Prominent Orthodox bishop stabbed in Australia by reported Islamic extremist

[Michie]

A video of the attack has circulated online showing a man dressed in black approaching Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel as he preaches and stabbing the bishop several times at the altar in Christ The Good Shepherd Orthodox Church.

Bishop Mar Mari of the Assyrian Orthodox Church seconds before being stabbed by an assailant while preaching

Editor’s note: The following contains video footage of the stabbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

Continued below.

Prominent Orthodox bishop stabbed in Australia by reported Islamic extremist - LifeSite

A video of the attack has circulated online showing a man dressed in black approaching Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel as he preaches and stabbing the bishop several times at the altar in Christ The Good Shepherd Orthodox Church.

www.lifesitenews.com

 

[Michie]

According to reports, after being stabbed, Emmanuel placed his hand on his attacker and prayed for him. Good Shepherd church asked for prayers for the bishop and his attacker in a statement.

Lord have mercy!

 

[Ave Maria]

I know that just recently ISIS called for more attacks against Christians worldwide. I wonder if this is a result of that? Here is where I read about where ISIS was calling for more attacks:

ISIS calls for 'lone wolves' to massacre Christians and Jews

ISIS spokesman Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari declared Ramadan as the 'month of jihad' and urged extremists to launch attacks in the United States, Europe and Israel

www.dailymail.co.uk

We need to pray and remain vigilant because there may very well be more attacks on Christians from radical Islamic extremists in the near future.

 

[DJWhalen]

According to reports, after being stabbed, Emmanuel placed his hand on his attacker and prayed for him. Good Shepherd church asked for prayers for the bishop and his attacker in a statement.

Lord have mercy!

I know that just recently ISIS called for more attacks against Christians worldwide. I wonder if this is a result of that? Here is where I read about where ISIS was calling for more attacks:

ISIS calls for 'lone wolves' to massacre Christians and Jews

ISIS spokesman Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari declared Ramadan as the 'month of jihad' and urged extremists to launch attacks in the United States, Europe and Israel

www.dailymail.co.uk

We need to pray and remain vigilant because there may very well be more attacks on Christians from radical Islamic extremists in the near future.

I will pray

 

[Michie]

Australian police arrest male following stabbing attack in Sydney church

In a first statement, New South Wales police urged the community to avoid the area, saying several people were stabbed, suffering “non-life threatening injuries.”

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[DJWhalen]

Australian police arrest male following stabbing attack in Sydney church

In a first statement, New South Wales police urged the community to avoid the area, saying several people were stabbed, suffering “non-life threatening injuries.”

www.catholicnewsagency.com

I am glad he is okay.

 

[RileyG]

Lord have mercy!

 

[Michie]

Australian archbishop condemns attack on Orthodox Assyrian clergy

Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher called the stabbing of Orthodox Assyrian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and Father Isaac Royel “shocking and has caused distress to many in the community.”

cruxnow.com

 

[Michie]

Bishop who survived stabbing: ‘I forgive whoever has done this’

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, who was attacked at an Australian church earlier this week, told his attacker: “You’re my son, and you’ll always be in my prayers.”

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[Bob Crowley]

It appears the 16 year old attacker may have had mental issues.

Teenager accused of Sydney church stabbing has history of behaviour consistent with mental illness, court hears

Police have charged 16-year-old boy with terrorism offence over stabbing of bishop at church in Sydney suburb of Wakeley

www.theguardian.com

 

[Michie]

Australian police make more arrests in connection with bishop's stabbing

Counter-terrorism forces raid 13 homes in Sydney; say that a further attack was possible. Five more teenage boys charged in apparent terrorism plot

aleteia.org

 

[RileyG]

May God bless him abundantly! It appears he’s ok!

 

[Bob Crowley]

It seems Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel has recoved enough to resume taking masses.

Bishop delivers first mass since alleged stabbing at Sydney church

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel has returned to the same Wakeley church where he was stabbed and given his first sermon since the alleged terror incident.

www.abc.net.au

He's wearing an eye patch. I don't think he had one before the attack so I don't know if it will be a permanent or temporary injury.

 

[Michie]

Assyrian bishop loses sight in eye after being stabbed during sermon

An Assyrian bishop stabbed while preaching a sermon at a church in Wakeley, Australia, earlier this month says he has suffered visual impairment in one of his eyes due to the incident

www.christianpost.com

 

[Bob Crowley]

While I admire the Bishop's forgiveness, the question of social media showing the attack is part of a broader debate.

It's one thing to express your views - it's another to use social media to groom would-be teenage terrorists.

There's probably never been so many scams and con artists around as there are now. I receive a few attempts at scamming every week - emails saying my network will close down unless..; alleged photos attached to the name of someone I know but whose email address is entirely different; we need to check your details etc. etc.

Australians are losing millions every day to criminals due to the net, and it is social media which supplies the means.

Then there is the problem of trying to distinguish real news from fake news, made all the more difficult due to artificial intelligence.

I sometimes catch a bus or train to the city. It is quite noticeable that just about every young person, and some not so young, spend the entire journey fooling around with their mobile phones.

Concerningly, according to research conducted by Microsoft, we have a shorter attention span than a goldfish. That is less than 9 seconds.

Social media causes attention spans to drop

I am sitting at my desk, trying to finish an assignment due tomorrow. When my phone buzzes, I force myself to look away, fighting the urge to pick it up. It always fails. I tell myself it’s just a quick minute and that I’ll finish later. However, next thing I know, it’s been an hour,...

standard.asl.org

 

[Michie]

In Echoes of Cardinal Pell Media Gag Order, Australian Judge Extends Ban Worldwide on X Sharing Video of Sydney Bishop’s Stabbing

 

[WarriorAngel]

The spiritual warfare is real.
It's brutal too.

 

[RileyG]

I just learned...

*** He wasn't canonically Orthodox. He was a member of the Ancient Church of the East (not in Communion with the RCC, EOC, Assyrian Church of the East or Oriental Orthodox Churches) and was excommunicated and deposed as a Bishop in 2014. ***

Apparently, he founded his own Church after his excommunication and was "identifying" as Orthodox.

The RCC recognizes the Sacraments of the Orthodox Churches, Assyrian Church of the East, and Polish National Catholic Church.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I just learned...

*** He wasn't canonically Orthodox. He was a member of the Ancient Church of the East (not in Communion with the RCC, EOC, Assyrian Church of the East or Oriental Orthodox Churches) and was excommunicated and deposed as a Bishop in 2014. ***

Apparently, he founded his own Church after his excommunication and was "identifying" as Orthodox.

The RCC recognizes the Sacraments of the Orthodox Churches, Assyrian Church of the East, and Polish National Catholic Church.

I have seen 'not actually catholic' churches.
It gets confusing.

But it is crazy how churches and pastors are targets

 

[RileyG]

I have seen 'not actually catholic' churches.
It gets confusing.

But it is crazy how churches and pastors are targets

Absolutely!