Man accused of torching church with gay pastor tells jurors homosexuality is a sin

Homosexuality is “a sin” and “an abomination” that one must repent for in the eyes of God, Eric Ridenour told jurors Monday in his trial on church arson and hate crimes charges.

Ridenour, 59, representing himself along with advisory counsel Trevor Hill, chose to be clad in orange clothing, similar to an inmate in custody’s attire, on the trial’s opening day, July 8. 

He is on trial on six counts, including two counts of arson, for allegedly setting fire to two historical churches — St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church — in the border community of Douglas on May 22, 2023.

Prosecutors said Ridenour’s motive was resentment of inclusive policies towards homosexuals and women in the two churches. St. Stephen’s' pastor and spiritual leader is openly gay, and First Presbyterian’s pastor is a woman. St. Stephen’s Pastor Caleb Collins and First Presbyterian’s Pastor Peggy Christiansen will be called to testify in the trial. 

The defendant was unfiltered while describing his beliefs about homosexuality and women in relation to religion in his opening statement in U.S. District Court in downtown Tucson.

“God has sent me several messages and he knew I will be standing in the courtroom today testifying to the fact that homosexuality is a sin, it’s an abomination,” Ridenour said. “It isn’t tolerated (or) to be taught to our children. I did not make this rule. This is what the Lord Jesus Christ has ordained for us.”

“Homosexuals can inherit the kingdom of God if they repent,” said Ridenour, breaking down while speaking about his first meeting with Pastor Collins. “It’s like any other sin and you can’t be doing that. (And I) not only find out that he was married to a man, (but is) standing up there, teaching.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Goldberg, prosecuting the case along with Austin Fenwick, began his opening statement by calling this “a case about Eric Ridenour’s anger,” which “built up and festered until he finally snapped.” He said this was the kind of anger that “caused the defendant to set fire to two historic churches, destroying the places of worship for two separate congregations.”

St. Stephen’s was almost completely destroyed, while First Presbyterian lost its roof and suffered significant internal damage, court documents show. Both the fires were finally put out the following day when the damage was already done, said Goldberg.

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Goldberg went on to detail Ridenour’s recorded calls as well as his conversations with his neighbors, where he complained about women and homosexuals holding positions of leadership in churches.

In a conversation with Collins, Ridenour asked if the pastor was a “practicing homosexual,” saying he would never attend church with someone who was gay, and Collins said he was happily married to a man, Goldberg said.

“There’s scriptures (which) say 'women are not to teach or usurp authority over a man',” and another (which) says 'women are to remain silent in the churches',” said Ridenour in his opening statement. “Now I know you women are beautiful, smart, intelligent and nobody can take that away from you. But God, I didn’t make the rules. I’m just trying to follow my Lord and my Savior.”

Ridenour told jurors he believes “the church is the body of the Christ” and that he "would never ever do anything to hurt the church.”

Goldberg said Ridenour’s neighbor, a Walmart employee, saw him in the store on the morning of May 22, 2023, wearing the same clothes seen on the individual captured on surveillance footage near the two churches. The neighbor also confirmed the blue Pontiac Aztec caught on camera belonged to Ridenour.

“It’s just thoughtless, heartless, without reason. He just had to destroy the hearts of so many people,” Manuel Valenzuela, an elder and trustee with First Presbyterian, who was attending the trial with his wife and daughter, told the Arizona Daily Star.

“You know, there’s been a lot of changes in churches, like accepting transgenders, etc.,” he said. “I would never think that this man could come in and destroy the heart of a church, not even thinking of the damage and the heartbreak of a small congregation like this.”

First Presbyterian is currently made up of only 23 members and Sylvia Valenzuela, a deacon and co-treasurer with the church, said they were all initially in “a state of shock” where the only thing they could do was pray for justice.