‘This is for all the kids!’ he yelled as he choked a priest at the altar, Catholic officials say

By Lisa Gutierrez
Charlotte Observer
August 22, 2018

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article217125365.html

Catholic Church officials say an Indiana priest was attacked and left unconscious in his church Monday by a man who yelled, “This is for all the kids!” Local police have turned the investigation over to the FBI.

A Catholic priest in Indiana was attacked in his church Monday morning by a man he heard yelling, “This is for all the kids!” church officials said.

The Rev. Basil Hutsko was left unconscious for about 15 minutes after the attack at St. Michael Byzantine Church in Merrillville, Indiana, the Rev. Thomas Loya told WGN in Chicago.

Hutsko said “the attacker grabbed him, choked him and threw him to the ground and knocked him unconscious,” Loya told WGN. “He was wearing gloves. Father Basil does not know who it was, but while he was attacking him, he heard the attacker say, ‘This is for all the kids!’”

Loya said Hutsko believes that was a reference to the recently revealed findings of a two-year grand jury investigation that found Roman Catholic Church leaders in Pennsylvania covered up cases of child sex abuse by priests over several decades.

Merrillville police confirmed to the Times of Northwest Indiana that the attack has been forwarded to the FBI for investigation as a possible hate crime. No suspect is in custody.

Hutsko was “definitely bruised and banged up,” when police arrived about 11:30 a.m. Monday to take a report on the incident, Commander Jeff Rice of the Merrillville Police Department told the Chicago Tribune.

Hutsko has not been accused of abuse, Loya told the Catholic News Service.

Hutsko was “an innocent random victim — a random, innocent target,” Loya told CNS. “All clergy now have to be vigilant. Not paranoid, but vigilant.”