Alabama Church Arson - "An Attack Upon Religion Itself"

Nine Alabama churches have been damaged or destroyed by fire over the past week. The FBI is investigating whether the fires are considered a violation of civil rights laws that protect religious property. The state insurance agency reported "Obviously we're going to investigate these as suspected arson."

The Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, commented "It must be stressed that when a church building is burned, it is more than just an attack on a building. It is an attack up the core values that church represents and an attack upon religion itself."

Fires Strike Four More Ala. Baptist Churches - Less than a week after a string of fires struck five Baptist churches in Alabama, four more churches were damaged or destroyed by fires, a state official said Tuesday