A Catholic priest was attacked by a “disturbed gentleman” throughout a prayer service in Washington state because the peaceable ceremony collapsed into chaos on Tuesday.
Father David Gaines, the parochial vicar on the Cathedral of Our Girl of Lordes in Spokane, Wash. was praying alongside Bishop Thomas Daly when the person launched his assault.
The assault occurred in the course of the church’s second night time The Lourdes Novena for Therapeutic, a collection of 9 days of prayers for therapeutic culminating with the Feast of the Girl of Lourdes, the patron saint of therapeutic, peace, and the sick.
Footage of the church’s dwell stream captured the suspect leaping out of his seat within the first row pew and working in the direction of the altar the place the celebrants have been kneeling.
Gaines stood up as the person reached him and absorbed a punch to the face.
The attacker, who was not recognized, fell to the bottom as Gaines jumped on high of him to subdue the person.
The 2 wrestled for a number of seconds earlier than church employees and different worshippers rushed to the help of the priest.
One of many microphones picked up a witness telling the attacker to “calm down.”
“It’s ok buddy, it’s alright, it’s ok,” the voice added.
Rector Father Darrin Connall – who had been main the prayer when the assault occurred – known as for safety as the person’s unintelligible yells echoed all through the cathedral.
The person was handcuffed and led out of the cathedral by a number of males in attendance as Connall to his place the place he resumed the service with a prayer for “that disturbed gentleman.”
On the finish of the service, Connall thanked those that “stormed the sanctuary” to assist the clergymen.
He additionally notified the congregants that the person was arrested and charged with assault and trespassing.
Gaines didn’t maintain any accidents to the assault and nobody else was injured.
“Fr. Gaines and Bishop Daly are both doing well. Thank you for all of your concerns and thank you for joining us again for this evening’s Novena,” the church wrote on Fb.
“Whatever his motivation was it wasn’t well, so it’s providential or ironic that we are in these days of healing and in the midst of all this, this happens from a man who needs some sort of healing in his life,” Connall instructed KREM.
The celebrants have been all again within the cathedral Wednesday night time for the third night time of prayers, the place Connall briefly spoke on the assault.
“We’re fine, just a little shaken from last night but today helped, it was a troubling event last night.”
Connall playfully poked enjoyable at Gaines and advised he ought to put on a bandage just like the one President Donald Trump wore following his assassination try in July 2024.
“I asked Father Gaines to process in tonight with a square bandage over his ear, I would’ve done it but Father Gaines has more integrity,” the priest mentioned to laughs from the viewers.
The person is predicted to seem in court docket on Thursday, the outlet reported.
No motivation was revealed in regards to the assault.
