Taize, France, Aug 16, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Catholics and Protestants alike are shocked today at the stabbing to death of Brother Roger Schultz, founder of the well respected ecumenical Taizé monastic community in eastern France.
According to reports, a 36-year old Romanian woman overpowered and stabbed Brother Roger, 90, three times in the throat during a prayer service in front of some 2,500 pilgrims at Reconciliation Church in Burgundy.
Catholic leaders at Cologne’s World Youth Day, as well as other religious leaders have expressed shock and sorrow at the death of the Swiss-born pastor.
Heiner Koch, secretary general for WYD said in a statement that, “Brother Roger has always been closely attached to the Catholic Church…We were all happy and grateful that he attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II."