Weekly Terrorism Spotlight

Volume 1, Issue 1 (March 17)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Federal arrest made in mosque bombing

Mosque firebombing draws condemnation from Christian Action Network president Martin Mawyer

Federal prosecutors in Nashville, Tenn., charged three men with firebombing a small storefront mosque in February.

The three are noted members of Christian Identity, a religious movement, according to investigators certifying a federal affidavit against Eric Ian Baker, 32, Michael Corey Golden, 23 and Jonathan Edward Stone, 19.

Christian Action Network president Martin Mawyer said no Christian could rightfully endorse such actions, and he is outraged that an accused act of terrorism might have been perpetrated in the name of Christianity.

The federal affidavit stated Stone and Baker admitted to investigators they held their membership in the Christian Identity movement with pride.

Stone prided himself with receiving two stripes, a sort of ranking award, for his involvement, awarded by Baker, a leader of the movement, Investigators said.

“Stone admitted to special agents he is a member of the Christian Identity movement - stripes or promotions are earned for acts of violence against enemies,” Investigators stated in the affidavit.

Mawyer said while his focus remains on the much larger threat of Islamic terrorism in America, news of a case where apparently terrorists call themselves Christians and carried out a violent act causes him great concern.

“Anger, is a better word for it – anger,” he said. “We might expect terrorism from places of the world where war and revenge have been deeply ingrained into society – even in the religion.

“But if someone committed an act of violence, of possible harm to others – and definitely destructive of property, like this, in the name of my lord, my Jesus, that’s an absolute outrage to me,” he added.

“As far as my feelings are concerned, I would hate to say what punishment I might recommend if this case proves true – I am outraged that a group with “Christian” in their name would have anything to do with terrorism or violence.”

Mawyer said his feelings of deep offense toward one act of terrorism possibly committed by a Christian group set him apart from apparent indifference so-called moderate Islamic groups have toward Islamist Muslims carrying out jihad attacks every day.

“We have a duty, if we believe our religion is pure, undefiled before God, to rebuke terrorists if they rise up from among us,” Mawyer said.

“Our religion, if truly about peace, is about, as the Bible teaches, visiting widows and orphans, being kind to those who spitefully use us, turning our other cheek…and we absolutely reject any, any thought that terrorist attacks should ever be done in the name of our faith.”