June 21, 2026

04a Faith

‘Islam must adapt to Sweden’ — Swedish deputy prime minister calls for public burqa and niqab ban– rmx.news

pgnewser October 14, 2025 0

Blurb:

Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch has called for a nationwide ban on burqas and niqabs in all public places, saying the country must “wake up from its naivety” about Islamism and act decisively to protect Swedish values and social cohesion.

The Christian Democrats (KD) leader told Aftonbladet that she wants legislation prohibiting the full-face coverings in streets, squares, shops, healthcare facilities, and other public settings — a step beyond previous local attempts to ban them in schools and public workplaces that were struck down under current law.

“You should be able to meet for real if you are on the street, if you are shopping in the square, or taking the children to the health center. Then I don’t want to meet someone who has covered their entire face,” Busch said.

High School Students Walk Out to Protest Bathroom Policy– www.louderwithcrowder.com

pgnewser October 14, 2025 0

Blurb:

It’s a national embarrassment when high school students have to protest for basic decency at the expense of biology—but that is the world we currently live in.

High school students at Roseburg High School participated in a walkout after female students’ concerns about men using the women’s locker room and restrooms were ignored. While such issues were once considered a matter of basic safety, advocating for these rights is now viewed by some as controversial.

To claim that the left is all in it for women is both disingenuous and absurd.

According to The News Review:

“No boys in girls’ locker rooms.” “Trans rights are women’s rights.” “Girls deserve privacy too.” “Protect trans kids.” “My privacy is important too.” “Honk if you support trans rights.” “This all ends when enough of us say no.”

These were just some of the phrases seen on signs during a walkout at Roseburg High School on Wednesday, held during eighth period. The event drew crowds of students, parents and community members on both sides of a controversial debate: transgender student rights to use the restrooms and lockers they choose.

Are Abortion Pills Contaminating Our Water?– www.lifenews.com

pgnewser October 14, 2025 0

Blurb:

As the use of the mifepristone chemical abortion pill continues to rise in the U.S., concerns are growing that residue from the powerful drug as well as the remains of aborted babies are contaminating the water supply and may be contributing to fertility problems, as well as other health concerns.

Recently released research by Liberty Counsel Action (LCA) pointed out that when mifepristone was originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000, it was predicted that the impact of the drug on the environment would be minimal, and therefore “no further study was completed.” As LCA noted, since mothers who take the abortion pill are instructed to deliver their dead baby into their toilet at home, the assessment “failed to address the issue of how the fetal remains would be disposed of, essentially ignoring the reality that in many cases, said remains would enter U.S. water systems in violation of various fetal disposal and medical waste laws.”

Bishops PUSH BACK against Vatican CHAOS– www.lifesitenews.com

pgnewser October 14, 2025 0

Blurb:

Five bishops, including Joseph Strickland and Athanasius Schneider, led a rare act of public reparation after an LGBT pilgrimage entered St. Peter’s Basilica, calling for the Church to be cleansed of idolatry and confusion.

The panel hailed this as the first real resistance to Pope Leo’s controversial leadership. They tackled Leo’s latest scandal, equating abortion with immigration and the death penalty, and warned against the return of “seamless garment” theology. From Trump’s UN smackdown of climate alarmism to growing devotion in Russia and new pro-life campaigns, the hosts spotlighted faithful Catholics rising up while Rome descends deeper into chaos.

Transgender extremists target UK feminist conference as gender ideology clash deepens– www.lifesitenews.com

pgnewser October 14, 2025 0

Blurb:

In the early morning hours of Friday, October 10, masked figures were caught on video at the UK’s Brighton Centre on Kings Road, smashing windows and spray-painting the walls. A women’s rights conference, put on by the feminist group FiLiA described by the BBC as “a three-day event billed as one of the largest grassroots feminist gatherings in Europe,” was scheduled to be held there. The left-wing feminist event featured 250 speakers, and 2,400 attendees were expected to attend.

Filia had previously requested protection for the conference but had been denied.

