Second attack on a priest worries Singapore's catholics

After last November's knife attack on Fr Lee, Fr Cary Chan of the Holy Spirit Church was targeted this time. A 22-year-old young man with mental and physical problems attacked him and hit him in the face. The priest suffered a haematoma, but still wanted to celebrate Mass. The archdiocese: ‘Remain calm and refrain from speculation’.

Singapore (AsiaNews) - Yet another attack against a priest in Singapore. The second episode in a few months after the one last November, which is beginning to ring more than a few alarm bells in an area where there are strict controls and, at least until now, no serious episodes of violence against Catholics have been recorded.

This time it was Fr Cary Chan of the Archdiocese of Singapore who was shot by a man inside the Church of the Holy Spirit on Upper Thomson Road yesterday. The assailant, a 22-year-old young man from the city-state of Chinese origin and with special needs, punched the priest in the head, causing minor injuries to his face.

Interviewed by the local media, Fr Chan gave his testimony about the attack: ‘He gave me a hard blow to the head. I feel a bit shaken; I did not expect such a strong blow from him'. Taken by surprise, the priest had no way to defend himself, and his glasses, which were broken when they fell to the ground in the heat of the scuffle, were also at the expense.

According to Fr Chan, the attacker is a regular churchgoer and is partially blind, which is why he may not have recognised the priest. Meanwhile, the police say in a note that they have arrested a 22-year-old man involved in the attack on the Upper Thomson Road church. The police emphasise that the young man will be sent to the Institute of Mental Health for further and more thorough assessment.

The assault occurred at around 9.30 a.m., while Sunday mass was being celebrated inside the place of worship. The attacker entered shouting, causing panic among the faithful present at the service. In response, Fr Chan approached the man to intervene and ask him to follow him out of the church. Fueling the young man's anger was the fact that someone had removed his backpack from inside the church, fearing it might contain explosive material or weapons.

‘He was angry and asked for his bag back,’ Fr Chan added. Once the bag was retrieved, the man landed a punch in the priest's face, injuring him and causing his glasses to fall to the ground. Meanwhile, a volunteer from the parish security team immediately restrained the attacker and informed the police.

In spite of the attack and the hematoma on his face, the priest wanted to celebrate the 11.30am mass as planned. ‘I felt my head throbbing throughout the celebration,’ he said, ‘but I didn't want the parishioners to know.

Apart from a slight swelling on his face, the priest is in good health and after initial treatment should not require further medical attention. Meanwhile, on the incident, the Archdiocese of Singapore said: ‘While the police investigate the matter, we ask everyone to remain calm and refrain from speculation.

Local Church leaders call on the faithful and parishioners to respond with ‘faith, prayer and compassion’. ‘We ask everyone to remain calm, to avoid speculation,’ the archdiocesan note continues, ’and to pray for the priest and the person involved in the accident. When available, the Catholic leadership promised to provide further updates.

Yesterday's incident came just four months after another attack in which Fr Christopher Lee, pastor of St Joseph's Church in the Bukit Timah region in the west-central sector, was stabbed by a man while celebrating mass. Following the attack, the Catholic leadership and the authorities further tightened controls and security at places of worship, and also increased patrols.

Finally, the police urge the public and the faithful to cooperate with the security personnel deployed in places of worship as they work to ensure a safe environment for all.