William Cardinal Goh video screengrab/ Facebook
CV NEWS FEED // A priest in Singapore was stabbed while distributing Communion at a Children’s Mass on November 9.
According to Channel News Asia, Father Christopher Lee is now in a stable condition at Singapore’s National University Hospital.
The assailant was apprehended by parishioners and then arrested by police. The police believe that he was acting along, not as an act of terrorism or organized crime.
The police stated that the attacker “has past antecedents for serious hurt and misuse of drugs offenses.”
The assailant had also previously declared himself a Christian to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.
The attack took place during a Children’s Mass, where children altar serve and are invited to sit in the front pews of the Church. However, adults are also present at these masses.
Members of the Archdiocesan Emergency Response Team, a group of volunteers at each parish who are trained by the archdiocese, were among the adults who subdued the attacker. The Archdiocese also has a team that is responsible for events where Cardinal William Goh is present.
Cardinal Goh said that he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the event. He added, “I am also very concerned about the psychological impact this incident may have had on our children and all who witnessed this attack.”
“I ask the faithful to remain calm, not to speculate on the incident or pass judgment without knowing all the facts. We must allow the authorities to investigate the matter,” the Cardinal urged.
The Prime Minister of Singapore, Lawrence Wong, said that he hoped parishioners would be able to heal from the traumatic event.
“Violence has no place in Singapore. Most of all, we must uphold the safety and sanctity of our places of worship – places where people seek peace, solace, and community,” Wong wrote on Facebook.
Other religious groups in Singapore expressed their support after the attack, including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Muslims.
Christian prayer movement LoveSingapore stated, “We stand with our brothers and sisters in the Catholic church denouncing violence in any place of worship.”
