VIDEO: Tension as church member storms altar and attacks Catholic Priest

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A “disturbed gentleman” attacked a Catholic priest during a Novena in Washington state on Tuesday, Feb. 4, causing the serene rite to tumble into mayhem.

Revered Father David Gaines, parish vicar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane, Washington, was praying with Bishop Thomas Daly when the attacker attacked.

The incident took place on the church’s second night of the Lourdes Novena for Healing, a nine-day period of healing prayers ending in the Feast of the Lady of Lourdes, the patron saint of healing, peace, and the ill.

The suspect was recorded on the church’s livestream rushing out of his place in the first row pew and running towards the altar, where the celebrants were kneeling.

Father Gaines stood up as the man approached him and landed a punch in the face.

Gaines rushed on top of the unidentified attacker and subdued him.

The two battled for a few seconds before church workers and other worshippers rushed to the priest’s rescue.

One of the microphones recorded a witness begging the attacker to “calm down.”

“It’s okay, buddy, it’s all right, it’s OK,” the voice said.

The rector, the Rev. Darrin Connall, who had been leading the prayer when the attack occurred, requested security as the man’s screams resonated throughout the cathedral.

Several men in attendance shackled the man and carried him out of the cathedral, and Connall returned to his post and resumed the ceremony with a prayer for “that disturbed gentleman.”

At the end of the ceremony, Connall praised everyone who “stormed the sanctuary” to assist the priests.

He also informed the congregation that the individual had been detained and charged with assault and trespassing.

Gaines was not hurt during the incident, and no one else was.

“Fr. Gaines and Bishop Daly are both doing well. Thank you for all of your concerns and thank you for joining us again for this evening’s Novena,” the church wrote on Facebook.

“Whatever his motivation was it wasn’t well, so it’s providential or ironic that we are in these days of healing and in the midst of all this, this happens from a man who needs some sort of healing in his life,” Connall told KREM.

The celebrants returned to the cathedral on Wednesday night, February 5, for the third night of prayers, during which Connall briefly discussed the incident.

“We’re fine, just a little shaken from last night but today helped, it was a troubling event last night.”

Connall mocked Gaines, suggesting he wear a bandage similar to the one President Trump wore after his attempted assassination in July 2024.

“I asked Father Gaines to process in tonight with a square bandage over his ear, I would’ve done it but Father Gaines has more integrity,” the priest said to laughs from the audience.

The individual is set to appear in court on Thursday, February 6, according to the outlet.

No reason for the attack was revealed.

Watch the video below

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