Christian Persecution Increasing in the U.S.: Churches Across the Country Attacked, Burned to the Ground; Statue of Jesus Beheaded
(Editor’s note: here’s our article on the rash of church burnings and vandalism across the U.S. last week)
By Tony Perkins. It looked like something out of a 2015 news report—a picture from ISIS, maybe, torching its way through Mosul. But the charred pews and collapsed roof were not the work of Islamic terrorists, but America’s own.
Over the weekend, the rioters, the same ones who wanted us to believe their cause is justice, came for our churches—using gasoline, lighters, gallons of paint, and vans to drive their message of destruction and chaos through the heart of America’s faithful.
It took more than 50 firefighters to put out the mountain of flames at San Gabriel Church, which—by Saturday night—was nothing but a rickety frame of smoldering ash. . .
Laughing about it later with police, the 23-year-old arsonist said he was on a “mission.” Turns out, it was a mission several radicals shared, as a wave of destruction hit as many as five more churches in 48 hours.
In New York City, the mobs made bonfires out of two Virgin Mary statues, with words like “IDOL” scrawled in ugly black paint down others. Tuesday, even a Jesus sculpture was decapitated. (Read more from “Churches Across the Country Attacked” HERE)
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Florida Church’s Statue of Jesus Beheaded, Similar Attacks Occur Across U.S.
By Fox News. A statue of Jesus Christ was decapitated and knocked off a pedestal at a Catholic church in Florida, another in a string of similar incidents nationwide.
The Rev. Edivaldo da Silva, a parish priest of three years at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Southwest Miami-Dade, discovered the desecrated depiction of Christ July 15. Police are now investigating.
“This incident has saddened the parish community,” Good Shepherd said in a statement. “It is too soon to arrive to any conclusion, but we have seen other churches vandalized around the country. We totally ‘condemn’ this action. We invite our community to pray for peace.” . . .
In a separate incident, a Catholic congregation in Ocala, several hours north of Miami, was targeted Saturday morning while preparing for Mass. Steven Anthony Shields, 24, is accused of slamming his vehicle into the church before setting it on fire. He was arrested and faces several charges, including attempted murder. Police said Shields told them he was on a mission and was opposed to the Catholic Church.
In another act of violence, the pastor of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Chattanooga, Tenn., found a statue of Mary decapitated on Saturday and they have not located the statue’s head, Catholic News Agency reports. (Read more from “Florida Church’s Statue of Jesus Beheaded, Similar Attacks Occur Across U.S.” HERE)
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Arrest Made in Fire at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ocala
By Ocala Star Banner. Marion County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a Dunnellon man and accused him of setting a fire Saturday morning inside Queen of Peace Catholic Church. The blaze caused significant damage but no one was injured.
In an interview with sheriff’s Detective John Lightle, suspect Steven Anthony Shields said he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and is not taking his medication.
Shields said that what he did was “awesome,” and he smiled and laughed while he was questioned at the Sheriff’s Office, according to an arrest affidavit. Referring to himself as the “king” and saying he was on a “mission,” Shields told the detective he has problems with the Catholic Church and made reference to several Bible passages, including the Book of Revelation.
The detective said Shields reeked of gasoline and admitted setting the church foyer on fire. (Read more from “Arrest Made in Fire at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ocala” HERE)
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