A Catholic priest in Sydney is currently under police guard after receiving a death threat in an anonymous two-page letter. Father Mirko Integlia was left fearing for his safety after the letter was sent to Holy Cross Catholic Church in Bondi Junction on Thursday.
The letter read, in part: 'If you keep saying things about Muslims, I will kill all of you… if you say anything about Islam, you'll suffer the same.' Officers from NSW Police's Taskforce Shelter, whose role is to respond to threats at places of worship, quickly moved to place the priest under police watch. The intelligence-led police unit, comprising more than 250 officers, also patrols high-risk areas.
Father Integlia, originally from Presenzano near Naples in southern Italy, was not directly addressed in the letter, according to the Daily Telegraph. However, he is believed to be the intended target due to his vocal support for Sydney's Jewish community following the Bondi terror attack. Father Integlia previously wrote that he found it 'impossible' to celebrate New Year's Eve due to his grief over the death of 10-year-old Bondi victim Matilda.
In a blog post, the priest wrote: 'Matilda, the Australian girl tragically killed on December 14 during the Bondi Beach shooting, is the last victim of the year - the final name in a long and shocking list. I find it hard - almost impossible - to raise a glass and say 'Happy New Year' when so many parents are learning how to breathe again after burying their children, when so many families are living with an absence that will never be filled, when the world seems capable of explaining everything except how this keeps happening.'
Police have examined the letter and detected two different sets of fingerprints on it. Despite the threat, Mass will still be held at the church on Sunday.
A Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney spokeswoman condemned the letter, stating it had no place in a free society like Australia. 'Every person has the right to feel safe in a place of worship and it is deeply saddening that there are some within our community who seek to create fear among those trying to practice their religious faith,' she said. 'We abhor any violence and threats of violence to congregants and leaders of churches, synagogues, mosques and temples and will work with all people of goodwill to promote religious freedom and social cohesion.'
NSW Opposition leader Kellie Sloane said she spoke to the church and offered her support through the ordeal, expecting police to take 'swift action'. 'Father Mirko runs an inclusive and welcoming parish in our community,' she said. 'The repeated harassment and then sinister threats in a letter from this individual have terrified local parishioners.'
Father Integlia also shared a message on the church's website, writing: 'There are things that are close to my heart, like caring for those who are lonely or sick. Please don't treat me like I'm an outsider or an authority. I'm coming to you as someone you have known for ages - like a father, a brother, an uncle, or a close friend. I'm coming to you with an open heart.'
NSW Police has urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. The Daily Mail contacted Holy Cross Catholic Church for comment.
