Man Arrested in Germany for Cutting Down LGBT Flag at Catholic Church
In Mannheim, police detained a 58-year-old man who sawed down a flagpole with a rainbow flag in front of the Church of Saint Sebastian.
Police in Germany detained a 58-year-old resident of the city of Mannheim on suspicion of property damage – he sawed down a flagpole bearing an LGBT flag that had been erected in front of the Catholic parish of Saint Sebastian. This was reported by the Catholic News Agency.
The incident occurred on July 13 at approximately 6:45 p.m. local time. According to eyewitnesses, the man used a saw to cut down the metal flagpole, which fell onto the market square, after which he left the scene. The rainbow flag had been installed by the parish rector, Father Lukas Glocker, on the occasion of the local LGBT pride event "Monnem Pride."
According to Glocker, the flag symbolizes respect for every person "regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, origin, religion, appearance, or skin color." Following the incident, Pastor Glocker filed a complaint with the police.
Following the incident, Pastor Glocker filed a complaint with the police.
A specialized unit of the Heidelberg Criminal Investigation Department investigated the incident as a case of property damage. On Thursday, it was announced that the suspect, a 58-year-old man from Mannheim, had been arrested.
As the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported, LGBT Catholics in Rome marched with a rainbow cross.
