Canadian Catholic leaders have reiterated the right to freely worship “in safety and peace” after a gunman targeted an eastern Ontario synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Source: OSV News.
A police officer who was stationed outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville to protect the congregation inside on the evening of September 20 was wounded in the shootout and remains hospitalised in intensive care in a critical but stable condition.
The suspected gunman, later identified by the Belleville Police Service as Sean Ward, 29, is alleged to have opened fire on Constable Jeff Smith with a shotgun. Constable Smith returned fire, leaving Ward, of Quinte West, with life-threatening injuries. He was taken to a hospital where he later died.
Although multiple shots pierced one of the synagogue’s windows, no congregation members were injured, and the suspect was never able to breach the building.
A day after the shooting, Fr Luis Melo, director of the Toronto Archdiocese’s Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, spoke to The Catholic Register, Canada’s national Catholic newspaper based in Toronto.
“We stand in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters following the shooting outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. Our prayers are with the Jewish community, especially those directly affected by this act of violence. All people must be free to worship in safety and peace,” he said.
Karen Shannon, director of communications for Kingston Archdiocese of Kingston, said that at the morning Mass on Sunday at St. Joseph Church, just a few blocks down from the synagogue, Fr Rod MacNeil led the congregation in prayer for the Sons of Jacob community and all affected by “this devastating and horrific situation”.
According to Belleville Deputy Police Chief Sheri Meeks and Kristy Denette, a spokesperson for Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, the officer was already stationed outside the building as services commenced inside – a measure that synagogues across the province have been implementing.
Toronto Police Services increased its presence across the city as members of the Jewish community observed Rosh Hashanah from September 11 to 13 and Yom Kippur on September 20 and 21.
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Canadian Catholics stand with Jewish brethren following synagogue attack in Ontario (The Catholic Register via OSV News)
