Priest stabbed during morning mass at Montreal’s Saint Joseph’s Oratory

Montreal police are at the scene after a priest was stabbed during morning mass at Saint Joseph’s Oratory.

A man has been arrested and Father Claude Grou, rector of the oratory, was taken away by ambulance, according to Céline Barbeau, director of communications for the oratory.

The priest was lightly injured on his upper body, said Montreal police spokesperson Const. Caroline Chèvrefils.

A 911 call was made at 8:40 a.m., and the suspect was already being held by security when police arrived.

The suspect was taken into custody and will be interviewed by investigators later today, she said.

The suspect ran at the priest from the back of the rectory and attacked him with a sharp weapon, Barbeau said.

The Montreal diocese issued a tweet saying the priest’s condition was stable and “all of our prayers are with him.”

A spokesperson for Urgences-Santé, Benoit Garneau, said the victim was conscious while being transported to hospital. Garneau would not say which hospital.

The injury was to the victim’s chest, he said, but he could not say if there was more than one stab wound.

“He was stable when he was transported,” Garneau said.

The attack was captured on a livestream and television broadcast by the Catholic channel Salt + Light.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said this type of attack has no place in the city.

“I am relieved to learn that the life of Father Claude Grou, Rector of the [Oratory] is out of danger and that his condition is stable,” she tweeted. “On behalf of all Montrealers, I wish him speedy recovery.”