wfn.org | Report given on church burnings

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (151
notes).

Note 150 by UMNS on June 11, 1997 at 16:01 Eastern (3444 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally                    338(10-31-71B){150}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             June 11, 1997

Government task force reports
on investigation of church burnings

                 by United Methodist News Service

     On the first anniversary of the creation of a National Church
Arson Task Force, its co-chairman reported that 429 incidents of
arson, bombing and attempted bombings at churches had been
investigated and nearly 200 arrests had been made.
     "While we have made significant progress, the work of the
task force is far from over," Assistant Treasury Secretary James
Johnson told a June 10 news conference in Washington.
     "Fires at houses of worship continue.  Arrests continue to be
made. And defendants continue to be prosecuted and convicted,"
Johnson said.
     However, he reported that the number of fires that ravaged
churches attended by both blacks and whites had "fallen
dramatically" since President Clinton established the task force
in June 1996.
     The group, which coordinates the efforts of federal, state
and local law enforcement, includes officials from the Justice
Department, the Treasury, the Department of Housing and Urban
Development and other agencies.
     The task force's report said there was no evidence of a
nationwide conspiracy and that motives ranged from racial hatred
to vandalism to revenge.
     This year investigators opened 82 investigations into arsons,
bombings or attempted bombings.  Nineteen involved predominantly
black churches and 63 involved other houses of worship.
     In 1996 there were 198 incidents involving 117 black churches
and 181 other houses of worship.
     Of the 199 people arrested, 160 were white, 34 black and five
Hispanic.  Eighty-three were juveniles.  Of the 81 suspects
arrested for arsons at black churches, 55 were white, 25 black,
and one Hispanic.
     "Many of the fires were committed, we believe, by individuals
acting alone," Johnson said.  "We have not seen hard evidence that
would support the theory that there is a nationwide conspiracy
behind these fires."
     The report notes that 25 houses of worship have been rebuilt
and another 65 are under construction as a result of joint efforts
of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the
National Council of Churches (NCC), the Congress of National Black
Churches, Habitat for Humanity and other groups.
     The news conference here came at the beginning of a three-day
convocation of pastors of burned churches and denominational
leaders from across the country.
     Following the initial emphasis on rebuilding, the NCC is now
taking the lead in helping communities address issues of racial
justice. The second-phase plan, known as the National Religious
Partnership for Racial Justice" calls for cooperation on public
advocacy issues.  The stated goal of the partnership calls for
creating communities "where burning any house of worship is
intolerable and universally condemned."
     United Methodists wishing to make a contribution to help
rebuild the burned churches may send a gift through their local
church, designated for "Church Burnings," Advance No. 982700-1 
                              #  #  #   
     
     

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