Faith communities unite in solidarity after stabbing incident at St Joseph’s Church
Religious leaders across Singapore strongly condemned the November 9 attack on Reverend Christopher Lee, the parish priest of St Joseph’s Church, during a Holy Communion service. The Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), representing ten major faiths, expressed solidarity with the Catholic community, emphasizing that violence in places of worship is unacceptable.
The IRO, which includes faiths such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, condemned the attack, describing places of worship as sacred spaces. They expressed gratitude for the agencies protecting the community and urged the public to support Catholics in this difficult time. “These are times to demonstrate interfaith compassion and social cohesion,” the IRO stated, reinforcing the importance of remaining united and calm.
Other religious organizations, including the Sikh Advisory Board and the Singapore Buddhist Federation, also condemned the attack. The Sikh Advisory Board expressed its shock and sorrow, offering prayers for Reverend Lee’s recovery and urging calm while investigations continue. Similarly, the Buddhist community called the attack “appallingly heinous” and reiterated the need to avoid speculation or rumors to preserve religious harmony.
The Taoist Quan Zhen Cultural Society and the Alliance of Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches of Singapore also voiced their support for the Catholic Church and condemned violence in sacred spaces. The Alliance of Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches expressed relief that the assailant had been apprehended, emphasizing the need for peaceful environments in religious settings.
All groups echoed the call for the public to remain calm and avoid speculating, as investigations into the incident continue.
