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Unruly Church Incident: Priest Attacked During Mass
On February 4, 2025, during the second night of the Novena of Lourdes for healing at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane, Washington, a man described as “disturbed” attacked Rev. David Gaines. The assailant rushed the altar, where Rev. Gaines was praying alongside Bishop Thomas Daly, and struck the priest. Rev. Gaines managed to subdue the attacker until church staff and congregants intervened.
The man was subsequently arrested and charged with assault and trespassing. Rev. Gaines was unharmed, and the service continued with prayers for the assailant. The motive behind the attack remains unclear.
This incident is part of a concerning trend of attacks on religious figures and institutions worldwide. Recent reports indicate a rise in hate crimes targeting various religious communities, including Catholics, Jews, and Muslims, across Europe and the United States.
Notably, in Singapore, Father Christopher Lee was stabbed while distributing Holy Communion, and in Spain, Father Juan Antonio Llorente was fatally injured during an attack at the Monastery of Santo EspĂritu del Monte. Authorities are urging increased vigilance and security measures to protect religious gatherings and leaders.
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