All cases
Journalist "Jokes" about imprisoning Priests
June 6, 2017, RomaniaThe Romanian journalist Ovidiu Eftimie has stated that he “yearns for the years of communist persecution, where the priest were taken to the canal and stranded in jail” (“tânjește după anii de prigoană comunistă, în care preoții erau duși la canal și înfundau pușcăriile”). He has also stated that he would love to become a new Vişinescu and punch the church leaders. The media has characterized these statements as a joke.
Berlin's Left-Wing Politicians Opposed Cross on City Palace
May 20, 2017, GermanyThe Greens and the Left party objected to plans to put a cross on top of the rebuilt Stadtschloss, the future site of the Humboldt Forum, saying the plan endangers the "open cultural dialogue" intended for the site. The Humboldt Forum is an art and culture museum project.
News Article Used Pro-Life Rally Picture to Illustrate "Religious Extremism"
May 11, 2017, GermanyNews and email website GMX published an article by journalist Mathias Heim about a recently-published study correlating certain head trauma with religious "fundamentalism." Although the article begins with “The problem of the religious fundamentalists has been a topic in science even prior to IS-Terror”, and never mentions Christians or Christianity, the photograph accompanying the article, with the headline “Injuries in the brain can lead to religious extremism”, depicts a peaceful Christian pro-life demonstration. This clearly negatively stereotypes Christian pro-life activists as "extremists".
Croatian Theatre Festival Included Play with Jesus Christ Rape Scene
April 22, 2017, CroatiaA theater festival in Split was to include a controversial play which depicts Jesus Christ raping a Muslim woman wearing a hijab. This drew strong condemnation from Croatia's Catholic Church.
Blasphemous Attack against Church on Maundy Thursday
April 14, 2017, FranceDuring Maundy Thursday a young woman enter the Saint-Bruno Church, Bordeaux France, and pulled down her trousers and showed her stomach where she had painted a word in the color red. She then proceeded to proudly post the pictures of this blasphemous attack on her Facebook profile.
Social Worker Discouraged Parents from Christening Son
April 13, 2017, United KingdomA social worker from Kent met with parents who were considering placing their child for adoption and told them the chances of their son being adopted would be hindered if he were “christened into the Christian faith,” after they expressed their wish to have their son baptized.
Demolition of Cross Recommended by Organization in Castellón
April 8, 2017, SpainThe Association of Friends of Ribalta have recommended demolishing the cross in the Ribalta Park as they say that it is a fascist symbol and thus does not comply with the law of historical memory. A petition against the Association of Friends of Ribalta’s claim is circulating. It is not the first time that the cross's existence has been up for debate. In 1979, there was a political vote on the issue and the cross was allowed to remain standing.
Catalan Club Received Complaints for Offensive Show
April 7, 2017, SpainA club in Barcelona received several complaints after its Good Friday show included an actor dressed as Jesus dancing with a cross. Adults who attended the show were offended and started a petition to ensure that the show was not repeated. They called the show “a mockery to the religion of Christianity to its believers and what it really means to celebrate Easter” (“una burla hacia la religión cristiana, hacia sus creyentes ya lo que realmente significa la celebración de Semana Santa”).
Journalist Calls Bishop Sexist and Homophobic
March 27, 2017, SpainSpanish Journalist Fernando Pérez Monguió published a blog post about the Bishop of Cordoba, Demetrio Fernández, in which he called him "a fanatic and a dangerously sexist and homophobic prelate." He accused the Bishop of having attacked the honor and dignity of homosexuals and women and demanded an apology. Among the writer's complaints were the Bishop's remarks against abortion, homosexuality, and gender ideology -- each of which are consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church.
Columnist Calls Immigration Minister's Crucifix Necklace a Symbol of Xenophobia
March 6, 2017, NorwaySven Egil Omdal, a veteran journalist and editor who currently works as a commentator for newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad, noted that Sylvi Listhaug, Norway’s government minister in charge of immigration and asylum issues, had been wearing a cross necklace much more often than in the past. “Am I claiming that she uses the cross as a political statement to appeal to that strange group who thinks that fear of foreigners is a Christian virtue?” Omdal queried on social media. “Yes, that’s basically what I’m doing.”
Spanish Councilman Officiated Wedding Dressed as a Priest
March 3, 2017, SpainCouncilman Javier Botella of Levatemos El Puerto officiated at a wedding of his childhood friends in a priest costume. He was wearing an F.C. Barcelona scarf as a stole and a black cassock with golden edges. He posted a picture of himself and the newly married couple on Facebook and was immediately criticized for ridiculing the Church and the sacrament of marriage in his public capacity.
National Theatre's School Performances use Statue of Virgin Mary as Symbol of Extremism
February 9, 2017, SlovakiaThe Slovak National Theatre visited schools with a performance about the dangers of extremism, depicting the true story of a Roma family being attacked by skinheads in 2009. Without any explanation, the stage setting includes a statue of the Virgin Mary in front of a swastika symbol. A complaint has been filed on the grounds that this has insulted and defamed the Catholic Church by implying that the Church was somehow complicit in the crime.
Hindu UKIP Member Racially Harassed for Calling Britain a "Christian Country"
December 7, 2016, United KingdomAnish Patel, a UKIP member and practising Hindu took to Twitter with a message defending Britain’s Christian identity. In response, Twitter users responded with racist epithets.
Christian Couple Blocked from Adopting Foster Children
November 9, 2016, United KingdomA Christian couple has been blocked from adopting their foster children, after expressing views based on their belief that children should have a mother and a father wherever possible.
Public Art Exhibition Containing Sacreligious Images Cost Madrid 60,000 Euros
October 23, 2016, SpainThe exhibition, paid for by taxpayers and with the approval of the mayor, contains violent and pornographic images including a painting depicting a cardinal raping a woman on the altar of a church.
German Newspaper: Orlando Shooter Could Just as Well Have Been Christian
June 16, 2016, GermanyGerman newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung a published commentary on the Orlando shooting in which it said the crime had nothing to do with Islam and everything to do with “homophobia” and that the shooter could just as well have been an Evangelical Christian.
Magistrate Removed from Office, Suspended from NHS Trust, for Christian Belief in Traditional Family
March 29, 2016, United KingdomA Christian magistrate Richard Page has been removed from office by the Lord Chancellor after sharing his personal conviction in a media interview that there is not enough evidence to show that placing children in the care of same-sex couples is in their best interest.
Activists Attack Church in Lérida
March 7, 2016, SpainThe youth organization Arran has taken responsibility for a graffiti attack against a church in the Catalonia region. The wall outside the church was painted lilac and the words "Contra los ataques de la Iglesia. Juntos somos más fuertes" ("Against the attacks of the the Church. Together we are stronger.")
Mallorca Gay Men's Chorus Dress as Nuns
January 18, 2016, SpainMallorca Gay Men's Chorus dressed as nuns in a concert for the celebration of St. Sebastian, patron saint of Palma de Mallorca.
Controversial Magazine Charlie Hebdo Depicts God as Kalashnikov-Carrying Killer
January 6, 2016, FranceThe magazine's cover for the anniversary edition commemorating the attacks one year ago depicts an angry, violent God and contains the headline (translated): "One year later, the assassin is still on the run".