What a medication abortion is like, according to a doctor | CNN

Trump Walks Tightrope in Handling Abortion Pill’s Over-the-Counter Status

pgnewser October 9, 2025 1

President Donald Trump’s administration appears ready to “follow the law” when the FDA continues to approve the abortion pill for over-the-counter-use. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the reason the FDA was not changing the drug’s status was because “they are simply following the law.” The decision is causing some to doubt President Trump’s true opposition to abortion.

Trump’s abortion pill approval shatters his pro-life facade

from www.washingtonexaminer.com

Blurb:

“It’s not an endorsement of this drug by any means. They are just simply following the law,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said of the FDA on Friday.

I don’t buy this “simply following the law” excuse. Neither do key anti-abortion legislators, including Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who rightly denounced the approval as a “betrayal” of the anti-abortion community that got President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance elected.

And neither does Kelsey Pritchard, political director of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

“‘Powerless’ is not a word that someone uses to describe this administration when they face trouble,” Pritchard told me by phone. “They’re known for bucking the status quo. They’re known for doing what they need to do to reverse problems.”

Oddly, the FDA issued the approval before it completed its own safety review of the drug, which began in mid-September. An Ethics and Public Policy Center study, showing 11% of users faced “serious adverse events,” prompted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to direct FDA Commissioner Martin Makary to review “the latest data.” However, the FDA prematurely issued the approval without the results.

 

How Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA helped Trump and MAGA win ...

Turning Point confirms authenticity of leaked Charlie Kirk messages — RT World News– www.rt.com

pgnewser October 9, 2025 1

Blurb:

The leaks published by Candace Owens suggest that Kirk fell out with a Jewish donor just days before his assassination

Leaked text messages in which late conservative activist Charlie Kirk admits to losing the support of a major Jewish donor are “authentic,” according to Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for Kirk’s nonprofit Turning Point USA.

Kolvet said he had personally shared a screenshot of a private chat with “people in the government” shortly after Kirk’s death. He did not want to make it public because it was a “private conversation” that did not “necessarily comport with things that were already made public,” he said on ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’ YouTube channel on Tuesday.

The leaked messages were first shown by conservative commentator Candace Owens during her YouTube podcast on Monday. According to the screenshots, Kirk wrote, “I just lost another huge Jewish donor. $2 million a year because we won’t cancel Tucker.”

The remark apparently referred to Kirk’s refusal to withdraw an invitation for fellow conservative commentator Tucker Carlson to speak at his AmericaFest conference. In a follow-up message, Kirk wrote that he had “no choice but to leave the pro-Israel cause.”

From Kindergarten Classrooms to College Campuses, Conservatives Are Beginning to Take Back the Schools – RedState– redstate.com

pgnewser October 9, 2025 0

Blurb:

At the California Young Republican Federation’s recent convention, young conservatives got a provocative discussion on education and school choice from a seasoned panel of leaders.

State Senator Tony Strickland, Orange County Board of Education Trustee Mari Barke, Lakeside Union School District Trustee Andrew Hayes, and Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy Dean Pete Peterson laid out what’s at stake in America’s schools and what conservatives need to do to protect them.

The message was simple but powerful. Get involved. Attend K–12 school board meetings. Hold school board members accountable. Organize walkouts when needed. Run for office. And as I’ve said before, teach.

If conservatives are serious about reclaiming our schools, we can’t just talk about it. We must show up and participate.

The panelists made a strong case for School Choice and Charter Schools, arguing that giving parents more options forces school districts to perform better and compete for students. It’s a proven way to empower families instead of bureaucrats.

Supreme Court Appears Skeptical of Colorado’s Law Targeting ‘Conversion Therapy’– townhall.com

pgnewser October 9, 2025 0

Blurb:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard a case challenging a Colorado law prohibiting “conversion therapy.”

The legislation prohibits mental health professionals from offering therapy aimed at altering sexual orientation or gender identity to minors.

