Turn the other cheek? New Jersey man assaults bishop during Mass

Entire assault was captured on film.

A shocking video shows a man assaulting an auxiliary bishop in the face during Mass. The assault took place on film at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- Charles E. Miller, 48, has been identified in court documents as the man who allegedly punched the Rev. Manuel A. Cruz, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, in the mouth on Saturday. The assault occurred during the middle of Mass.

In the video, Miller is seen approaching the bishop, followed by a security guard. Once he is close to the unsuspecting bishop, he throws a punch at his face, and the bishop falls off camera to the ground.

Miller was immediately detained by security guards and arrested by police. He spent the weekend in jail and prosecutors have asked he remain in jail until trial.

Bishop Cruz was taken to the hospital and discharged with no serious injuries.

No motive for the assault has been given. It is unclear why the church has security on duty during Mass, but three security officers are present in the video.

Why isn't this being labeled a hate crime against Catholics? If a person were to assault a Muslim Imam during services, the liberals would be marching in the streets. But where's the concern for a Catholic cleric assaulted during Mass?

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