Reply #28: Church role in shootings questioned [View All]

[emad]

Strict beliefs could have upset gunman, some members say

By M. Daniel Gibbard and Aamer Madhani, Tribune staff reporters. Tribune staff reporter Lisa Black contributed to this story
Published March 17, 2005


SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- After the first wake Wednesday for a victim of the shooting rampage at the Living Church of God prayer service, some current and former members of the small Christian flock said strict traditions could have contributed to setting off the gunman.

Terry Ratzmann, who killed himself after opening fire Saturday, bristled at unwritten rules that prohibited dating non-church members and seemed uncomfortable with recent sermons that said the apocalypse was nearing, said Chandra Frazier, 31, who witnessed the shooting spree in which seven people besides Ratzmann were killed and four were wounded.

Frazier, 31, a congregant from Milwaukee, said Ratzmann recently seemed depressed and had walked out during a sermon last month.

Since the shooting, Frazier said she has wondered if the shootings could have been prevented had Ratzmann, 44, sought help from mental health care workers outside the church, something she said would have been frowned upon by church elders.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0503170230mar17,1,34416.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true