Another murdered priest

By Matt C. Abbott
Renew America
June 16, 2014

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/140616

Sixteen years after the still-unsolved murder of Father Alfred Kunz of the Diocese of Madison, Wis., another priest who celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass, Father Kenneth Walker of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), was murdered just a few days ago in Phoenix, Ariz.

While I sincerely doubt there's any connection between the two murders, it nonetheless is quite unsettling, particularly given that Christians in general have been facing increasing hostility and persecution.

From The Associated Press:

• Police said the investigation into a deadly priest shooting at a Roman Catholic church in Phoenix has been stymied by a lack of usable surveillance video and a vague account of the attack by a second severely injured clergyman....
  
  The investigation is playing out as parishioners are mourning the loss of the Rev. Kenneth Walker, 28, and praying for the recovery of the Rev. Joseph Terra, 56, who was so badly beaten in the Wednesday night attack in the rectory of their church that police were worried he wouldn't survive the night....
  
  Investigators have been able to rule out several theories, including speculation of a dispute between the priests....

Click here to read the statement by the superior general of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter.

Click here to see a homily given by the late Father Walker.

Requiem Aeternam dona ei, Domine. Et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace.

Let's hope that Father Walker's killer(s), and Father Terra's attacker(s), will be brought to justice sooner rather than later. In this case, there's speculation that robbery was the motive, although at this point, it's just that – speculation.

In the Father Kunz case, robbery was almost certainly not the motive. In fact, the prime person of interest, who's never been arrested due to an apparent lack of evidence, was well known to Father Kunz and was (perhaps still is) a practicing Catholic.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.