Priest is among casualties in South African student protests

Father Graham Pugin poses for a photograph as he recovers at a residence in Johannesburg, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016. Pugin was hit in the face on Monday by a police rubber bullet at the gates of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church during fighting between South African police and protesting university students this week. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell) (The Associated Press)

prev next

A young girl wearing school uniform, walks past riot police officers as they guard students from the University of the Witswatersrand outside the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, protesting in support of their peers who were arrested earlier this week. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) (The Associated Press)

Protesting students from the University of the Witswatersrand sing outside the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, in support of their peers who were arrested earlier this week. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) (The Associated Press)

JOHANNESBURG – Video and photographs show a Catholic priest, his white robe streaked with blood, after he was hit in the face by a rubber bullet at the gates of a church during fighting between South African police and student protesters this week.

The images of the injured Father Graham Pugin, pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Johannesburg, are among the most dramatic in three weeks of upheaval at South African universities where students are demonstrating for free education.

The church is adjacent to the University of the Witwatersrand, where clashes have occurred. On Monday, the day Pugin was shot, students entered the church grounds during unrest.

Pugin says the church is a "sanctuary" and he won't allow anyone with weapons — police or protesters — to enter.