(RNS) — A small Southern Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, has turned into a crime scene, with at least 26 people dead and about 20 injured. As the nation reels from another mass shooting, religious leaders were quick to react to the latest tragedy.
Here’s a sampling:
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and leader of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas
“This incomprehensibly tragic event joins an ever-growing list of mass shootings, some of which were also at Churches while people were worshipping and at prayer. We must come to the firm determination that there is a fundamental problem in our society. A Culture of Life cannot tolerate, and must prevent, senseless gun violence in all its forms. May the Lord, who Himself is Peace, send us His Spirit of charity and nonviolence to nurture His peace among us all.”
Pastor Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas
“Today’s horrific church shooting is every pastor’s worst nightmare and is proof of the reality of evil. Although the Bible never diminishes the pain of evil, it does promise that one day when Christ returns, evil will be defeated forever. Until that time, we pray that the members of First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, will experience the promise of Psalm 34:18: ‘The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.’”
The Rev. Katharine R. Henderson, president of Auburn Seminary in New York
“God is setting before America a choice between life and death — we must choose the way of life that means a breaking of the death grip the National Rifle Association (NRA) has on our politics. The way of life is to grieve for those who have died and commit ourselves to a more peaceful future without this plague of gun violence.”
The Rev. Robert Schenck, president of the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute in Washington, D.C., and subject of “The Armor of Light” documentary
“As a nation, we must call on our most experienced, knowledgeable, and strategic professionals to weigh in with their wisdom in how to deny murderous people the means for committing atrocities like this. The killer in this instance could have done far more damage much more easily by throwing a hand grenade into the sanctuary, but he didn’t because he can’t get a hand grenade. The question we must answer is why and how people bent on death and destruction can carry out their dastardly deeds so easily? Just as we frustrate our enemies on the battle field by interrupting their supply chains, let’s do the same with psychopathic killers.”
Phyllis Hill, Southeast regional director of the “Live Free” campaign of PICO National Network
“The devastating and, sadly, preventable deaths of congregants at First Baptist Church of Sutherland is a yet another violation of sacred worship places and sanctuaries — our temples. This constant barrage of homegrown terrorism is allowed by the convenient misinterpretation of the 2nd amendment by the NRA and anyone else who takes their money. Yet, we are ALL complicit and have blood on our hands because we have the answers to avoid senseless killings happening to us, Americans. How long must we send our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers? How long before we manifest our sincerity with a change in policies and leadership?”
Pastor Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas
“Today’s horrific church shooting is every pastor’s worst nightmare and is proof of the reality of evil. Although the Bible never diminishes the pain of evil, it does promise that one day when Christ returns, evil will be defeated forever. Until that time, we pray that the members of First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, will experience the promise of Psalm 34:18: ‘The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.’”
The Rev. Katharine R. Henderson, president of Auburn Seminary in New York
“God is setting before America a choice between life and death — we must choose the way of life that means a breaking of the death grip the National Rifle Association (NRA) has on our politics. The way of life is to grieve for those who have died and commit ourselves to a more peaceful future without this plague of gun violence.”
The Rev. Robert Schenck, president of the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute in Washington, D.C., and subject of “The Armor of Light” documentary
“As a nation, we must call on our most experienced, knowledgeable, and strategic professionals to weigh in with their wisdom in how to deny murderous people the means for committing atrocities like this. The killer in this instance could have done far more damage much more easily by throwing a hand grenade into the sanctuary, but he didn’t because he can’t get a hand grenade. The question we must answer is why and how people bent on death and destruction can carry out their dastardly deeds so easily? Just as we frustrate our enemies on the battle field by interrupting their supply chains, let’s do the same with psychopathic killers.”
Phyllis Hill, Southeast regional director of the “Live Free” campaign of PICO National Network
“The devastating and, sadly, preventable deaths of congregants at First Baptist Church of Sutherland is a yet another violation of sacred worship places and sanctuaries — our temples. This constant barrage of homegrown terrorism is allowed by the convenient misinterpretation of the 2nd amendment by the NRA and anyone else who takes their money. Yet, we are ALL complicit and have blood on our hands because we have the answers to avoid senseless killings happening to us, Americans. How long must we send our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers? How long before we manifest our sincerity with a change in policies and leadership?”
