Tag: Church

U.S. strengthens hate crimes laws to protect churches and religious institutions

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

church damage

U.S. President Donald Trump this month signed a bill into law increasing punishments for criminals who target churches or religiously affiliated organizations. The bill was introduced in response to a growing number of vandalism, bomb threats and other attacks on religious freedom in the U.S.

Existing U.S. law protects abortion clinics and other facilities frequently target by vandals.  The new law expands similar protections for churches. According to a news release from the White House, The Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2018 criminalizes the intentional obstruction of any person’s free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force against religious real property. It increases the penalty to three years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine for threats that lead to damage. Those offenses were misdemeanors with a maximum one year in jail before the bill was signed.

 

New York reverend to ask leniency for church vandals

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

vandals arrested

Two New York men are facing charges connected to the Aug. 19 vandalism of a Greek Orthodox Church building.

According to TexasGospe.org file stories, the vandals smashed a stained glass window, tore down a church sign and kicked over potted plants at Saints Anargyroi, Taxiarchis and Gerasimos Greek Orthodox Church. The vandalism was captured on surveillance video that was aired on News12 Long Island. Southold police say two suspects turned themselves in after the footage was aired.

The suspects, Wesley S. Brown, 21, of Westchester County, and Mitchell Mayer, 22, of Burlington, Vermont, face misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree criminal mischief.

A police spokesperson said the vandalism does not appear to be a hate crime directed at the church, but the result of two who were drunk and disorderly.

The Rev. Jerasimos Ballas told Newsday.com he plans to reach out to authorities to ask for leniency for the two men.

Texas man guilty of arson and criminal mischief in attack on Presbyterian church

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

mug shotA Fort Worth, Texas man is sentenced to 40 years in prison for the January arson of a church building.

According to CBS Local in the Dallas Fort Worth area, Thomas Britton went on a rampage at St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth causing nearly $800,000 in damage.  This week he was found guilty of arson and criminal mischief.

“This was not just criminal mischief. This was historic criminal mischief,” said prosecutor Vincent Giardino to the Fort Worth Business Press. “The police officers on the scene that morning, and even his own defense attorney, said they’d never seen anything like it. His goal was not just to damage this church, but to obliterate it. And he has no remorse for it.”

The trial begin Tuesday in before Judge Robb Catalano Tarrant County’s Criminal District 3.   Jurors deliberated for less than 10 minutes Thursday before reaching a guilty verdict.

Trial for accused church vandal to begin Tuesday in Texas

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment
mug shot
Thomas Britton (Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office )

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.

Statue in ND prayer garden destroyed, motive for attack unknown

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

2018-08-04 Statue damaged

FARGO – A congregation in Fargo, North Dakota is praying for the vandal or vandals who destroyed a statue on church property.  Someone this week destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.  The damage was discovered on Aug 1.

The statue stood in a prayer garden at the church according to a report from KVRR. It was a memorial erected by a parishioner about two years ago in memory of her husband, according to WDAY television.

Father Raymond Courtright told KFGO television his parish community views what happened to the statue as an opportunity for prayer and forgiveness.

Police have not determined a motive for the crime. Anyone with information about the criminal or criminals responsible for the vandalism is asked to call the Fargo Police Department at 701-235-4493. Those with information may also text a tip to 701-730-8888, or call our the department’s tip line at 701-241-5777.