Kerala priest stabbed by Italian in Melbourne church

Mangalore Today News Network

Mar 20, 2017: Reports received state that a Catholic priest from Kerala was attacked by an Italian on March 19, Sunday when the priest was leading the Sunday mass in a Melbourne church.

Rev Tomy Kalathoor Mathew was stabbed in the neck with a kitchen knife by the Italian during the mass at a Catholic church in Melbourne suburbs, media reports said.

While the Mass was going on the accused, aged in his 50s, came forward and shouted that since the priest was an Indian, he must be a Hindu or a Muslim and therefore can’t be saying mass.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne said the priest was doing well in hospital and wanted to get back to work soon, The Australin reported.

“His thoughts are only for his parishioners,” Vicar General Monsignor Greg Bennet said.

Archdiocese spokesman Shane Healy the “behavior was appalling and people should never be treated like this,” the Australian reported.

Police arrested the attacker soon, according to Indian news service IANS.

“At this stage, we believe the incident is isolated. There’s nothing to suggest he’s a danger to anyone else,” Detective Senior Constable Rhiannon Norton stated.