Former priest burns himself to death protesting against spread of Islam in Europe.

www.timesonline.co.uk...

A retired priest committed suicide by setting himself on fire in a German monastery in protest at the spread of Islam and the Protestant Church’s inability to contain it.
Roland Weisselberg, 73, poured a can of petrol over his head and set light to himself in the grounds of the Augustine monastery in the eastern city of Erfurt, where Martin Luther spent six years as a monk at the beginning of the 16th century.

Witnesses said that Weisselberg climbed into a building site next to the monastery church, where a Reformation Day service was being held. He shouted “Jesus and Oskar” before the flames engulfed him. The latter name was an apparent reference to Oskar Brüsewitz, a priest who burnt himself in 1976 in protest against the Communist regime in East Germany. Monastery staff tried to put out the flames and Weisselberg was still conscious as a nun prayed with him before he was taken to hospital. He died a day later, on Wednesday.

Media reports said that he had tried to kill himself inside the church but changed his mind when he found the side door was locked.

The Provost of Erfurt, Elfriede Begrich, told reporters that Weisselberg’s widow had said that he killed himself because he was alarmed at the spread of Islam and the Church’s stance on the issue.

Wow...don't know what to say. Its true that Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. Wonder whats going to be next when protesting against Islam, attacks on mosques maybe? Possible starting a civil war in Europe between Muslims and non-Muslims. Maybe people will just ignore this scene. In anycase, the priest believes that Europe is going to be taken over by Islam, and just by showing how serious he is, burns himself to death......tsk tsk.

Bad spelling title...

[edit on 4-11-2006 by deltaboy]

This is a good article, delta. But that was stupid. Maybe I'll get flamed for that, but self-destructing because a different religions is spreading is just...a waste.

Well, I think we can all agree whatever statement he thought he was making went up in smoke.

Originally posted by Valhall
Well, I think we can all agree whatever statement he thought he was making went up in smoke.

Val as terrible as it sounds . . . you have given me the best laughter this night.

Terrible, how can you make a statement while killing yourself, does that mean that others should follow?

lol, marg. I'm glad I made you laugh. By the way, just noticed your siggie about your nephew. CONGRATULATIONS!

Thanks, VAl, I guess now people around pretty much can tell my age.

But still I don't understand what motives may have pushed this man to do such a thing to himself.

I believe is a sin to take your own life in many religions.

You might note, that when this man took his own life in protest, he took no other lives in the process. Just himself.

Agreed spacedoubt. If all the intolerant kooks of the world would just limit their life-taking rages to themselves, like this guy, the world might have a chance.

This reminds me of when the buddhists use to burn themselves to protest the vietnam war. In anycase, I noticed some of the members here seem to mock this powerful statement. at least the priest didnt decide to suicide bomb a bunch of inocent people and call himself a "martyr".

As a priest he should know better then anyone where his soul will be going by committing suicide. A priest protesting over the idea of God, wether it be Allah, God, or G-d..Satan will be celebrating and welcoming his entry into hell.

What a waste of a life and regardless we shouldn't make fun of an act that is very sad. As a former priest this man should have known better. He would have made a greater impact in staying and 'fighting' for his cause in speaking out rather than taking his life.

I think there is more to this story than meets the eye.

am I the only one seeing porn pics instead of avatars?
...ats hacked?

Originally posted by ThePieMaN
As a priest he should know better then anyone where his soul will be going by committing suicide. A priest protesting over the idea of God, wether it be Allah, God, or G-d..Satan will be celebrating and welcoming his entry into hell.

Right....and im sure the suicide bombers are in heaven with their 40 virgins while these guys go to hell...

Originally posted by XphilesPhan

Originally posted by ThePieMaN
As a priest he should know better then anyone where his soul will be going by committing suicide. A priest protesting over the idea of God, wether it be Allah, God, or G-d..Satan will be celebrating and welcoming his entry into hell.

Right....and im sure the suicide bombers are in heaven with their 40 virgins while these guys go to hell...

I don't see the connection, suicide is condemned in both religions, and most muslims believe suicide bombers go to hell....so...?

Originally posted by XphilesPhan

Originally posted by ThePieMaN
As a priest he should know better then anyone where his soul will be going by committing suicide. A priest protesting over the idea of God, wether it be Allah, God, or G-d..Satan will be celebrating and welcoming his entry into hell.

Right....and im sure the suicide bombers are in heaven with their 40 virgins while these guys go to hell...

You actually believe because he is protesting against Islam that he is going to go to Heaven? How nice of you to interpret His laws for your own purposes.

Whats worse is that you laugh at those ignorant fools who think they are going to have 40 virgins yet you truly believe that this mans soul is going to be rewarded in heaven for martyring himself in the name of Christianity. LOL Thats a hoot.
What makes YOU any different from THEM? The lack of 40 virgins in the fairy tale is all I can differentiate.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand."
-John 10:27-29

The poor man was obviously mentally ill.

Suicide is against the Catholic faith. The church is FINALLY more understanding about suicide and it now understands that many times suicide is a mental health issue and the person isn't held accountable. But it is still against the faith.

The man had to be mentally ill. I'm sure those who lived around him are now looking back and could be seeing warning signs that they missed ... but those most likely won't make it into the news.

Poor man. Pray for his soul and for those he left behind. Sad.

Well, Val,

She said it for me.

Originally posted by XphilesPhan
This reminds me of when the buddhists use to burn themselves to protest the vietnam war. In anycase, I noticed some of the members here seem to mock this powerful statement. at least the priest didnt decide to suicide bomb a bunch of inocent people and call himself a "martyr".

He killed himself because he apparently couldn't find a position of tolerance. There's nothing here to laud, and my personal hope would be that anyone else with that basic level of intolerance will just excuse themselves in the same "non-violent" method instead of taking their intolerance out on other people, or taking other people out with them. Anyone from either side of any topic that feels death (or violence) is better than fighting the good fight of living a life well lived and trying to make the world a better place through acts of kindness - instead of dedicating your life to trying to stamp an opposing belief out - can exit stage left. And they can do that quietly, or in a blaze of glory. Just don't take anyone else out with you.

To whomever else said it - yes, he was apparently mentally ill. That part is sad, but the world lost whatever goodness he could have given when he reached that level of mental illness without seeking help, not when he lit himself on fire.

This is funny. Maybe people should see that devoting your life to a religion blindly does nothing but bring trouble. Killing others or yourself is a sin. Anyone using these methods to 'cause a difference' is committing sin and shouldnt be lauded.

Originally posted by FlyersFan
The poor

Suicide is against the Catholic faith.

He was Protestant not that that makes a difference because its prpably against their faith as well but to burn yourself to death, what a horrible way to die