Congress OKs Stiff Penalties in Church Fires

Reflecting lawmakers’ distress over the recent rash of church arsons--many targeting black churches in the South--Congress sent President Clinton legislation Thursday that would stiffen penalties and expand federal prosecutions of such attacks.

The House on Thursday accepted by voice vote Senate legislation approved 98 to 0 on Wednesday.

The bill would expand the federal law against church arsons--now limited to those committed for reasons of religious animosity--to those that are burned because of racial or ethnic animosity.

It also would double maximum prison terms to 20 years for anyone convicted of church arson and increase the statute of limitations for prosecution from five years to seven. It also proposes more funds for federal law enforcement agencies, designed to help them train local authorities in investigating suspected arson at churches.

The bill authorizes $10 million in federal loan guarantees for banks financing reconstruction of arson-gutted, underinsured churches.

In an odd twist, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the issue after the bill passed. Assistant Atty. Gen. Deval Patrick said U.S. officials have probed 145 suspicious fires or acts of desecration since 1995 began. Although predominantly white churches outnumber black churches, more than half of the fires were at black churches.