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Vice President Pence praises members of black churches torched by arson

Opelousas, La. • Vice President Mike Pence praised the parishioners of three African American churches Friday for the inspiring way they responded to the destruction of their sanctuaries by an arsonist and lamented that attacks on communities of faith have become “all too frequent.”

Pence and President Donald Trump had been accused of not paying enough attention to the attacks on the churches, which authorities say were committed by the son of a sheriff’s deputy. Holden Matthews has pleaded not guilty to arson and other charges.

Speaking in front of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas, La.