Priest Stabbed While Saying Mass
An Indian Catholic priest was attacked by an elderly man before Sunday mass began at a church in suburban Melbourne, Australia in what appeared to be a brazen racist attack. The priest was stabbed in the neck with a kitchen knife but he was not seriously injured.
Rev. Tomy Kalathoor Matthew was about to give the 11:00 a.m. Italian-language mass when an old man approached him at the church foyer and asked to speak with him in private. The priest didn't oblige but said he could speak with him after mass. During the ceremony, the man came forward and yelled: "You are Indian, a Hindu or Muslim, you cannot say mass... I will kill you!"
The suspect drew a knife from his pants pocket and stabbed the priest in the neck. Some parishioners tried to restrain the attacker but he was able to break free and escape. The knife didn't go deep as Matthew was wearing special robes for the mass in addition to thick clothes due to the cold weather. He was taken to Northern Hospital to treat his neck wound and was discharged thereafter.
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On Sunday night, police arrested a 72-year-old man based on witnesses' description of the attacker as thinly built and wearing gray clothing. They didn't identify the suspect except to say that he is an Italian living in the neighborhood. He was seen hanging around the church last weekend but has not attended any services, according to the Daily Mail.
The assailant was charged with "intentionally and recklessly causing injury" and was later released on bail.
Since late 2014, Matthew has been the parish priest of St. Matthew's Church in William St., Fawkner North, where he is well-loved by parishioners. Despite the incident, the 48-year old priest he will continue serving the parish, Times of India reported.
