The recent threat against churches and the challenge of securing our religious sites

The recent Joint Intelligence Bulletin issued by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security has emphasized the inherent vulnerability of religious sites in America. As supporters of the Islamic State terror group call for attacks on holiday events and churches during the holiday season, once again we are reminded of the unique difficulty in protecting one of our most vulnerable entities. The warning was distributed to law enforcement agencies, security companies and churches across the nation and calls for increased vigilance during the holidays.

To be sure, threats against religious sites has a long history in our country. In more recent times, the attacks of September 11, 2001 have made increased security at our religious sites somewhat of an annual ritual. In the absence of specific threats, an increased security posture at religious sites is usually a standard procedure for most police departments around the holidays. As a law enforcement, security and intelligence professional, I have been involved in responding to the threats facing our religious sites and I have had to overcome the inherent resistance to increased security measures that exists in many of our churches.

Following the horrific shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015, I was tasked with providing security training to the leadership and parishioners of many churches throughout Suffolk County. What, at first, seemed like a straightforward training initiative, became quite a bit more complex as I learned that we needed to convince many religious communities that in the modern world we must strike a balance between security and the desire to maintain an open and inviting environment in our churches. The Charleston shooting clearly demonstrated that churches pride themselves on accepting outsiders without prejudice and maintaining an open-door policy. In my experience, Jewish religious sites have been far more aggressive in obtaining additional security during religious holidays than churches. This is most likely because of a long history of being targeted by anti-Semitic and radical Islamic terror groups.

With the broadening of targets by groups like the Islamic State and the increase of active shooter incidents in the United States, churches need to understand that they too are vulnerable entities and appropriate steps need to be taken. I believe this can be done in a way that preserves the sanctity of churches and continues the culture of kindness and peace.