Arson suspected at six St. Louis torched churches

“Three major arsons per week at religious institutions still sounds like a huge number, and it is,” The Post’s Christopher Ingraham wrote. “But in part, that’s simply a function of the number of religious congregations in the U.S. — roughly 350,000 of them, according to an estimate by the Hartford Institute for Religious Research, the research arm of the Hartford Seminary.”

The NFPA’s numbers don’t classify historically black churches separately, nor do they speak to whether intentional fires are hate crimes or not.

The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish organization that condemned the summer’s church fires across the South, spoke out Monday about the recent St. Louis cases.

“While no racial motive has yet been established, the fear and intimidation in the African-American community is substantial and must be validated,” the league said in a statement, according to the Religion News Service.

Authorities have not yet identified any suspects, but St. Louis Fire Capt. Garon Mosby told the Associated Press the possibility that it’s a hate crime — for religious or racial reasons — “is part of the dynamic” of the investigation.

The St. Louis Regional Crime Stoppers along with the ATF have announced a $2,000 award for information leading to the culprit’s arrest.

New Northside’s Rev. Rodrick Burton said he has visited each church that was affected, though, he said, he’s disappointed that churches throughout the community have not come together.

“People should be standing up and saying, ‘Hey I’m with you,’” he told The Post. “I’ve been surprised at the apathetic response. To me, it’s very telling, very disappointing.

“We haven’t learned from Ferguson — about rallying around and supporting each other when there’s a crisis. Fires are being lit at churches. It doesn’t take much to say, ‘We’re with you.’”

Triggs agrees the church community needs to unite.

“I don’t want people to become angry, hostile or lose our faith over this,” he said. “Let’s pray together. Let’s stand together. Let’s fight this battle together.”

Article Appeared @https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/10/20/the-arsonist-hes-not-my-enemy-st-louis-pastor-says-after-6-area-churches-are-torched/

 

 

 

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