A wave of violent attacks against religious leaders has raised alarm worldwide, as hate crimes targeting faith communities continue to rise. In Singapore, Father Christopher Lee of St. Joseph Church was stabbed in the face during Mass on November 9, marking the third such assault on clergy in a week, Fox News reported.
The attacker, Basnayake Keith Spencer, was charged with causing grievous harm using a dangerous weapon. Father Lee, who sustained injuries to his tongue, lip, and mouth, is now recovering.
That same day in Spain, a man claiming to be “Jesus Christ” attacked three friars at the Monastery of Santo Espíritu del Monte. One of the friars, Father Juan Antonio Llorente, 76, succumbed to his injuries two days later.
In Poland, another priest, Father Lech Lachowicz, 72, died from brain injuries after an axe attack in his rectory earlier this month. The suspect in this case remains in custody.
Hate crimes have not been limited to clergy. Religious communities worldwide, particularly Jewish and Muslim populations, have experienced an uptick in incidents. A recent report by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe found that crimes against Jews surged by over 20% in 2023, with similar trends seen in the U.S.
In America, religion-based hate crimes have risen sharply, with anti-Jewish attacks making up 67% of all such incidents in 2023. FBI data also highlights an increase in anti-Catholic and anti-Muslim crimes.
Experts warn that these growing acts of violence reflect deeper societal tensions and underscore the urgent need for global efforts to address religious intolerance.
Written with the assistance of artificial intelligence.