Category: News affecting the Church

Prosecutors in Texas say a man on trial this week is the criminal who vandalized, then tried to burn down a church building in Fort Worth.

The main building of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church received heavy damage in January.  Multiple windows, walls, art, educational supplies, toys, books and more were destroyed, according to a Go Fund Me page set up to help the congregation. Surveillance video of the arsonist was released through local media.  A citizen recognized Thomas Britton, 55, a homeless man, as the man in the video.   The Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper reports Britton had a black, tarry substance on his face and hands.  He claimed it was because he had been wildcatting on an oil rig. He was charged and indicted for criminal mischief over $300,000.

A motive for the criminal act has not been announced by authorities.

Testimony in Britton’s trial is set to begin Tuesday.

According to jail records, Britton has been held in the Tarrant county jail without bond since his arrest.

Surveillance video captured the moment a vandal threw a large piece of concrete through the front door of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Sudbury, ON.

Video from the July 5 attack was posted to the church’s facebook page with the caption, “love thy neighbor.”

Northern Life reported Father Peter Bodnar of St. Mary’s church recognized the man as someone who frequents the area, but Fr. Bodnar does not know the man’s name.

No motive for the criminal act is known. Anyone with information about the man’s identity is asked to call Greater Sudbury Police Services at 705-675-9171.