Newark auxiliary bishop assaulted during Mass [CNA]

[CNA_News]

Newark, N.J., Jan 29, 2017 / 09:33 am (CNA/EWTN News).- What started as a Mass remembering a Latino baseball star and humanitarian quickly took a violent turn as an auxiliary bishop was assaulted at the Newark cathedral Saturday.

Newark Auxiliary Bishop Manuel Cruz was offering the opening prayers of the Mass when a man wearing a white robe over a red suit left his pew, approached the altar, and punched the bishop in the face, according to local news outlets.

The bishop fell backwards on the altar. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, although officials say his injuries are not serious.

A 48-year-old Newark man has been arrested and charged with assault, according to NJ.com. Officials did not speculate on a possible motive.

The Mass – which was being held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart – was intended to commemorate the 44th anniversary of the death of Roberto Clemente, a Puerto Rican professional baseball player.

In addition to making the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemente was known for his humanitarian work. He died in a plane crash in 1972 while on his way to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

After Bishop Cruz was assaulted, the Mass was rescheduled for the next day at a nearby church, according to TapIntoNewark.com.

“We are thankful that law enforcement officers were able to apprehend the assailant,” archdioceses spokesman James Goodness told reporters. “This is not something that we expect to happen in any of our churches.”

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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/catholicnewsagency/dailynews/~4/MQ1aTh31e20

Full article…

 

[PluniaZ]

God come to our rescue.

Lord, make haste to help us.

 

[Church_Militant]

Boy that’s messed up and one of the reasons my black belt self is always on the center aisle near the front. Nobody with ill intent will reach our altar if I can help it and if they do, they’ll securely be in pain waiting for the cops to pick 'em up.:irish1:
Psalm 144:[1] Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for war,
and my fingers for battle;
[2] my rock and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
who subdues the peoples under him.

 

[tawny]

Praying for the safety & well being of our Priests & Deacons as well as any Man of the Cloth.

 

[7_Sorrows]

how terrible! prayers for the health and well being of the auxiliary bishop who was assaulted.

 

[sunnygirl807]

Praying for the bishop. Why would someone do that?

 

[Peebo]

The guy was wearing a white robe over a red suit?..could that be some sort of anti Catholic/ clerical statement.

 

[Pulvis]

I’m with CM. Someone strange starts heading for the Altar, they are going to find themselves in the hurt locker.

 

[Brendan]

The guy was clearly insane. After all, who drives a purple Eldorado with a faux zebra interior

However, several of the officers swarmed around a classic purple Cadillac Eldorado parked immediately in front of the cathedral. The car, which has a faux-zebra skin interior and New Jersey license plates,

tapinto.net/towns/newark/articles/auxiliary-catholic-bishop-of-newark-assaulted-dur

Just sayin’

 

[7_Sorrows]

The guy was clearly insane. After all, who drives a purple Eldorado with a faux zebra interior

tapinto.net/towns/newark/articles/auxiliary-catholic-bishop-of-newark-assaulted-dur

Just sayin’

Thank goodness they had security. I wonder why the one officer didn’t stop him, but
followed him as he approached the auxiliary bishop. Why would this man do such a thing?

 

[Church_Militant]

I understand that the archbishop suffered some loose teeth and is recovering at home now. Any news on motive? I found it…
Defiant First Appearance By Man Charged With Attack On Catholic Bishop In Newark Offers Clues To Motive

He’s a foul mouthed “preacher” who may have some mental health problems, but God help the guy who goes after a priest in my parish Mass if I’m there. He’ll never make the altar…

 

[James248]

I understand that the archbishop suffered some loose teeth and is recovering at home now. Any news on motive? I found it…
Defiant First Appearance By Man Charged With Attack On Catholic Bishop In Newark Offers Clues To Motive

He’s a foul mouthed “preacher” who may have some mental health problems, but God help the guy who goes after a priest in my parish Mass if I’m there. He’ll never make the altar…

If I were there, I would basically make him wish he never went through with the idea. I suppose that isn’t very Christian of me.

 

[Church_Militant]

If I were there, I would basically make him wish he never went through with the idea. I suppose that isn’t very Christian of me.

I don’t know about that Brother. Look here at the church’s teachings on legitimate defense.

**Legitimate defense
**
2263 The legitimate defense of persons and societies is not an exception to the prohibition against the murder of the innocent that constitutes intentional killing. "The act of self-defense can have a double effect: the preservation of one’s own life; and the killing of the aggressor. . . . The one is intended, the other is not."65

2264 Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore it is legitimate to insist on respect for one’s own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow:

If a man in self-defense uses more than necessary violence, it will be unlawful: whereas if he repels force with moderation, his defense will be lawful. . . . Nor is it necessary for salvation that a man omit the act of moderate self-defense to avoid killing the other man, since one is bound to take more care of one’s own life than of another’s.66

2265 Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm. For this reason, those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility.

Our defense of a priest or bishop especially one like this of more advanced age would fall under that last paragraph since just as the Good Samaritan acted on behalf one weaker than he we too, who have skills in self defense, would have a tacit responsibility to intervene. Not with lethal intention of course but to interfere with and deter and halt the assault and perhaps detain the aggressor.

Consider what King David says in Psalm 144:1.

[1] Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for war,
and my fingers for battle;

 

[John_Lazarus]

If I were there, I would basically make him wish he never went through with the idea. I suppose that isn’t very Christian of me.

I assumed you meant you would take him to one side and gently admonish him with Christian brotherly love until he saw the error of his ways and achieved perfect contrition.

 

[Della]

I assumed you meant you would take him to one side and gently admonish him with Christian brotherly love until he saw the error of his ways and achieved perfect contrition.

Ideally, but if the guy keeps taking swings at people, then it’s perfectly lawful, and even one’s duty, to restrain him so he can do no more harm. Sometimes that means using force rather than reason, because people who do these kinds of things have demonstrated that they have abandoned reason for hate or insanity.