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AZ Sectarian Arsonist gets 36.5 years in prison for burning ECUSA Church

The_RivThe_Riv Shipmate
in Hell
Apparently this poor lout served as his own attorney and cited the Bible in his defense, so not the brightest of bulbs to begin with, but

https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/01/08/arsonist-accused-of-hate-crimes-sentenced-for-fire-that-destroyed-arizona-episcopal-church/

Maybe his focus should have been on Prison Ministry. It is now, FWIW.

Comments

  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    A hefty sentence - is there likely to be an appeal?

    The Bishop's message to her diocese is a good and positive one.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Bishops Finger wrote: »
    A hefty sentence - is there likely to be an appeal?
    There is certainly a chance of appeal; there is always a right to an appeal. Whether there will be an appeal, whether issues were adequately preserved for appeal and whether an appeal will be successful are different questions.


  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    Thanks!
  • Martin54Martin54 Suspended
    edited January 10
    Bishops Finger wrote: »
    A hefty sentence - is there likely to be an appeal?

    The Bishop's message to her diocese is a good and positive one.

    A righteous sentence. He'll serve 31.025 years. Come out when he's 91. He won't be committing any more deluded fanatic terrorist attacks.
  • AmosAmos Shipmate
    The_Riv wrote: »
    Apparently this poor lout served as his own attorney and cited the Bible in his defense, so not the brightest of bulbs to begin with, but

    https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/01/08/arsonist-accused-of-hate-crimes-sentenced-for-fire-that-destroyed-arizona-episcopal-church/

    Maybe his focus should have been on Prison Ministry. It is now, FWIW.

    Prison chaplaincy is, or should be, an important ministry. This guy is the last person one would like to see involved in it.
  • The_RivThe_Riv Shipmate
    Oh, I mostly meant it ironically. He could have served prisoners. Now he'll be served as one.

    Brought back terrible memories of abortion clinic shootings and the claims of divine license for them. I'd love to think that as a species we'd outgrow religiously inspired and/or justified violence, but I don't expect we ever will.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited January 10
    The_Riv wrote: »
    Oh, I mostly meant it ironically. He could have served prisoners. Now he'll be served as one.
    <snip>

    Yes, that's how I read it. The prison chaplain who gets to minister to him will have his work cut out, though...

  • Martin54Martin54 Suspended
    The_Riv wrote: »
    Oh, I mostly meant it ironically. He could have served prisoners. Now he'll be served as one.

    Brought back terrible memories of abortion clinic shootings and the claims of divine license for them. I'd love to think that as a species we'd outgrow religiously inspired and/or justified violence, but I don't expect we ever will.

    Why would we? How could we?
  • HugalHugal Shipmate
    Martin54 wrote: »
    The_Riv wrote: »
    Oh, I mostly meant it ironically. He could have served prisoners. Now he'll be served as one.

    Brought back terrible memories of abortion clinic shootings and the claims of divine license for them. I'd love to think that as a species we'd outgrow religiously inspired and/or justified violence, but I don't expect we ever will.

    Why would we? How could we?

    Because the belief system is an excuse not a reason. People use beliefs to inspire violence. It is people who do it. Jesus encouraged, love forgiveness and lack of judgment. Just because people who claim to believe in him don’t follow that doesn’t mean it the fault of the belief system. They could find something else to use. There is much violence in Communist countries. They don’t have a religious belief.
  • Martin54Martin54 Suspended
    Hugal wrote: »
    Martin54 wrote: »
    The_Riv wrote: »
    Oh, I mostly meant it ironically. He could have served prisoners. Now he'll be served as one.

    Brought back terrible memories of abortion clinic shootings and the claims of divine license for them. I'd love to think that as a species we'd outgrow religiously inspired and/or justified violence, but I don't expect we ever will.

    Why would we? How could we?

    Because the belief system is an excuse not a reason. People use beliefs to inspire violence. It is people who do it. Jesus encouraged, love forgiveness and lack of judgment. Just because people who claim to believe in him don’t follow that doesn’t mean it the fault of the belief system. They could find something else to use. There is much violence in Communist countries. They don’t have a religious belief.

    Uh huh. Belief, believing is the problem. It is intrinsic to having a brain and being a social organism (the two tend to go together). The only Communist countries I know of are China, Vietnam, Laos, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and of course sunny Cuba. Like all states they have the monopoly of violence but are more restrictive in development of belief than pluralist states. None of them is known for random belief inspired violence. You need lone wolves and mobs for that. We have those. Communism is no less a belief system than religion. Religion is no more. Believing is how we get through the day.
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