Szczecin, Poland, Jul 29, 2019 / 10:03 am
A Catholic priest was severely beaten in an attack by three men in the sacristy of St. John the Baptist church in Szczecin on Sunday, in what was reportedly an attempted robbery.
Fr. Aleksander Ziejewski, 68, was attacked July 28 shortly before the 6 pm Mass. He had responded to a call for help from the sacristan, who said three men had entered the sacristy and were trying to take a chasuble, claiming they needed it to celebrate Mass, according to the priest.
According to Radio Szczecin, the men, who had also demanded other religious goods, intended to rob the church.
Ziejewski told EWTN Poland that he entered the sacristy and asked the men to leave, when "one of them got angry, started to blaspheme," and pushed both the sacristan and the church's security guard, who was also present.