Was Toronto terror suspect motivated by celibacy?

By Marshall Connolly (Catholic Online)
4/24/2018 (8 months ago)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)

Terror suspect Alex Minassian, 25, used a rented van to mow down 25 people in Toronto, killing ten. From social media posts, it is suspected he was angry women would not have sex with him. Minassian was reported by people who know him as having physical tics and few friends. 

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Alek Minassian, 25 of Richmond Hill, Ontario, went on a terror spree with a van, killing ten people and injuring fifteen. Minassian is reportedly a former special needs student. His family is of Armenian ancestry.

While police are investigating the possibility of terror ties, nothing has yet been discovered, and he is not considered a terrorist suspect. He is not speaking to police.

He has been indicted on 13 counts of murder and 13 counts of attempted murder. 

Minassian's ethnic background and special needs status do not appear to be factors in his crime.

Instead, social media posts are offering authorities clues into Minassian's motivation, which may be celibacy. 

Minassian reportedly complained on social media that women would not have sex with him, and this fact appears to have disturbed him greatly. He also praised mass murderer Elliot Rodger who killed six people in a shooting spree at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Before his rampage, Rodger mentioned he was repeatedly rejected by women and was therefore 'involuntarily celibate.'

Both Roger and Minassian were members of an online community called "incel," which appears to be short for "involuntarily celibate." 

Minassian's behavior appears to stem from a great evil in society, which in sexual depravity. From youth, people are bombarded with sexuality and are taught that celibacy is shameful and loathsome. This makes life and social acceptance more difficult for people who are called to celibacy. Many people who follow a celibate life report being happier than those who do not. 

During his arrest, Minassian reportedly pointed an object at police and asked officers to kill him before he was taken into custody. Officers did not shoot because Minassian was not armed, despite trying to appear as if he were. His safe arrest is a testament to the professionalism and courage of the police who risked their lives. 

Due to his disordered understanding of sexuality and celibacy, his pain has been spread to dozens of families who have lost loved ones to his evil. 

Minassian will spend the rest of his life behind bars, but he is not alone. His crimes reveal there is an entire community of men who appear to believe they have sexual rights to women's bodies. A few of these men appear willing to commit violence to bring attention to their artificial, often self-inflicted plight. If this were a political viewpoint, it could easily be considered terrorism. But this is a moral issue and one that society must address. The proliferation of sexual impropriety and the spread of gross misinformation are responsible for the developing crisis. If it remains unaddressed, we can expect more people like Misassian to act out on their evil whims. 

Although terrorism does not appear to be a factor in this case, random acts of violence against large numbers of people are still acts that inspire terror in many. It is important to recognize evil and to call it what it is. A person who commits an act of terrorism is a terrorist, regardless of motivation. It is understood there is a legal distinction that authorities must consider before referring to an act as terrorism. 

 

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