Man Stabs Priest During Morning Mass in Montreal

[kellyhound]

Montreal’s famed Saint Joseph’s Oratory says a priest who was stabbed during morning mass is expected to survive the attack.

In a tweet just before noon on Friday, the oratory said Father Claude Grou’s life is “not in danger” following the stabbing.

Montreal police say a 26-year-old suspect has been arrested. He was taken to the station for questioning.

Police said the man is known to police, CTV Montreal’s Rob Lurie reported.

Investigators said a call came in about a stabbing at the church at approximately 8:40 a.m. on Friday morning when the priest was in the process of celebrating mass before approximately 60 worshippers.

Shortly after the attack, the Diocese of Montreal identified the priest as Father Claude Grou, the rector of the church.

The mass was being livestreamed by the Catholic television network Sel+Lumiere TV, which airs the religious ceremony daily, when the stabbing occurred. The footage was quickly removed from the website following the attack.

In the video, a man wearing a dark winter coat and a light-coloured baseball cap pulled out a large knife and walked in front of the altar. The footage shows the suspect run up the steps towards the priest.

Grou attempted to run away as the attacker knocked over a candle. The video shows the man quickly catch up to the priest and push him to the ground before he appears to stab him.

Following the stabbing, the suspect dropped the knife and stood up as members of the congregation ran towards him. Three men restrained the attacker while other people went to help Grou who appeared to stand up on his own.

Lurie reported that the assailant slashed Grou in his stomach and the knife broke during the attack.

Adele Plamondon was attending mass that morning and told CTV Montreal that she saw the attacker walk towards the altar.

“I thought he was going to kneel to say a prayer in front of the Saint Joseph’s statue, but he quickly came up the stairs taking a big knife out of his side and I realized what his intentions were so I ran out of the church screaming to alert the security,” she recalled.

Witness Philip Barrett told The Canadian Press that he was sitting near the front of the church when he saw the suspect rise from a pew and approach the sanctuary during the mass.

“I do remember the priest was moving away from the man but it happened so quickly there was almost no time to react,” he recalled.

Barrett said the suspect didn’t speak or call out during the attack and he didn’t struggle once he was subdued.

The church’s security agents detained the man until police arrived. The suspect was arrested and taken to the station for questioning.

Paramedics treated the priest for minor injuries to his upper body at the scene. Plamondon said she spoke to Grou shortly after he was stabbed.

“I said Saint Joseph’s angels have protected you,” she said.

CTV News’ Vanessa Lee said onlookers told her that Grou was sitting up and talking before he was transported to hospital for further treatment.

In a tweet, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Montreal said the priest’s condition was “stable.”

Church staff told Lee they’re hopeful he will make a full recovery. Now 77 years old, Grou has been at Saint Joseph’s Oratory for more than 20 years, Lee reported.

“Everybody working here at the oratory and most of our pilgrims are shocked and very, very sad. As we speak, there’s mass going on in the basilica of the oratory and I’m sure everybody’s praying for him,” the oratory’s spokesperson Celine Barbeau said.

The spokesperson said they have no idea why this attack occurred.

“There’s so many reasons why this may have happened. We do not know why,” she said. “I don’t think it was directed directly to the man [Grou], but who can say?”

Despite the stabbing, Lee said the oratory will not be closed to the public on Friday. She said the lower church, where the attack occurred, remains closed for the police investigation.

According to its website, Saint Joseph’s Oratory is the largest shrine dedicated to Saint Joseph in the world and receives approximately two million visitors from around the world each year.

Lee said the officials at the oratory said they have a security team at the church at all times and reassured the public that it’s safe to visit.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the attack as “horrible” in a tweet he shared Friday.

“What a horrible attack at Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal this morning. Father Claude Grou, Canadians are thinking of you and wishing you a swift recovery,” he said.

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante, too, expressed her reaction to the incident on Twitter.

“What a horrible and inexcusable gesture that has no place in Montreal. I am relieved to learn that the life of Father Claude Grou, Rector of the @osjmr, is out of danger and that his condition is stable. On behalf of all Montrealers, I wish him a speedy recovery.”

