Priest Severely Beaten in Birmingham

[evanovitch]

A Birmingham priest still is in a local hospital recovering from a recent beating, marking the second time in less than a month that a clergyman in Alabama has been assaulted.

The Rev. Emmanuel Isi, an associate priest at St. Paul’s Cathedral in downtown Birmingham, was dragged from his car following a wreck last Wednesday then beaten, police said.

Bishop Robert J. Baker told The Birmingham News that the priest has had neck surgery and is in danger of permanent paralysis.

In an unrelated incident on Aug. 7, a preacher at New Welcome Baptist Church in the St. Elmo community near Mobile was zapped with a Taser by Simone Moore, the minister of music who had recently been terminated and given his last paycheck.

That incident escalated into a church fight where Moore’s mother, Agolia Moore, was stabbed by one of the church deacons.

Both Simone Moore, and the deacon accused of stabbing Agolia Moore, faced criminal charges following that incident.

While the Birmingham priest’s injuries were much more serious than the Taser-related injuries for the preacher in south Alabama, both incidents are recent examples of violence associated with clergy.

While the Birmingham priest’s injuries were much more serious than the Taser-related injuries for the preacher in south Alabama, both incidents are recent examples of violence associated with clergy.

Birmingham police announced late Tuesday that Calvin Payne, 55, had been arrested and charged with attempted murder in the beating of the priest. He is in jail on $60,000 bond after being arrested at his home without incident.

Bishop Baker confirmed to The Birmingham News <span style="font-weight: bold">that Isi had been asked to discontinue a relationship with a woman and that the attacker may have been the woman’s estranged husband.
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Associates of the priest told BlackAmericaweb.com that Isi was known as a good priest with a good reputation in the Catholic community.

A native of Nigeria, Isi has been in American several years and is affiliated with the Missionary Society of St. Paul which has offices in Nigeria and in Houston, Texas, according to its website.

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The Associated Press and BlackAmericaweb.com writer Kenya Beverly contributed to this report.

[kia027]

Re: Priest Severely Beaten in Birmingham

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Bishop Baker confirmed to The Birmingham News that Isi had been asked to discontinue a relationship with a woman and that the attacker may have been the woman’s estranged husband.

Associates of the priest told BlackAmericaweb.com that Isi was known as a good priest with a good reputation in the Catholic community.

A native of Nigeria, Isi has been in American several years and is affiliated with the Missionary Society of St. Paul which has offices in Nigeria and in Houston, Texas, according to its website.</div></div>

Given that he is Catholic and has taken a so called vow of celibacy is what kind of relationship the priest had wid de man ooman?

[evanovitch]

Re: Priest Severely Beaten in Birmingham

this is my problem with the church at large..if u dont confront the problems within, how can u go about evangelizing...it is hypocritical to do so if u dont chastise those who seh dem represent the Gospel...

it shows a lack of conviction on dem part fi hesitate fi cry out against them suppose bredrin but always crying out against the unsaved

deal wid di supposed save also

but all dis is a reflection of upholding n bigging up the messenger at the expense of the message...wich is, that change has to come wid ur commitment to Christ..and the change is ONLY effected by U di smaddy who seh u ansa di call

but everybody so busy bigging up di supposed Apostles and Prophets etc dat the real failings falling by the wayside