Church Bells Ring to Protest Arsons, Bombings

Church bells here and across the nation rang for five minutes Wednesday night to denounce the recent rash of church bombings and burnings and affirm the right to worship without fear.

More than 325 parishioners and church elders from more than 10 Orange County churches gathered for a ringing of hand-held bells followed by a procession and prayer service at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

Minister Bob Rohdenburg of La Mirada United Methodist Church told the crowd that strengthening their faith is the best way to counteract such attacks.

“You can destroy our buildings, but you cannot destroy the essence of the church,” Rohdenburg said to applause.

The ceremony was held in conjunction with dozens of other churches across the nation, including some that have been targeted in recent attacks.

In all, 350 churches representing 25 denominations and 400,000 families across the country were expected to take part in the services, officials said.

Fires of suspicious origin have hit more than 40 black churches in the South in the last 18 months, leading to fears the attacks are racially motivated. Arsons at white churches are also on the rise.

Parishioner Jeanette Carey of Orangethorpe United Methodist Church in Fullerton said church attacks strike at the heart of the Christian community, regardless of the congregation’s ethnic makeup.

“I don’t feel it’s a black issue; it’s a religious issue for every one of us,” Carey said.

President Clinton this month signed into law a bill strengthening the federal government’s ability to prosecute church attacks and doubling to 20 years the federal prison sentence for them.

Thursday’s prayer service was organized by two groups: the Pacific Institute of Community Organizing, a nationwide network of 22 associations that seek to organize local communities, and the Orange County Congregation Community Organization, a local network for religious communities.

Msgr. Jaime Soto, vicar to the Latino community for the Diocese of Orange, said the arsonists fear the strength of churches.

“When we bring together and we speak with a moral voice on social issues, we can become a threat for some in our society,” Soto said. “I hope this will serve as a reminder to all of us that we cannot shirk our moral obligations to fight this kind of activity.”

Arson isn’t the only worry, church leaders said Wednesday. All violence and the glorification of violence must be fought.

“We love violence, don’t we, except when it hits home,” said the Rev. Steve Mather of First Presbyterian Church of Anaheim, noting the success of violent action movies such as “Independence Day.”

The point was later underscored by a man who said his brother was killed outside Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, and asked churchgoers with information about the slaying to come forward.

Parishioners, who said a gang shooting in Santa Ana is more likely than a church burning, agreed.

“Talking about all violence, this is a good beginning,” said Celeste Trinida of Santa Ana.