Liberal MP Rachel Bendayan, who represents the riding of Outremont, Que. where the church is located, said she was shocked by the news.

“My team is at the church offering all our support. Am on my way back to Outremont to be with you,” she tweeted.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/montre...tory-1.4347482

[Oswald2001]

Any word on which mosque the stabber attended?

[RiversEdge]

Originally Posted by Oswald2001

Any word on which mosque the stabber attended?

I too, was wondering if it was retribution for the recent NZ thingy.

[Oswald2001]

Originally Posted by RiversEdge

I too, was wondering if it was retribution for the recent NZ thingy.

It's not 'retribution' for anything.

It's just what 'they' do.

Check out their history.

1,400 years of this type of thing.

And much much worse.

[Bletch]

Originally Posted by RiversEdge

I too, was wondering if it was retribution for the recent NZ thingy.

Probably a retribution for NZ. I’m surprised I only learned of this here...

[Heavy]

Yea, your not going to see what the political left wants to hide.

[BinLaughin69]

Originally Posted by Oswald2001

It's not 'retribution' for anything.

It's just what 'they' do.

Check out their history.

1,400 years of this type of thing.

And much much worse.

Could literally say the same thing about whites, and all of the atrocities that Europe has committed. Humans are the most dangerous thing on Earth.

[kellyhound]

A Montreal man charged with the attempted murder of a Catholic priest last week was ordered Monday to undergo an evaluation at a psychiatric hospital.

The Crown and defence agreed that Vlad Cristian Eremia should go to Montreal's Pinel Institute to assess his level of criminal responsibility.

Eremia, 26, met with a criminologist at the Montreal courthouse, who made the recommendation just four days after Rev. Claude Grou suffered minor injuries in a knife attack at Montreal's St. Joseph's Oratory during morning mass.

Quebec court Judge Pierre Labelle ordered Eremia to remain at the hospital for 30 days, returning to court on April 26.

"There were some facts and information collected by the criminologist this morning that an evaluation for his criminal responsibility would be important in the present file," prosecutor Simon Boulianne said following the brief hearing. "We'll wait for the report regarding that evaluation."

Eremia, who was arraigned over the weekend, also faces a charge of assault with a weapon. He was represented by legal-aid lawyer Fabrice Poirier on Monday.

Grou, 77, was released from hospital Friday night. The Oratory's rector, he said in a statement over the weekend that despite the attack, he holds no ill will towards his alleged assailant.

"I have no resentment against Mr. Eremia. I hope he has all the support he needs and that he finds peace. I am convinced that he had no personal animosity towards me but that he acted according to his own convictions," Grou said.

The incident Friday morning was captured on a live stream when a man with a knife rushed the sanctuary of the landmark church and stabbed Grou in front of dozens of worshippers.

Witnesses said a man rose from a pew midway through the morning mass and rounded the altar to stab Grou as he prepared to proclaim the gospel. They said the suspect, who was quickly restrained by those present, did not speak during the attack and waited calmly for police to arrive.

Police have not suggested a motive for the attack, but say there's no evidence to suggest the suspect was linked to any group.

On Saturday, the Crown objected to Eremia's release.

==========================================

'Life is a precious gift,' says priest, back in the pulpit at St. Joseph's Oratory a week after stabbing.

Father Claude Grou, 77, says he is recovering well both physically and emotionally.

He got an ovation from those in the pews upon his return, and he said the incident influenced his homily, which focused on getting back to basics.

Grou said he had never seen the man who stabbed him before but he is open to meeting him.

"I have no resentment toward that person. On the contrary, I feel he is a person who needs help, and I'm sure he will get the help he needs, and I pray the Lord will assist him in his progress," he said.

[William May]

Well, they could always have stage a crucifixion. Got a lot of priests handy, and the crosses, too!
"We didn't see nuthin! It was an act of God, a real miracle!!!"

[gavsta777]

Originally Posted by RiversEdge

I too, was wondering if it was retribution for the recent NZ thingy.

no i'd say the sri-lanka bombings were that retaliation... sad state of affairs