(3 May 2019) Speaking in front of the remains of an African American church in Louisiana torched by an arsonist, Vice President Mike Pence said attacks on communities of faith have become "all too frequent" and that no one should have to fear for their safety in a house of worship.
Pence was meeting with parishioners and pastors of the three Louisiana churches that were burned in March and April.
He spoke at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas.
He praised the church members for their response to the blazes, particularly the forgiveness they offered to the man accused of setting the blazes, and said their faith and courage has inspired the nation.
Friends Linda Moten and Angela Seria were among the residents of Opelousas expressing gratitude that Pence was in their city to talk to the pastors of three churches that were set ablaze by an arsonist in St. Landry Parish.
"We need the support of the Vice President. It's very wonderful that he's coming to help these pastors to rebuild the churches. We need him, you know, today. I mean, it's just so sad that it had to happen that way but we can all get together and just help these people, you know, because of the churches. Three churches – it's ridiculous. You know, but, it's a good thing the Vice President is coming to help out," said Seria.
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Moten and Seria are part of the city's close-knit Baptist church community, but their church was not torched.
David Dunbar, a resident of nearby Washington, Louisiana, a town just a few miles from Opelousas, said he thought Pence's visit was positive.
"It's a nice gesture," Dunbar said. "It shows that they're paying at least some sort of attention."
A local sheriff's deputy's 21-year-old son, Holden Matthews, has been charged in the March and April burnings with offenses including arson.
He's pleaded not guilty.
A crowdfunding campaign for the churches' restoration has raised more than 2.1 million US dollars.
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