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Essex County authorities say the attack occurred on Saturday at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart during an event honouring baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente.
They say 48-year-old Newark resident Charles Miller was in a pew when allegedly he got up, went to the altar and punched Fr Manuel Cruz in the mouth.
Fr Cruz was treated at a hospital for undisclosed injuries that aren’t considered serious.
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The Mass marked the recent anniversary Clemente’s death on New Year’s Eve in 1972.
He was killed in a plane crash while trying to bring supplies to the earthquake-ravaged country of Nicaragua.