Just hours after we learned the details of the horrific shooting incident in El Paso, Texas we now mourn the loss of innocent lives in our home state, in the city of Dayton. Again and again we are stunned by this unthinkable violence and loss of life. We pray for our sisters and brothers in Dayton, for those who died, for those who were injured and their families. We remember those first responders who bravely entered into harm’s way to protect others.
I add my voice to those of Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Bishop Frank Dewane, Chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development who point out that “the plague that gun violence has become continues unchecked and spreads across our country. Something remains fundamentally evil in our society when locations where people congregate to engage in the everyday activities of life can, without warning, become scenes of violence and contempt for human life.”
“Things must change. Once again, we call for effective legislation that addresses why these unimaginable and repeated occurrences of murderous gun violence continue to take place in our communities. As people of faith, we continue to pray for all the victims, and for healing in all these stricken communities. But action is also needed to end these abhorrent acts.”