In attacks reminiscent of Ku Klux Klan raids in America's Deep South during the civil rights era, 10 Catholic churches, almost all of them in out-of-the-way rural areas throughout Northern Ireland, were burned by arsonists on Wednesday night. Three of the churches were gutted. The following day, a Presbyterian church and an Orange Hall were attacked, apparently in retaliation.
     The churches that were burned included St. Colmcille's in East Belfast; St. Joseph's Chapel, Kilcorig, near Lisburn, Co. Antrim; Mary Queen of Peace, in Blackscull, Dromore, near Portadown, Co. Armagh; St. Theresa's Chapel, in Banbridge, Co. Down; the Church of the Immaculate Conception, near Castlewellan, Co. Down; St. James' Church, Aldergrove, Co. Antrim; St. Columba's and Killyman Chapel, in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone; St. Coleman's, in Laurencetown, Portadown; and the Church of the Immaculate Conception, in Mullavilly, also near Portadown.