Posted on 05/03/2005 1:00:58 PM PDT by KidGlock
Pastor, Wife Charged With Setting Fire to Their Own Church The Associated Press
Published: May 3, 2005
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (AP) - A pastor and his wife have been charged with arson in a fire that gutted their church last week, authorities said Tuesday. The Monday arrests of The Rev. Harold Hunter and Patricia Hunter came just one day after the pastor gave a sermon in which he said he prayed for the "sick, sadistic" person who burned down the church. No one was hurt in the blaze.
Police would not discuss a possible motive, but said they had suspected that Thursday's fire and three earlier acts of vandalism at the 64-year-old Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church were an inside job.
"We found some gas that was located on the pastor's shoes and we also found clothing in the residence that had gasoline on it," said Summerville Police Capt. Craig Legates.
Hunter, 55, who had been pastor for three years, had dreams of building a new church but no solid plans, said Ruthmae Whitney, a member of the church for 40 years.
During services Sunday, which were held at another church, Hunter had urged parishioners not to talk to the police, saying authorities were looking for suspects and some church members were "spreading gossip" and "telling lies."
Summerville is about 25 miles northwest of Charleston.
Holy Snikes, Batman, that's my hometown. I'll have to call the folks tonight and see what they know about this.
Wonder if Clinton will make a statement.
This is not your white, suburban Republican right wing mega-church, despite what the liberal chat rooms are saying about this.
I wonder if this "Pastor" had claimed it was racist white Republicans who burned it down...
It seems most of the "hate crimes" committed today are self-inflicted.
I think the term would be "holy smoke" in this case.....
Its a common thing. That's why we Catholics insist on brick churches, so the bad priests can't burn them down. ;o)
What is the predominant race of the parishoners? Is this a "black church" burning? Are there any racial overtones? Does Billy C remember this?
A fake hate crime? Never!
Truly an old fashioned fire and brimstone preacher.
Bill Clinton just made a statement that he remembers this church being burned when he was a little boy growing up in Hope, Arkansas.
He's lucky that he didn't pull a Richard Pryor stunt.
I thought Klintoon was gonna talk about this black church burning at his 'big announcement' on ABC this morning. </sarcasm>
You beat me to it.
"He's lucky that he didn't pull a Richard Pryor stunt."
Reminds me of an old joke:
Richard Pryor and Michael Jackson are forming a new charity: The Ignited Negro College Fund. "Because a mind is a terrible thing to baste."
If you ask me, it's bad strategery for a preacher to burn anything. He might be misunderestimating the wrath of the Almighty, who might decide to send him someplace where they keep the homes fires burning.
Correct. This is the type of church the Right Reverend John Kerry would have preached in.....in the month leading up to election day, that is.
LOL.
LOL. At least that'll be ONE church burning he actually does remember.
It's enough to make you want to DO SOMETHING, like spray-painting and vandalizing your own car, burning down your own church, or making a false rape accusation.
For without victimhood, you'd have to be RESPONSIBLE for who you are.
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