New York archbishop condemns Manhattan synagogue attack
Archbishop Ronald Hicks affirmed the Jewish community’s right to worship without fear and urged Catholics to reject divisions between what he described as insiders and outsiders.
The archbishop of New York condemned an Aug. 14 attack on a Manhattan synagogue, urging the faithful to reject hatred by recognizing every person as a child of God.
During his Aug. 16 homily at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Archbishop Ronald Hicks addressed the violence at Central Synagogue and expressed Catholics’ solidarity with the Jewish community, according to Newsmax.
“Just two days ago on Friday evening right here in Midtown New York City, a Jewish Shabbat service was disrupted and worshippers were assaulted in their own synagogue,” he said according to Newsmax. “As Catholics, we completely reject such acts and such hatred.”
The attack occurred after a man, later identified as Larry Montes, entered Central Synagogue during a Shabbat service, damaged two religious candleholders, struck a 63-year-old worshipper, and assaulted a 65-year-old security guard, according to an Aug. 15 New York Post report.
The outlet reported that prosecutors said Montes, 46, admitted his actions were motivated by hostility toward Jewish people and referred to the worshippers as “swine” and “fake Jews.”
Archbishop Hicks connected his appeal to the day’s Gospel, in which the disciples sought to turn away a Canaanite woman who approached Jesus seeking help for her daughter.
“The disciples, they saw an outsider in this Canaanite woman,” he said in the homily, according to Newsmax. “And Jesus saw a daughter of God.”
The archbishop then encouraged Catholics to to extend Christ’s mercy to anyone they may have excluded, such as relatives, co-workers, and people with different views.
“The world may see an outsider,” he said. “Jesus sees a son or daughter of God.”
The archbishop said theological differences do not diminish Catholics’ responsibility toward their Jewish neighbors.
“They are our brothers and sisters,” he said. “We respect them. We pray for them and with them.”
He continued, saying, “They have the same right that we claim for ourselves: to worship God freely and peacefully without fear of harassment, intimidation or violence. Any attack on people gathered to pray is an attack on something sacred.”
According to the New York Post, prosecutors said Montes faces assault, aggravated harassment, and criminal mischief charges. A judge set his bail at $10,000 cash or a $30,000 bond.
