On this day during which Catholics celebrate the solemnity of Pentecost, recalling God’s outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the world, I ask all people of goodwill to join me in prayer for a restoration of peace in our community and a return to civil order.
The horrible death of George Floyd in Minneapolis -- video recorded for the world to see -- has outraged our nation. His death and other recent incidents around the country have brought a piercing light on deep-seated problems in our country that need to be answered by each of us in a spirit of love and conversion of heart, as we embrace a culture of life and respect for all, remembering that every one of us is made in the image and likeness of God.
Several chairmen of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have called upon all Catholics to, “Pray and work toward a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth to touch the hearts of all in the United States and to come down upon our criminal justice and law enforcement systems.”
May the spirit of God unite us in love and respect, and heal our broken society.