIn a newsletter Austrian "Aktion Kritischer Schüler" (Socialist Pupils Association) encourages members to take the occasion of the international day against racism (March 21st) to vandalize churches.
Christian Youth Festival in Germany Under Attack
March 19, 2008, GermanyJanuary/March 2008: “Christival” – a large Christian youth festival is protested by “anti-sexistic forces” due to its “conservative” contents such as its opositon to pre-marital sex and abortion. Organisers currently discuss with police how to protect participants and the festival.
University Bans Ethics Seminar Due to Christian Contents
March 18, 2008, GermanyThe Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) in Munich withdraws recognition from "Management Ethics on a Christian Foundation" seminar because of its Christian content. It is said to violate “political correctness” and to have too little reference to the curriculum of business and administration ethics.
Anglican Priest Beaten up in 'Faith Hate' Incident
March 17, 2008, United KingdomAnglican priest, Canon Michael Ainsworth, beaten up and insulted in 'faith hate' incident in his own churchyard by Asian youths.
Catholic Bishop Before Parliament for Insisting on Crucifixes in Every Classroom and Truly Catholic Sex-Ed
March 14, 2008, United KingdomThe Catholic Bishop of Lancaster UK today gave a spirited response to accusations by secularist MPs in a Commons Committee who accused him of trying to establish religious "fundamentalism" in his schools. Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue told the Committee that schools in his diocese should see it as their prime duty to teach the Catholic faith and to evangelise and that this constituted neither "proselytism" nor "fundamentalism".
Spanish Officials’ Discourse Shows Increasing Hostility Against Christians
February 29, 2008, SpainThe Observatory for the Freedom of Religion and Conscience (OLRC) issued a report quoting “100 reasons to be alert” about the attacks against Christianity by Spanish officials. The author affirms that the increasing hostility against Christians aims to eliminate religious expressions from the public square.
Police Tell Christians: "You can’t Preach here, this is a Muslim Area"
February 28, 2008, United KingdomA police community support officer (PCSO) told two church workers in Birmingham, “You can’t preach here, this is a Muslim area”. The incident happened as Arthur Cunningham and Joseph Abraham handed out Christian tracts on Alum Rock Road.
Christian Magistrate Loses Conscientious Objection Appeal
February 26, 2008, United KingdomA Christian magistrate lost his second and final appeal in a suit in which he claimed his employer had discriminated against him because of his religious conviction that adoptive children ought not to be placed with homosexuals.
Anglican Bishop Fined £47,345 and Sent to "Re-Education" in Gay Employment Case
February 12, 2008, United KingdomThe Anglican bishop of Hereford has been ordered by a court to undergo "equal opportunities training" and pay a fine of £47,345.00, the equivalent of about Euro 63,540.00, for refusing to hire an active homosexual for a position of trust with young people. The ruling also stated that Hereford diocese staff "involved in recruitment should receive equal opportunities training". "The respondents discriminated against the claimant on the grounds of sexual orientation," said the ruling from the Cardiff Employment Tribunal.
Council of Devon Revokes Civil Ceremonies License of Christian Earl Due to Refusal to Host Gay Ceremonies
February 7, 2008, United KingdomAs a result of refusing by the Earl of Devon to allow a homosexual couple to hold a civil partnership ceremony, the local Council revoked the licence for hosting all civil ceremonies in the Castle. The Earl of Devon is a devout Christian, who lives with his family in the event location at stake in Powderham Castle.