Singapore Catholic Church calls for caution after priest stabbed during mass

Responding to the stabbing of a Catholic priest during Mass, Singaporean Cardinal William Goh conveyed the shared pain of the Catholic community and emphasized that although such violence is deeply disturbing, it is both a sobering reminder of vigilance and a testament to the church’s resolve. flexibility.

“The truth is, we shouldn’t be too surprised that this happened in our most sacred space,” he said. “A person may attack a religious leader in the church, or anyone else for that matter, for a variety of reasons.” He touched on potential motives ranging from terrorism and fanaticism to personal grievances. mental health problems.

On Saturday, November 9, at St. Peter’s Church in Upper Bukit Timah, Singapore. Father Christopher Lee, 57, was stabbed while distributing communion during a children’s mass held at St. Joseph Church. Members of the congregation, including the Archdiocesan Emergency Response Team, subdued the attacker before police arrived. The priest was taken to the National University Hospital, where he underwent successful surgery and is now in stable condition, according to the Archdiocese of Singapore. The Singapore Police Force confirmed the attacker’s serious criminal history, including drug use and causing serious injury, and stated that initial investigations showed that the attacker acted alone and that there were no current signs of terrorism.

Cardinal Goh said it was impossible to prevent every possible act of violence, but the church and its members must be prepared both mentally and operationally. He emphasized the establishment of the Archdiocesan Emergency Response Operations Council in 2016, which has been instrumental in coordinating and improving church security among congregations. “We are grateful that the church anticipated such events,” Cardinal Goh said.

Balancing security and openness

Cardinal Goh also warned against overreacting to the tragedy by implementing measures that could alienate worshipers. “Exaggerating security measures can prevent believers from coming to worship,” he said. While security is essential, the church must remain accessible and welcoming and maintain its role as a haven for spiritual solace. Cardinal Goh also stated that being prudent does not mean giving in to fear, but living prudently. “We must continue to live our lives normally by taking practical precautions and looking out for each other.”

“Religious leaders must realize that, as public figures, we carry a certain risk,” Cardinal Goh said, underlining that security should not be taken lightly, but that clergy must continue their ministry with courage. “We firmly believe that God is in charge of our lives and that He will transform evil into good. We cannot allow evil to paralyze the proclamation of the Gospel.”

Faith in the midst of pain

The attack on Father Lee raised difficult questions for many believers. “Some of you may ask why God did not protect Father Christopher. Isn’t God omnipotent? Couldn’t he have prevented this incident? Cardinal Goh agreed. He responded by reminding believers of the fundamental belief in an incarnate God who shares humanity’s suffering. “Terrible things happen because of sin and its consequences,” he said, noting that society’s declining moral values ​​contribute to such tragedies.

“But we know that at the end of the day, evil will not prevail. “We see this in the examples of the martyrs of the church,” said Cardinal Goh, emphasizing the importance of continuing to preach the Gospel of mercy, compassion and reconciliation. He called on believers to remember that Christ’s victory over death is a testament to the power of love and salvation.

Cardinal Goh asked for prayers not only for Father Lee’s recovery, but also for the attacker and for peace in society at large. “God came to heal us by his death on the cross,” he said. “He heals our brokenness by showing his mercy and forgiveness.”

“This event has made our church even stronger, bringing our people closer together through faith and prayer,” Cardinal Goh said. As the church moves forward, he said, it must do so cautiously and in unity, rejecting division and fear. “We must continue to work together to preserve religious and racial harmony and not allow confused individuals to sow division and fear among us,” he said. “Most importantly, we pray and trust in God’s protection and care for all of us in Singapore.”

Catholic Church in Singapore It is an important religious community within the city-state’s multi-ethnic, multi-religious landscape. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Statistics’ 2020 Census, Catholics make up about 3.7% of the resident population, accounting for about 150,000 of the country’s 5.7 million population. The Church in Singapore operates under the Archdiocese of Singapore, and 32 congregations serve diverse communities through worship, education and outreach. Catholic charities such as Caritas Singapore are vital in supporting the underprivileged.

Pope Francis visited Singapore from September 11 to 13, celebrating Mass attended by 50,000 people, praising the country’s multiracial unity and calling for stronger interfaith dialogue and social justice.