The original lawsuit was filed by Kaley Chiles, a therapist and Christian who argues that the law violates her free speech rights because it stops her from working with patients who want to live “consistent with their faith.”

From The New York Times:

State lawmakers passed the restrictions in 2019, in response to the findings of major medical associations that conversion therapy is ineffective and potentially harmful for young people. The outcome of the case has implications for Colorado and more than 20 other states with similar laws.

A central question for the justices is whether Colorado’s law is a permissible regulation of professional conduct or an unconstitutional infringement on free speech.

Colorado’s statute prohibits “any practice or treatment” that tries to change a minor’s “gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.”

Colorado officials have never enforced the measure, which includes fines up to $5,000 for each violation and possible suspension or revocation of a counselor’s license. The law includes a religious exemption for those “engaged in the practice of religious ministry.”

The Challenge of Engaging Generation Z

Gen Z Suicide Rate Exploding

pgnewser October 7, 2025 0

The Challenge of Engaging Generation Z

The suicide rate among Gen Z adults has increased by 16% in the last 10 years. The heaviest increases are among black and Hispanic men, who accounted for 85% of the increase, and people in the South and Midwest. The state with the largest increase was Georgia, which saw an overall increase of 64%.

Pope Leo XIV vows to work for unity so that Catholic Church ...

Pope Leo Affirms Church’s Pro-Life Stance, Supports Knights of Columbus

pgnewser October 7, 2025 0

Pope Leo XIV vows to work for unity so that Catholic Church ...

Pope Leo XIV has recognized the work Knights of Columbus have done to stand against legalized abortion. The Pope highlighted how the group seeks “to bring the compassion and love of the Lord into your local communities, including through your efforts to uphold the sanctity of human life in all its stages.”

Pope Leo Praises Pro-Life Group for “Protecting the Sanctity of Human Life in All Stages”– www.lifenews.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Pope Leo XIV commended the Knights of Columbus on Monday for their unwavering commitment to pro-life causes, highlighting their efforts as a vital defense of the vulnerable unborn amid a culture that too often devalues innocent human life.

The pontiff’s remarks came during a private audience in the Apostolic Palace with the board of directors of the Knights of Columbus, a global Catholic fraternal organization boasting over 2.1 million members dedicated to charity, unity and the protection of life from conception to natural death.

The group was in Rome on pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year of Hope, where Pope Leo expressed profound appreciation for their support of Vatican restoration projects and local initiatives that embody Christian compassion.

From a pro-life standpoint, the Pope’s endorsement reinforces the Church’s unyielding opposition to abortion, affirming the Knights’ role as frontline warriors in building a civilization of life against the scourge of abortions that end countless preborn lives annually.

Gay or straight, let's embrace the language of marriage equality ...

Louisville Cannot Force Photographer to Photo Gay Wedding

pgnewser October 7, 2025 0

Gay or straight, let's embrace the language of marriage equality ...

U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton has ruled that Chelsey Nelson cannot be forced to photograph a gay wedding due to her religious convictions that homosexual marriage is not righteous marriage. The entity seeking to force her to do it was the government of Louisville, KY. They knowingly defied a SCOTUS ruling in the hope Nelson would not have the resources to legally challenge the attack on her 1st Amendment Rights.

Alliance Defending Freedom Attorney Bryan Neihart said of the ruling, “Free speech is fore everyone. As the Supreme Court held two years ago in 303 Creative v Elenis, Americans have the freedom to express and create messages that align with their beliefs without fear of government punishment. The First Amendment leaves decisions about what to say with the people, not with the government.”

Christian Photographer Wins Major Free-Speech Victory in Louisville Ruling– www.standingforfreedom.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

A federal judge has permanently barred Louisville from forcing a Christian wedding photographer to provide services for same-sex weddings against her religious beliefs under the guise of its non-discrimination law.

U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton, appointed by President Donald Trump, issued the decision Tuesday in the case first brought by Chelsey Nelson in 2022. The ruling upholds previous orders blocking the city from enforcing a nondiscrimination law against her and also awards her nominal damages.

