MetroNews.ca
Published: October 24, 2010 10:16 p.m.
Last modified: October 25, 2010 10:54 a.m.
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – A priest who dislocated his shoulder as he rushed to the aid of a Roman Catholic bishop brutally beaten in his own rectory says the true pain he feels is that he wasn’t able to help.
Vincent Asomugha was upstairs in the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Kamloops, B.C., Friday night when he heard a furious knock at the door. He said he chose not to answer.
“I feel afraid, it was getting dark. If it is something that happen in the daytime, no problem,” the 44-year-old Nigerian man said in broken English in an interview Sunday.
“I can wonder if the person is armed or not, but it is something that happen at night when it’s getting dark. I feel I am not safe.”
Only 15 minutes later, Asomugha heard the sounds of a struggle downstairs. He injured himself slipping on stairs as he ran towards the commotion, unsuccessfully tried to trigger an alarm and finally found another priest to help.
Asomugha and Bishop David Monroe, found bleeding and unconscious, were both taken to hospital after the assault around 10 p.m.
“For the person who did this, well, we still pray for forgiveness and a change of hearts because I don’t know him, I haven’t met with him, we don’t know what he wanted.”
RCMP said late Saturday they are proposing charges of aggravated assault against a 30-year-old man suspected in the attack.
Monroe, 69, was in serious but stable condition in hospital Sunday, having suffered severe trauma to his face and head. He also suffered bruises and lacerations to other parts of his body.
Mounties haven’t named the suspect, but say he is still in custody pending a court appearance Monday. That’s when the Crown will announce whether they’ll lay the recommended charge.
After responding to the assault, investigators learned of a disturbed man who was taken to hospital earlier that day by a family member concerned for his mental well-being.
The man smashed a window at the hospital and fled, but was located by police using dogs and a helicopter inside a shed at a trailer park around 1 a.m.
Monroe has been the bishop for almost nine years of the 100,000-square-kilometre diocese, which stretches from the Alberta border near Jasper to the resort town of Whistler, B.C.
Congregants who gathered at the church for Sunday mass heard a homily that touched on themes of healing and forgiveness.
(The Canadian Press, CHNL)
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