- Washington Priest Attacked During Mass
- The Mass was already devoted to healing when the assailants came in
- Priest recommended healing for the assailants
An assaulted Washington state priest was captured on a church livestream during a service devoted to healing said he did not know his attacker and had never met him before.
- EDITOR’S PICK
- 2025: A Glimmer of Hope Nigeria?
- Trapped in Fear Nigerians Cry Out Over Deportation Policy
- Opeifa: The Railway Man
The Rev. David Gaines lady of Lourdes in Spokane said Thursday that the attacker was brought to the service by people who had taken him off the street and believed he could “find some healing from whatever he’s struggling with.”
It was gathered that Worshippers intervened and restrained the suspect, a 40-year-old man, until authorities arrived, a Spokane police spokesman said.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor assault and is being held on outstanding felony warrants, the spokesman said.
Gaines had just given the bishop his prayer card and knelt when, he said, he saw a man running toward the church sanctuary.
“We made eye contact right at that moment,” Gaines said. “He looked very upset and kind of intense.”
In a video of the assault, the man — wearing shorts and a sweatshirt — appears to strike Gaines before a brief struggle.
“It’s all right, just calm down,” Gaines says as the man appears to grimace.
“I don’t know where he hit me, and I literally blocked that out, but his left hand was punching at me a bunch of times, and I kept swiping at it with my hand,” Gaines said.
Several parishioners rush to the sanctuary before a security guard helps escort him away.
“It’s definitely not something I expected to happen as a priest,” Gaines said. “God allows these sorts of things to happen, and then we want to figure out how to use it for some good.”
Gaines added that he has a tender place in his heart for the man, who he said “clearly needs healing.”
The Video shows a man run up and try to punch the priest at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The Rev. David Gaines dodged the blow.
He’s charged with assault, and had an outstanding arrest warrant, police said.
- FURTHER READING
- Albinism Community Urges Action as Skin Cancer Cases Surge
- FG Extends palliative programme to Support Students, DCT Residents
- Adiyan Water Works Project 80% Completion Excites Sanwo-Olu
The warrant is related to a 2023 case in which Sommers allegedly attacked a mental health employee, stole keys and used them to escape from a facility
Click Here For Video of The Week
