Would-be murderer disguised as liturgical dancer…

And you thought liturgical dancers were just harmless distractions…

According to Catholic News Agency (CNA), Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako was almost assassinated during an outdoor Mass in Khartoum, Sudan, by a man who disguised himself as a liturgical dancer:

The man disguised himself and joined the liturgical dancers at the crowded stage where the altar had been set up, the Catholic Information Service of Africa (CISA) reports. He proceeded up to the stage amid the dancers and pretended to dance while waving a dagger.

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The assassin was within four steps of the stage when Master of Ceremonies Barnaba Matuec Anei, seated next to the cardinal, spotted him. Matuec caught and disarmed the man before handing him over to the security guards.

The cardinal was celebrating the feast of St. Daniel Comboni, a bishop who established the Church in Sudan. According to the news report, Cardinal Wako is Comboni’s “seventh successor as Archbishop of Khartoum and is the first Sudanese bishop to hold the office.”

Some think this assassination attempt is related to the upcoming vote on the secession of southern Sudan. The lives of Christians in the north may be in danger if the south secedes, according to some international experts.

Author

  • Zoe Romanowsky

    Zoe Romanowsky is writer, consultant, and coach. Her articles have appeared in “Catholic Digest,” “Faith & Family,” “National Catholic Register,” “Our Sunday Visitor,” “Urbanite,” “Baltimore Eats,” and Godspy.com. Zo

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