In an apparent racist attack, a Catholic priest of Indian-origin was stabbed in the neck at a church in Melbourne by an Italian man who called him unqualified to say mass because of his nationality.
A man armed with a knife approached Father Tomy Kalathoor Mathew, 48, in the church foyer moments before the Italian- language mass at St Matthew’s Parish in Fawkner on Sunday. It’s believed that the offender told the priest that because he was Indian, he must be a Hindu or a Muslim and therefore unqualified to say mass, local media reported.
Father Tomy Mathew suffered minor injuries and remains in a stable condition at The Northern Hospital.
“There was an attempt on the life of a church priest of Indian origin Father Tomy Mathew in Australia by a citizen of Italian origin. Father Mathew was immediately taken to the hospital. The attacker had a problem with Father Mathew presiding over the church. Our Consulate officials met Father Mathew in the hospital. The Police have arrested the attacker and charged him with attempt to murder. Our Consulate is in touch with police authorities,” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday.
The Australian Police claimed that this appears to be an isolated incident. “There’s nothing to suggest he’s a danger to anyone else,” detective senior constable Rhiannon Norton told media.
“There was some shouting and a lot of movement at the back of the church and then I saw Father Tommy coming to approach me. He waved me over and asked me if I could look at his neck because he said “I’ve just been stabbed,” said Melina, one of the parishioners.
Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne spokesperson Shane Healy described the incident as appalling. “People should never be treated like this. This fellow is doing wonderful work for his parishioners and this is really a blight on the great work that many, many Catholic priests are doing,” he said.
Vicar general Monsignor Greg Bennet said the priest was doing well
in the hospital and wanted to get back to work soon.