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October 21, 2024

Priest shot dead in Mexico's increasingly violent Chiapas state

Father Marcelo Pérez shows a monstrance to a resident of Simojovel, in Mexico's Chiapas state, June 13, 2020. Father Pérez, who ministered in Indigenous regions rife with territorial conflicts and later denounced drug cartel violence, was shot dead Oct. 20, 2024, by two assailants on a motorcycle as he drove away from the Guadalupe church in San Cristóbal de las Casas, according to Mexican media reports.

An Indigenous Tzotzil priest and peace activist was murdered after celebrating Sunday Mass in Mexico's southern Chiapas state, where the Catholic Church has denounced government inaction in the face of rising violence.

Published in International
December 11, 2023

Nebraska priest dies after attack during apparent rectory break-in

The Washington County Sheriff's Office investigates the scene of a fatal stabbing at the rectory of St. John the Baptist Parish in Fort Calhoun, Neb., Dec. 10, 2023. Father Stephen Gutgsell, pastoral administrator of the church died after being attacked in his rectory in the early morning of the Second Sunday of Advent.

A Nebraska priest has died after being attacked in the rectory of his parish in the early morning before he was to celebrate Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent.

Published in International
February 24, 2023

Suspect in shooting death of LA Bishop O'Connell charged with murder

Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David G. O'Connell is pictured speaking with parishioners outside St. Frances X. Cabrini Church in Los Angeles July 19, 2015. According to local news reports, Los Angeles County sheriffs found him dead of a gunshot wound at his home Feb. 18, 2023.

The suspect in the shooting death of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell was formally charged with murder Feb. 22 after admitting to killing him.

Published in International
February 22, 2023

LA sheriff details arrest of suspect in shooting death of Bishop O'Connell

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna comforts Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez while he speaks during a Feb. 20, 2023, news conference after the arrest of 65-year-old Carlos Medina, the suspect in the murder of Auxiliary Bishop David G. O'Connell. Bishop O'Connell was found dead of a single gunshot wound Feb. 18 at his home in Hacienda Heights, a neighbourhood east of Los Angeles.

A 65-year-old Hispanic man was taken into custody the morning of Feb. 20 by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies as the prime suspect in the murder of Auxiliary Bishop David G. O'Connell of Los Angeles.

Published in International
March 17, 2022

Four sentenced in 2016 killing of French priest

People hold a banner with a picture of French Fr. Jacques Hamel after a July 27, 2016, Mass at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The banner reads, “Where there is hatred, let me sow love.” On March 9, a French court sentenced four men in connection with the priest’s murder.

A Paris court sentenced four men in connection with the 2016 killing of Fr. Jacques Hamel, giving them sentences ranging from eight years to life in prison.

Published in International
August 9, 2021

Rwandan immigrant turns himself in for killing French priest

Rwandan immigrant turns himself in for killing French priest

SAINT-LAURENT-SUR-SÈVRE, France -- A Rwandan immigrant awaiting trial for the arson of the cathedral in Nantes turned himself in to police for killing the French provincial of the Montfort Missionaries.

Published in International
May 4, 2020

Sacristan sentenced to life in prison for murder of Indian shrine rector

Father Xavier Thelakkat, rector of the shrine of St. Thomas in Malayattoor, India, pictured in a 2012 photo, was stabbed to death in 2018. An Indian court sentenced former sacristan Johny Vattaparamban, 54, to life imprisonment for the murder of Father Thelakkat in southern Kerala state.

COCHIN, India -- An Indian court sentenced former sacristan Johny Vattaparamban, 54, to life imprisonment for the 2018 murder of the rector of popular St. Thomas Shrine at Malayattoor, in southern Kerala state.

Published in International
October 18, 2019

Catholic priest murdered in Kenya, latest in string of killings

Father Gerald Matolo, the priest who first received Fr. Michael Maingi Kyengo at the Thatha Parish is seen in this 2017 file photo. Father Matolo said Father Kyengo may have been targeted by someone who thought he had money.

NAIROBI, Kenya -- A Catholic priest who disappeared from his family home was found dead in a shallow grave in southeastern Kenya a week after he was reported missing.

Published in International
June 14, 2019

Salvadoran authorities arrest sacristan as suspect in priest killing

Priests carry the casket of Father Cecilio Perez Cruz during his funeral procession in Sonzacate, El Salvador, May 20, 2019. Parishioners found Father Perez dead in his residence in Juayua early May 18 with a note nearby that said he had not paid "rent," a euphemism for extortion money.

WASHINGTON -- A 34-year-old sacristan is in the custody of Salvadoran authorities in connection with the May killing of a Salvadoran priest.

Published in International