Nothing to be concerned about: “While their actions did arouse suspicion, we believe their actions were simply a breach of proper etiquette.” They just wanted to learn about Christianity, you see, and what better way to do that than to videotape a mass, rather than, say, read a book or go talk to a priest? And if their actions help “strike terror in the enemies of Allah” (Qur’an 8:60), so much the better.
In light of the fact that the Islamic State has recently called for attacks on Christians, Muslims videotaping a church service should not be dismissed as “a breach of proper etiquette.” At very least, these Saudis should be investigated.
“Arab men taping Kettering church Mass prompts probe,” Dayton Daily News, July 28, 2016 (thanks to PF):
KETTERING — Kettering Police and Ascension Catholic Church leaders say two to three Arab men who entered the church Sunday and began videotaping the service were studying Christianity.
The men’s activity alarmed some parishioners who contacted police which prompted officers to respond.
“While their actions did arouse suspicion, we believe their actions were simply a breach of proper etiquette,” a statement on Ascension’s website read Thursday morning. “While current evidence suggests that they intended no ill will, the Kettering police and other appropriate agencies are continuing to thoroughly investigate the matter and are keeping us aware of their findings.”
Police said the individuals were questioned outside the sanctuary at the church on Sunday and told officers they were studying Christianity.
The individuals were taking videos of portions of Sunday’s mass and discontinued their filming after speaking with officers and were permitted to return to the sanctuary, church officials said in a statement.
“We have verified that the young men in question are visiting relatives here in Kettering who live next door to one of our own parishioners. Those relatives have an excellent relationship with our parishioners and have inquired a lot about Christianity,” church officials said. “The young men also expressed an interest in Christianity and seemed eager to experience Christian worship firsthand while here in America. They visited Ascension because of the relationship their family has with our parishioners and because of our reputation as a welcoming community.”
Each of the men that were investigated passed background checks and were visiting the country from Saudi Arabia. Kettering police have contacted federal authorities as part of their due diligence in their investigation.
A Kettering police report indicated the individuals also had plans to visit Philadelphia and New York during their visit to the United States.
Officials with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati said Sunday’s incident has become part of a broader discussion about safety at churches….

Jay Boo says
After murder of priest.
Muslims attend mass all across France SUPPOSEDLY to show solidarity and offer condolences video.
gravenimage says
Thanks for posting that again, Jay Boo. So appalling. Imagine going to a memorial and having to sit next to the sneering fellows of those who murdered your loved one?
This is not solidarity; this is another show of Muslim supremacism.
patriotliz says
Plenty of Masses to be seen on youtube.
Reminds me also of Hillary’s rally w/ the sneering father of the mass murderer of Orlando sitting behind her in her V.I.P. section agreeing w/ everything Hillary wants including gun control. I’m sure all jihadists want continuation of the Democrat’s dhimmitude. Mr Khan wants Democrat dhimmis to let in more Muslim refugees too. Muslims en masse don’t integrate, they annihilate.
Louis says
I’ll give up my guns when Hillary gives up her armed guards.
vicki says
Were they really sneering?
While I hate Islam with every inch of my body, I believe we must give Muslims who show civility the benefit of doubt. Is it possible that they have not actually read the Quran, are on the verge of denouncing Islam, are in the death cult for fear of their lives?, etc.
Mubarak says
Maybe this is a prelude and the finale is a protection racket?
Mubarak says
PS: – “indistinguishable in practice from extortion rackets” as Wikipedia explains.
Robeaver says
This is called”casing the joint”.
Cynthia in California says
My thought exactly. plus timing how long it is until whichever part(s) of the Mass they’d like to…ah…surprise people at.
gravenimage says
Yup.
Westman says
Men from Saudi Arabia, who intend to return in good standing, do not “study Christianity” by attending a Christian church with a video camera.
Etiquette? Since when did Muslims allow Christians to videotape at a Friday Mosque meeting? There could be an unspoken message here ….
Jay Boo says
“Each of the men that were investigated passed background checks and were visiting the country from Saudi Arabia.”
Were the FBI permitted to ask about the word — “jihad”
JAR says
“two to three Arab men”
Okay, so was it 2.5 men?
Kathy Brown, Esq. says
‘The FBI’ did you say Jay? Did you say ‘the FBI’?
Oh, well, let us belabor the point no further. We all know of their utter unimpeachability. Whew, what a relief!
Indeed it is the FBI which conducts such ‘background checks’. And as we all know they cannot be bought, influenced or-God forbid-induced to call white what is black.
Yes, yes: If the FBI has passed these ‘Arab men’ then we may all rest easy.
VERONIKA N says
REMEMBER THIS WORD “TAQIYYA’….ASK ANY MUSLIM THE MEANING (AFTER THEY SUPPOSEDLY SAID THAT THEY WERE STUDYING “CHRISTIANITY”… AND THEY WILL TELL YOU (MAYBE-AND THAT’S A BIG MAYBE) : LYING, DECEIVING”–THIS IS A PRACTICE WIDELY USED MY MUSLIMS AGAINST NON MUSLIMS AND NON BELIEVERS. THEY WILL “LIE” THRU THEIR TEETH!!