Nelson, who believes that marriage is between one man and one woman, has said that she cannot photograph same-sex weddings. She argued that the city’s ordinance violated her rights under the First Amendment and Kentucky’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Nelson first won a ruling in her favor in 2022, but the city appealed, and she also sought damages. The case was sent back to the district court by the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis, which held that states cannot compel artists and others to express messages that go against their deeply held beliefs.

Pro-life activist to file suit after Manhattan DA fails to prosecute her attacker– www.standingforfreedom.com

pgnewser October 7, 2025 0

Pro-life activist to file suit after Manhattan DA fails to prosecute her attacker– www.standingforfreedom.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Pro-lifer Savannah Craven Antao says that she will file a lawsuit against Brianna Rivers, the woman who assaulted her during a recorded sidewalk interview.

Her decision came after the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg failed to prosecute Rivers — despite the assault having been caught on video and her repeated confessions on social media.

On April 3, Craven Antao, who works with pro-life organization Live Action, and her husband were in New York filming interviews on the street when Rivers came over to talk.

At first, the interaction was cordial. Rivers agreed to be interviewed and complimented the couple. When the conversation turned to abortion, Rivers expressed support for Planned Parenthood and argued that a pregnant woman who doesn’t want to have a child, particularly if the father is not involved, should be able to abort her child. She suggested that women in such situations might end up neglecting or abusing their children.

FOIA Documents Reveal South Carolina Attorney General Reportedly FAILED to Prosecute Child Predators in Dorchester County — Nearly Every Case Dismissed or Dropped | The Gateway Pundit– www.thegatewaypundit.com

pgnewser October 7, 2025 0

FOIA Documents Reveal South Carolina Attorney General Reportedly FAILED to Prosecute Child Predators in Dorchester County — Nearly Every Case Dismissed or Dropped | The Gateway Pundit– www.thegatewaypundit.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Rep. Nancy Mace (right) and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson (left). Mace is demanding answers after FOIA documents revealed Wilson’s office failed to prosecute the majority of child exploitation cases in Dorchester County.

Documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act reveal that South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson (R) has reportedly failed to prosecute the overwhelming majority of child pornography and sexual exploitation cases in Dorchester County.

According to internal records reviewed by Rep. Nancy Mace, from 2019 to 2022, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office (SCAG), under Wilson’s leadership, handled 385 warrants for child pornography cases in Dorchester County, yet only 29 resulted in convictions.

That’s a conviction rate of just 7.5%, with 356 cases dismissed outright and not a single one taken to trial.

“We obtained FOIA documents showing South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson failed to prosecute p*dophiles in Dorchester County,” Rep. Nancy Mace wrote on X.

“Nearly every single child p*dophile case under Wilson’s watch in Dorchester County has been dismissed or dropped. WE WANT ANSWERS. NOW,” she added.

Cruz vows accountability for Nigerian Christian killings and violence– www.foxnews.com

pgnewser October 7, 2025 0

Cruz vows accountability for Nigerian Christian killings and violence– www.foxnews.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

FIRST ON FOX: A diplomatic battle is being waged between leading Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Nigerian government officials. The Texas senator has warned he will hold them accountable for the reported “mass slaughter” of tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria. The officials say Cruz is lying, with one claiming that despite even the pope publicly calling out the killings, there is religious harmony in the country.

Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian, according to international Christian advocacy group Open Doors International’s 2025 World Watch List (WWL). An estimated 48% of the population is Christian. But of the 4,476 Christians reported killed worldwide in WWL’s latest reporting period, 3,100 – 69% – were in Nigeria.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, which he said would target officials “with powerful sanctions and other tools.”

Gay Agenda Sticker | Indigo Maiden – Black Squirrel Yarns

Catholic Schools Must Allow Children to be openly Gay and Trans

pgnewser October 6, 2025 0

Gay Agenda Sticker | Indigo Maiden – Black Squirrel Yarns

A U.S. Appeals court has ruled in favor of a Colorado law effectively orders private religious preschools to allow their children to live openly gay, trans lives. The law making this a requirement is not an infringement on their religious liberties because the court considers sexual preference and transgenderism expressions in children is settled science and universal morality, effectively.

