Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on Monday issued few statements challenging all faithfuls to be “heralds of hope and prophetic voices against senseless violence, a violence which can never be justified by invoking the name of God.” His statement was in reference to the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooting and the San Bernardino shooting. The Archbishop said
“Watching innocent lives taken and wondering whether the violence will reach our own families rightly stirs our deepest protective emotions,”
“We must resist the hatred and suspicion that leads to policies of discrimination. Instead, we must channel our emotions of concern and protection, born in love, into a vibrant witness to the dignity of every person. We should employ immigration laws that are humane and keep us safe, but should never target specific classes of persons based on religion.”
“Confident in what Jesus asks of us, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops remains steadfast in our commitment to refugees, who are often escaping severe persecution. We will continue to support strengthening social services for persons with mental illness, but we must remember that only a small number of those suffering with these challenges pose a risk to themselves or others. We encourage responsible firearms regulation. And we will advocate on behalf of people facing religious discrimination, including our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Let us confront the extremist threat with courage and compassion, recognizing that Christianity, Islam, Judaism and many other religions are united in opposition to violence carried out in their name.”
