German pastor's fiery protest leaves those who knew him mystified
The Rev. Roland Weisselberg wasn't known as a fanatic, yet he killed himself after complaining of Islam's growing influence.
By Jeffrey Fleishman, Times Staff Writer
December 28, 2006

ERFURT, GERMANY — The church was full so he did it outside, just after communion. Had a can of gasoline under his coat, drenched himself and went alight. The janitor saw a flash and yelled for help. The flaming man stumbled to the ground as worshipers rushed past and a nun knelt beside him, praying and touching a sliver of his unburned skin.

Someone said he whispered, "Is Jesus here?"

The Rev. Roland Weisselberg died the next day. His widow said the 73-year-old retired Lutheran minister committed suicide to protest Islam's growing influence on a Christian continent that had lost its faith.

That's all the bloggers and neo-Nazis needed. Screeds whirled and a troubled man was turned into a martyr, candles lighted in his honor, flowers dropped on the place where he fell. the rest