Custos Custodum says
one of he advantages of the arabic alphabet is that it does not have capitals.
Robert Crawford says
When they go back to Saudi Arabia, after attending a Catholic mass. will they be in trouble, or will they be praised for their intelligence gathering?
Mark my words: in six months there will be an attack on a Catholic mass here in the US. This “visit” was about finding the appropriate time during the mass. They will attack during communion.
Jay Boo says
They are not just gathering intelligence.
They are probing for a response.
Anyone familiar with alligators knows not to feed them and if they hang around the shore in the water rather than go about their daily alligator business they need a good thomping on the nose with a long pole to let them know that they are not fooling anyone and are not welcome.
Allan says
Wolves, not alligators.
Christians are sheep, and Muslims are wolves.
Jay Boo says
True, but I have no direct experience with wolves to use in analogy, only gators.
Allan says
I should have added that wolves can be domesticated and trained to do a great variety of tasks such as guard duty. Some varieties make fine play mates for children, too.
Kay says
It used to be that the not yet baptized were excused at the Peace.
We should go back to that.
Jay Boo says
Catholics wake up! Prepare for a Holy Crusade.
Catholics are a bit too meek for their own good.
Islam does not respect meekness.
The filthy enemy is sniffing around your doorsteps like a mangy jackal in search of an easy meal.
Allan says
Too timid, not “too meek”. Meekness is a virtue which moderates and replaces the disorderliness of anger.
Jay Boo says
Thanks, Allan
‘timid’ is a much better word.
R says
John Hagee? C’mon, man.
Jay Boo says
John Hagee is a bit too conservative for me on other issues, however when he discusses Islam he is dead on. You won’t hear any mealy mouth Pope Francis appeasement verbiage from John Hagee.
Champ says
Thank you for posting this video, Jay Boo!
How *refreshing* to hear John Hagee tell the TRUTH about islam & company! …especially when fools/tools like Rick Warren are promoting evil Chrislam.
Adrian says
On this Church’s FaceBook page, amid all the saccharine and meek messages of inclusion, someone recently posted ” I feel like there should be a party for them now…”
The idiocy knows no bounds.
marble says
Anyone want to video an Islamic service in a mosque? Is presence of a Muslim in a church during a service a claim to ownership of the church by Islam?
Michael Heins says
They were just peaceful tourist – move on nothing to see here. Sarcasm?
Nan Barr says
They were scouts for the terrorists in our midst.
Of course the koran says that even to make people afraid is a form of TERRORISM!!!!
Angemon says
I can’t think of any scenario where this discombobulated mess of an excuse – “we dindu nuffin we is just trying to learn about this” – would make sense. KKK members taping a BLM meeting? Nope. Registered sex offenders filming a children’s playground? The parents would have the cops on them so fast they’d think they fell into a black hole. A Christian filming a mosque? CAIR would be on national media, crying and demanding police protection. So why is it that it’s passed as a viable excuse in this case?
Linde Barrera says
To Angemon- Your 8:27 pm comment of Aug 13, 2016 was superb and thank you for your discernment. I think last year you mentioned that you were an agnostic? Well that is your business, of course, but you sound like a very savvy man of God who has all the answers about this very disturbing topic. And to the other counter-jihadists, thank you for your excellent comments as well.
Angemon says
While I appreciate your encouragement, I don’t think I have all the answers, even though I may sound like I do. Far from it, I’m afraid. And yes, I’m agnostic. Stay safe and keep fighting the good fight 🙂
Katherine says
So they couldn’t find a Catholic Mass on youtube? I could.
Catholic says
“Breach of etiquette ?” Like skipping straight to the triple-dog-dare (movie A Christmas Story) ?
Guess they don’t get EWTN-tv (global cable/dish Catholic channel). EWTN carries Mass live once a day with three repeats…so four chances to view each day (except Sat. with fewer repeats).
Does the bishop of these parishioners allow them to open carry or conceal and carry in church ? Maybe that’s too scary — more scary than Saudi Wahabists videotaping the Holy Mass.
At the least, their taping is extremely disrespectful, especially if they didn’t have permission from the pastor and/or bishop. Even in our local parish parishioners are asked not to take pictures during First Communion Mass.
Saudi Arabia knows enough about Christianity to make life hard for practitioners in their country. They’d recognize a Mass if they saw one. What else do they need to learn ?
Hadenough says
What these moslems are doing is one thing but what is even worse is what our gov’t is doing to us. The democrats are putting us in danger – the constant endless lies to their own people says to me they actually want us dead.
Undaunted says
That was a probe. Next time they won’t be shooting video; they’ll be shooting Christians.
Shoot back, Body.
gravenimage says
Yes.