Nick Reaves, senior counsel at The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said of the ruling, “Colorado is punishing religious schools and the families they serve for following their faith. The Tenth Circuit’s decision allows the state’s anti-religious gamesmanship to continue. We will keep fighting to ensure that every preschooler in Colorado can access quality, affordable education.”

ED.NOTE: The headline from the blurb below reflects the anti-human, anti-Christian bias of the publisher, the editor, and the writer of this obviously agit-prop piece.

Appeals court rules for Colorado and LGBTQ rights and against Catholic parishes in state preschool case – KUNC
Source Link
Excerpt:

The policy bars preschools from discriminating based on a variety of factors, including sexual orientation and gender identity. State officials cited the policy in denying the Catholic preschools a waiver that would have allowed them to keep LGBTQ children or children from LGBTQ families from enrolling.

In a statement Tuesday, Gov. Jared Polis said, “We are building a Colorado for all, where every student is free from discrimination and this voter-approved initiative continues to enroll approximately 70% of all eligible four-year-olds each school year and many faith based and secular providers are operating terrific preschools that serve parents and children well.”

Tuesday’s ruling essentially upholds the status quo in the universal preschool program, meaning that participating preschools can’t shut out LGBTQ children or children with LGBTQ parents.

The three appeals court judges who ruled Tuesday were Gregory Phillips, Veronica Rossman, and Richard Federico. Phillips was appointed by President Barack Obama, and Rossman and Federico were appointed by President Joe Biden.

Netflix value continues to plummet as subscribers reject its trans grooming of kids– www.lifesitenews.com

pgnewser October 6, 2025 0

Netflix value continues to plummet as subscribers reject its trans grooming of kids– www.lifesitenews.com
Source Link
Excerpt:


(LifeSiteNews) — Netflix has ended this week having lost an estimated $25 billion in stock value.

On October 1, Elon Musk encouraged his 227 million X followers to cancel their subscriptions following troubling accounts of the giant streaming platform pushing radical transgender messaging on young children and teens.

In one of many posts calling for the boycott of Netflix, Musk wrote “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids.”  The post has been viewed over 90 million times and has received 1 million “Likes.”

Planned Parenthood - City of Jersey City

Planned Parenthood’s Lost Medicaid Funding Leads Women to Pro-Pregnancy Centers

pgnewser October 6, 2025 0

Planned Parenthood - City of Jersey City

Thanks to President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Planned Parenthood is getting defunded, leading women to choose Pro-Pregnancy Centers as a result. Planned Parenthood lost its Medicaid funding, leading women on Medicaid to ACTUAL pregnancy centers.

Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers Expect Client Surge, Thanks to Trump– www.dailysignal.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Pro-life pregnancy centers expect an increase in appointments after President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” defunded Planned Parenthood facilities, a center director told The Daily Signal.

Trump’s spending bill instructed the federal government to end Medicaid payments for one year to abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood, that received more than $800,000 from Medicaid in 2023. As a result, women are getting turned away by abortion facilities and are instead making appointments at privately funded pro-life pregnancy centers, which support them in carrying their babies to term, at no cost to the clients.

James Harden, president and CEO of New York pregnancy center network CompassCare, said he has “absolutely” seen an increase in appointments since the bill passed.

“We built a team in the Bronx, and they’re already fully booked,” Harden told The Daily Signal. “We’re triple-booking right now.”

Volunteer - CAIR-Philadelphia

CAIR defends Muslims who graffitied Texas Church, claims it was protected speech | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com

pgnewser October 6, 2025 0

Volunteer - CAIR-Philadelphia

CAIR defends Muslims who graffitied Texas Church, claims it was protected speech | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

“We can and should condemn the vandalism of a house of worship without criminalizing speech.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has argued that prosecutors drop charges against three Muslims accused of vandalizing a Texas church, arguing the act was political expression protected by the First Amendment.

