A priest was assaulted.
Violence against religious leaders and communities is on the rise globally, as highlighted by a series of recent attacks on priests. On November 9, Father Christopher Lee of St. Joseph Church in Bukit Timah, Singapore, was stabbed during Mass while distributing Holy Communion. The attacker, identified as Basnayake Keith Spencer, inflicted injuries on Father Lee’s tongue, lip, and mouth. Spencer has been charged with causing grievous hurt using a dangerous weapon and is currently in custody. Thankfully, Father Lee is recovering from his injuries.
The same day saw another violent incident in Spain at the Monastery of Santo Espíritu del Monte in Gilet. A man, reportedly yelling that he was “Jesus Christ,” attacked three friars with a blunt object. One of the victims, 76-year-old Father Juan Antonio Llorente, succumbed to his injuries two days later. Meanwhile, in Poland, Father Lech Lachowicz, aged 72, died from severe brain injuries sustained during a November 3 attack by an axe-wielding individual. This assault occurred during a suspected robbery at his rectory. In another case in Philadelphia, a priest was attacked in his home, though he is now recovering.
These incidents are part of a broader increase in hate crimes targeting religious groups. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) documented over 4,480 anti-Jewish incidents, 580 against Christians, and nearly 240 targeting Muslims across 48 nations. While attacks on Christians and Muslims slightly decreased compared to last year, anti-Jewish crimes surged by more than 20%. In the United States, religiously motivated hate crimes also rose, with over 2,500 incidents reported in 2023, a significant increase from the previous year.
In the U.S., anti-Jewish attacks accounted for 67% of reported religious hate crimes, followed by anti-Muslim and anti-Sikh incidents. Christian groups, including Catholics and Protestants, made up over 6% of the cases. Similarly, Britain and Wales saw a 25% increase in religion-based hate crimes in 2023, with attacks on Jews more than doubling and incidents against Muslims rising by 13%.
These troubling trends underline the growing challenges faced by religious communities worldwide. As hate crimes increase, particularly targeting Jews, Christians, and Muslims, the need for stronger protection and preventative measures becomes urgent. Governments and organizations must address the root causes of such intolerance and work to ensure the safety and security of all faith groups.
