Recent incidents of attacks against priests have raised concerns globally, with a surge in assaults reported in various countries. In Singapore, Father Christopher Lee was stabbed in the face by Basnayake Keith Spencer during Mass, resulting in injuries to his tongue, upper lip, and mouth. Spencer has been charged and remanded for the offense. Similarly, a monastery in Spain was targeted by a man claiming to be Jesus Christ, injuring three friars, one of whom later passed away.
In Poland, Father Lech Lachowicz died from brain damage after being attacked with an axe during a robbery attempt. These attacks come amidst a backdrop of rising hate crimes worldwide, as highlighted by a recent report from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The report revealed a significant number of hate crimes against Jews, Christians, and Muslims across Europe.
In the U.S., hate crimes against Catholics ranked fourth, following incidents targeting Sikhs, Muslims, and Jews. The FBI reported a 20% increase in religiously motivated hate crimes, with over 2,500 incidents reported in 2023. Anti-Jewish bias accounted for the majority of religious hate crimes, followed by anti-Muslim attacks. Attacks against Christians, including Catholics, also saw a notable increase.
Similar trends were observed in Britain and Wales, with a rise in religion-based hate crimes. Crimes against Jews more than doubled in 2023, while attacks on Muslims also increased. These incidents underscore the growing need for heightened awareness and efforts to combat religious intolerance and violence globally.
