“We are all aware that Jews and Muslims experience intolerance and discrimination. But so do Christians – even if they constitute a nominal majority here. I have the impression that journalists and policy-makers are often more anti-Christian than their fellow citizens. But they shape the mood of the country. What we observe is that Christians are increasingly being described as ‘homophobic,’ sexist, intolerant and unworldly.”

Christianity has been around what now is Europe since the first century, with some parts of the New Testament written to people in Greece and Rome. But a new report is warning that open hostility to Christianity across the continent is on the rise and intolerance is being paired with legislative power to attack and violate the religious rights of the faithful.

“There are signs that hostility towards free and open demonstrations of faith is growing. Christians are increasingly marginalized and are appearing more often in courts over matters related to faith. So I think that we are heading for a bloodless persecution,” Gudrun Kugler told Mercatornet about her organization’s newest report.

The report, called “Shadow Report on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe,” cites page after page of examples of attacks on Christians and Christianity across Europe.

Kugler, who works with an organization that watches for intolerance and discrimination, said the report found that European Christians are under attack for their freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and parental rights, are targeted by hate crimes, emblems representing Christianity are being destroyed and they are subjected to negative stereotyping in the media.

“I cannot but voice my concern at the increasing marginalization of religion, particularly of Christianity, that is taking place in some quarters,” warned Pope Benedict XVI late last year, “even in nations which place a great emphasis on tolerance.

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