Karen says
Oh! They’re from Saudi (gag) Arabia? Well, no worries then!!
Jay Boo says
No Joy in Islam.
Ring the bell both far and wide
In the darkness and dead of night.
gravenimage says
Thanks for sharing that.
By the way, one of the things Christians are prevented from doing under Muslim rule is ringing bells.
gravenimage says
Ohio: Muslims videotaping Catholic mass prompt probe
………………..
Reconnaissance mission?
Allan says
Probing for response times, too, and perhaps they hoped for a reaction which could be recorded and used as agit prop.
Rob says
Will they be stopped at the Saudi border for carrying Christian materials and more importantly will they advise border officials that they are studying it?
We can only accept the rambling ‘friend of a friend of a neighbour’ stuff if these guys are open and honest to their own.
Allan says
If Allah hands you wolves, make dogs. Yes, dogs, happy, obedient dogs with wagging tails.
billybob says
I don’t get all the vehemence. Perhaps they really were interested in Christianity. I think they were taking a risk, being from Saudi Arabia, just setting foot in a church.
The reason I state such an opinion is this: What could a terrorist possibly gain by filming a service? I find any theory that interprets this as suspicious behaviour as lacking credibility. It just doesn’t make sense for a jihadi to film a service. The only thing a jihadi needs to know is the church’s address, and perhaps how many worshippers so they may choose to maximize damage.
Really folks, get hold of yourselves. We are always so pleased to welcome ex-Muslims here. Perhaps these people will be among them. There are so many real issues to worry about, we don’t need to invent any.
Afrostreewise says
does my hypothesis below make sense?
billybob says
No. See my response below.
sile reddin says
Most catholic churches in Europe ask visitors not to disturb the sanctity of the mass by filming, photography etc. Strange these were allowed to do so
Jay Boo says
We should video Mosque services on Friday nights.
It won’t take long “to figure out what the heck is going on”
Aha!
So this is where Muslims get their marching orders to kill us.
Afrostreewise says
There is an extremely simple reason why muslims would be video taping a christian mass; Muslims simply don’t like working but have excessive love for good life. That is why those guys doing the film even if not affiliated (at the moment-maybe), would desperately be trying o get in touch with jihadists to sell the video for intelligence or propaganda value. It’s the same reason terrorism can not end i.e far too many people willing to recruit for jihadists at a fee. Should the west manage to somehow contain terrorism, please expect extreme crimes such as child bride recruiters, organ harvest (after murdering victims), kidnapping for ransom, robbery with violence etc. Muslims simply must get the good life without working for it but unlike the Chinese who are extremely aggressive but brainy, nearly all Muslims irrespective of race are dump- Cant blame them,; you have to be extremely dump to believe in such sh..t masquerading as religion.
billybob says
“Sell the video for intelligence or propaganda value”. You are trying too hard. That doesn’t make the least bit of sense. You do realize that there are a nearly infinite number of Sunday sermons effortlessly available on YouTube?
big fish says
Very good analysis.
They are inventorying video footage which someone might purchase. Reasonable argument. Maybe someone back in SA told them to get some video footage.
However, they make themselves suspect by doing this. That’s not a comfortable position to be in.
Memridotorg says
Some Christians should walk into a mosque in Pakistan and start taping, see how they deal with a breach of etiquette
big fish says
Or a mosque in Kettering.
If they want to use intimidation, we’ll give it back to them.
Peter Ahlskog says
They are reconnoitering. They monitor the terrain. Then they attack us.
They have mapped out exactly where there are outdoor sheep and other livestock that go outdoors throughout whole Western Europe. They have marked areas where the farmers are alone, without guns or rifles. You can probably imagine why.
Alvin Woods says
I seriously doubt they were studying christianity. The penalty is death for converting in their country. This reeks of a recce mission.
John A. Marre says
Now just suppose a non-Muslim went to a mosque and started making a video of the place? The accusations of “hate crime” would be all over the place.
west_rhino says
It is a cue to discreetly use one’s phone and capture a few pics of faces for intel purposes, as often there is, or was a journal for visitors to sign in as a record of their visit.
Troybeam says
This would be a concern of the highest order, video taping a Christian Mass, knowing your face is being captured for who knows what, oh wait with all the mass killing of Christians this is an easy way for Muslims to know who is Christians to make this church.slaughter easier for them, this has nothing to do with understanding anothers belief it’s a down right threat to the church.
the big fish says
Well said, Troybeam.
The people of Kettering need to be on high alert. Regrettably, the citizens cannot rely on the authorities.
The citizens can only hope the authorities look the other way in case they need to seek justice outside the law.
Richard says
Video filming Catholics – improper etiquette. Beheading Catholics – proper etiquette.
big fish says
If this is a real threat,
1) We should take action by posting photos online of those involved
2) Prepare for the worst
3) Prepare to retaliate
Richard says
Absolutely agree. Obama’s government won’t protect you. You must defend yourselves.