Lord have mercy, indeed.

Auxiliary Bishop Manuel Cruz of Newark had just completed the Kyrie in Mass when a man walked up to the front of the church and punched him in the face.

Here’s a gif of the attack (full video at the end of this article):

Newark Incorporated, YouTube

The man was quickly subdued by security as the bishop fell to the ground and people in the pews screamed. The Kyrie includes the lines, “Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.”

The incident took place at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart and was for beloved Catholic Latino baseball star Roberto Clemente.

“We are thankful that law enforcement officers were able to apprehend the assailant,” an archdiocesan spokesman later said. “This is not something that we expect to happen in any of our churches.”

The bishop was taken to the hospital but did not have serious injuries. A 48-year-old man has been arrested and charged with the assault, though police had not released any information regarding a possible motive.

Here’s the full video of the terrible attack:

Say a prayer for the bishop and for the attacker!

[See also: Breathtaking! Pro-Life Students Sing Enchanting Hymn in IL State Capitol]

[See also: 7 Answers to the Ridiculous “Pro-Lifers Are Just Pro-Birth” Argument]

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