The horrific murder of Pastor William "Bill" Schonemann, crucified in his Arizona home in April 2025, as detailed in The Blaze's opinion piece, has ignited a firestorm of debate about anti-Christian hate in America. The suspect, Adam Sheafe, confessed to targeting Schonemann for preaching that Jesus is the Son of God, with plans to kill 14 more pastors across 10 states as part of a religiously motivated "Operation First Commandment." This discussion, drawing on The Blaze and related sources, examines whether this case signals a broader "hunting season" on Christians, the media's muted response, and the underlying cultural forces at play.

On April 28, 2025, 76-year-old Pastor Schonemann was found dead in his New River, Arizona, home, his arms pinned to the wall and a crown of thorns on his head, a deliberate mimicry of crucifixion. Sheafe, 51, told FOX 10 he killed Schonemann because his teachings contradicted Sheafe's belief that Jesus is not divine, framing his act as a divine mission to "purify Israel." He admitted to following the pastor home from Easter services and planning further attacks.

This wasn't an isolated incident. The Blaze cites a Michigan deacon stopping a potential church shooter days before, suggesting a pattern of violence against Christians. Posts on X amplify the story, with users framing Sheafe's motive as rooted in Old Testament fundamentalism, targeting Christians for their core beliefs. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office confirmed the homicide, and Sheafe faces first-degree murder charges, with additional charges pending in Coconino County.

The Blaze's author, a pastor and philosophy professor, argues that the mainstream media's near-total silence on Schonemann's murder, until Sheafe's June 24 confession, reveals a double standard. Had the victim been from a "marginalised" group, the author claims, outlets like CNN and MSNBC would have provided extensive coverage, with swift Justice Department action. Instead, Schonemann's death received minimal attention, with his son noting media focus on the killer rather than the victim's life.

Critics argue this reflects a broader cultural bias, where anti-Christian violence is downplayed. For comparison, the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings dominated global headlines, while Christian persecution often goes underreported. A 2023 Open Doors report notes 365 million Christians face high levels of discrimination or violence worldwide, yet U.S. media rarely discusses such stories.

The Blaze attributes this violence to a cultural shift driven by universities, media, and entertainment, which portray Christianity as repressive and harmful. The author cites a Harvard Law School panel where a professor suggested Christians "like to be persecuted," met with applause, as evidence of normalised anti-Christian sentiment. Academic programs like gender studies and DEI initiatives, the author argues, teach that Christian values obstruct "liberation," particularly sexual liberation, influencing unstable individuals like Sheafe to act violently.

This claim has some basis. A 2024 Pew Research Center study found 60% of U.S. college students view religion as a source of division, with Christianity often singled out. Mainstream platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime frequently depict Christian characters as hypocritical or oppressive, reinforcing negative stereotypes.

The Blaze insists Schonemann's murder qualifies as a hate crime under U.S. law, defined as violence motivated by bias against a protected class, including religion. Sheafe's explicit targeting of Christians for their beliefs supports this, yet no federal hate crime charges have been announced as of July 4, 2025. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office is reviewing the case, with the death penalty on the table.

Sceptics note that hate crime designations require clear evidence of bias, and Sheafe's religious motive, while deranged, may not fit neatly into legal frameworks if tied to his idiosyncratic beliefs rather than broader anti-Christian animus. Still, the lack of public outcry or federal action fuels perceptions of unequal justice.

The dangers of rising anti-Christian sentiment, if real, are profound: eroded religious freedom, emboldened attackers, and a fractured society. The Blaze calls for Christians to challenge these ideologies through debate and defund institutions promoting them, like universities. Defunding universities is an excellent idea.

Pastor Schonemann's murder is a chilling wake-up call, highlighting potential anti-Christian hostility in a nation where media and academic narratives often vilify Christian values. While The Blaze's claim of a type of hunting season may overstate the scale, the lack of outrage over this case compared to others reveals a troubling inconsistency. Ensuring equal protection under hate crime laws and addressing cultural biases are critical to preventing further violence. For now, Schonemann's death remains a stark reminder that ideology, unchecked, can turn deadly.

https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/pastor-crucified-in-bed

"Christians aren't imagining the animus. It's being taught, broadcast, and now acted upon — with deadly results.

Just down the road from my house, a pastor was crucified in his bed — crown of thorns and all.

