Priest Attacked During Mass, on Video, Homeless Man Arrested for Assault

Here’s something Jesus would not do … a man attacked a priest in the middle of a prayer, running out from a pew to tackle the reverend … and it’s all on video.

The unholy incident went down Tuesday night during a service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane, WA … and footage shows the moment a priest was tackled to the ground.

Ya gotta see the video … Rev. David Gaines is kneeling in prayer with other priests when a man rises from his pew and runs towards the altar … scaling a few steps and clumsily wrestling Gaines to the ground.

Chaos ensues as parishioners and other priests pull the attacker away … and when the dust settles, cops arrest the guy they believe is responsible for the attack.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, cops say the attacker here is a 40-year-old homeless man named Joshua Summer … and he’s been charged with fourth-degree assault.

A Spokane Police spokesperson tells TMZ … in addition to the assault charge, Sommer was also booked on outstanding warrants. No motive was established. The priest has said he was not injured.

Unclear what provoked the attack … but Rev. Darrin Connall told KHQ in Spokane the man was quietly sitting in his pew for about 45 minutes before going on the offensive.