In 2024, three individuals were charged in connection with graffiti spray-painted on the wall of a non-denominational church in Euless, Texas. The act of vandalism was carried out after the church raised an Israeli flag following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel. The phrase “F*** Israel” was painted on the walls of the church along with pro-Palestinian stickers, all of which were captured on the church’s security cameras.

Three suspects, identified as Raqunaq Alam, Asfsheen Khan, and Julia Venzor, were initially charged with felony criminal mischief, but the charges were later increased to a third-degree felony hate crime because they targeted a church.

Gaza protests under way in Europe as arrests made in London | Gaza News– www.aljazeera.com

pgnewser October 6, 2025 0

Gaza protests under way in Europe as arrests made in London | Gaza News– www.aljazeera.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Protests take place in Barcelona, Rome, Lisbon and London, where police made more than 100 arrests.

Tens of thousands of people are marching in major cities across Europe to protest against Israel’s war on Gaza, with mass rallies taking place in urban centres across the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Protests in Spain’s second-largest city, Barcelona, as well as in Madrid, were planned weeks ago, while calls for demonstrations in Rome and Lisbon followed widespread anger after Israeli forces intercepted a humanitarian aid flotilla – the Global Sumud Flotilla – that had set sail from Barcelona for Gaza, trying to break Israel’s blockade of the famine-struck Palestinian territory.

‘Flotilla vessel blocked’: Switzerland lodges protest over Israel stopping Gaza-bound ship; demands unhindered access to citizens– timesofindia.indiatimes.com

pgnewser October 6, 2025 0

‘Flotilla vessel blocked’: Switzerland lodges protest over Israel stopping Gaza-bound ship; demands unhindered access to citizens– timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Police officers work during the protest in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla after ships were intercepted by the Israeli navy (AP image)

Switzerland on Friday announced that it will file a diplomatic protest with Israel after Israeli security forces curtailed a visit by Swiss diplomats to detainees from the Gaza aid flotilla.The Swiss foreign ministry in a statement said the visit was interrupted, preventing embassy representatives from speaking at length with the detained Swiss nationals, news agency Reuters reported.Nineteen Swiss citizens were among dozens of activists on a flotilla attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli naval blockade since the October 2023 Hamas attacks. The flotilla was initially intercepted by Israeli forces on Wednesday as it approached Gaza.

Elon Musk wants you to delete your Netflix subscription! Elon Musk has been urging users on his social media platform, X to delete their Netflix subscription. This has led to Netflix’ stock taking a hit of over 4% this week, wiping millions in market value. Why doe – LinkedIn

pgnewser October 6, 2025 0

Elon Musk wants you to delete your Netflix subscription! Elon Musk has been urging users on his social media platform, X to delete their Netflix subscription. This has led to Netflix’ stock taking a hit of over 4% this week, wiping millions in market value. Why doe – LinkedIn
Source Link

Visiting Harvard Law Prof Arrested After Allegedly Firing Pellet Gun Outside Synagogue– legalinsurrection.com

pgnewser October 6, 2025 0

Visiting Harvard Law Prof Arrested After Allegedly Firing Pellet Gun Outside Synagogue– legalinsurrection.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

The professor claimed he was hunting rats. Does anyone believe this?

The New York Post reports:

Harvard Law professor placed on leave after firing pellet gun near Boston area synagogue

A visiting professor at Harvard Law School has been placed on administrative leave after allegedly firing a pellet rifle outside a Brookline synagogue on the eve of Yom Kippur.

Carlos Portugal Gouvea, 43, was arrested Wednesday night after police said he fired two shots near Temple Beth Zion on Beacon Street in what he later claimed was “hunting rats,” Brookline.News reported.

Investigators do not believe that Gouvea was targeting the synagogue, but he was charged in Brookline District Court with illegally discharging a pellet gun, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and malicious damage of personal property, according to court records.