That's not the start of a horror movie. It's the real story of Pastor William Schonemann of New River Bible Chapel in Arizona. His murder in May received almost no media coverage until last week, when the suspect not only confessed to the killing but admitted he had plans to assassinate four more pastors in Arizona — and others across the country.

As a pastor who lives not far from where this happened, I couldn't help but wonder: Was I on his list?

The motive? The suspect claimed to be on a divine mission to "purify Israel" of anyone who teaches that Jesus is the Son of God. His logic was as deranged as it was deadly: You can't kill the Son of God — so Jesus isn't the Son of God. Therefore, anyone who says otherwise must die. He targeted pastors who preach that God forgives repentant sinners through Christ.

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In other words, he hunted Christians.

This wasn't an isolated attack. Just last week, a deacon in Michigan stopped a would-be shooter from opening fire inside a church. Whether through violence or through the daily pressure campaign of soft totalitarianism from elected leftists — who impose radical gender and social ideology — Christians face growing persecution in America.

So here's the question: Will these attacks on Christians be prosecuted as hate crimes?

U.S. law defines a hate crime as violence motivated by bias against a protected class. Religion qualifies. A man confesses to murdering a pastor because he preached the gospel. That's not just homicide — it's a textbook hate crime.

Crickets instead of courage

So where's the outrage?

The answer is simple. We've allowed a media and university culture to take root that treats Christianity not just as wrong — but as evil. Christians, they insist, stand in the way of liberation, especially sexual liberation. The man who murdered Pastor Schonemann didn't need a gender studies degree to absorb the worldview pushed by most public universities and entertainment platforms.

LGBTQ centers, DEI bureaucracies, and entire academic departments teach students that Christianity is repressive, outdated, and harmful. Professors tell them Christians cannot be victims of oppression because Christians are the majority. We must be decolonized, dismantled, or disappeared.

Curriculum has consequences.

Most people never enrol in Gender Studies 401, but they absorb the ideology from those who do. Graduates of these programs run media outlets, direct Netflix specials, and draft corporate policy. So when Amazon Prime pushes queer identity as liberation, the implied message is clear: Christian morality is the enemy. And when that message gets repeated often enough, unstable people act on it.

A chilling double standard

Now imagine the reverse. Had the victim belonged to a different religion — particularly one deemed "marginalized" or "indigenous" — CNN would run wall-to-wall coverage. MSNBC hosts would cry on air about America's hatred. The Justice Department would announce investigations before the body cooled.

If the killer had cited Christian teachings while attacking a Planned Parenthood activist or drag performer, Los Angeles would be on fire and the Palestinian flag would fly from city hall.

But Pastor Schonemann preached Christ crucified. And so, the outrage is muted.

Time to act

Calling out this double standard matters, but it's not enough. Pointing fingers at leftist hypocrisy only gets us so far. It's time for action.

First, Christians must expose the incoherence of the ideologies used to justify this persecution. These movements promise justice but cannot define it. They claim to liberate, yet they demand conformity and submission. As a philosophy professor, I've challenged my own university's faculty to debate these ideas. So far, silence. But shining light on the hollowness of their worldview creates space for the truth — and for grace.

Second, Christians must stop funding the institutions that despise us. Public universities are not neutral. They've become temples of anti-Christian dogma. Professors hide behind "academic freedom," but the Constitution does not require taxpayers to bankroll propaganda. We must say: "No more. I won't pay you to teach my child to hate the truth."

After the murder, Pastor Schonemann's son noted that the media seemed more interested in the killer than in his father's life and witness. He's right. And when the media finally does speak, don't be surprised if it's to ask: "Why do Christians deserve this?"

Universities are not neutral

Years ago, I sat on a panel at Harvard Law School. It was just before the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. One panelist — an Ivy League professor of some renown — smiled and said, "Christians like to be persecuted, so let them be." The audience applauded. No one flinched.

It's time for Christian parents to wake up. The age of the "neutral" university has ended. Our children are not just being taught to tolerate different views — they are being indoctrinated to hate what is true, good, and beautiful. They are told in no uncertain terms: Christianity is the problem.

Until we demand equal protection under the law — and stop funding our own cultural executioners — the attacks will continue.

The killer in Arizona refused dialogue. He chose violence to silence the truth. Ask yourself: How different is that from the message preached by DEI activists and gender ideologues who say we must either conform or disappear?

They've told us exactly what they believe. It's time we take them at their word."