Faith leaders react to assault on U.S. Capitol with calls for prayer and peace
Religious leaders are nearly unanimous in their calls for an end to the violence and rhetoric that fueled deadly protests at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Amid the prayers for peace, protection, and unity in the nation, were urges to accept President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
“The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of this great nation. In this troubling moment, we must recommit ourselves to the values and principles of our democracy and come together as one nation under God.” -Archbishop José H. Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
“Our democracy is only as strong as the people willing to abide by its laws and norms.” -Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry asked viewers to join him as he prayed for the nation, using the prayers that accompany Morning Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer, including the Prayer for Peace.
“Even as our nation’s Capitol is being endangered and assaulted, we pray that the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that God in his way of love, might prevail in all of our hearts,” Curry said.
“The sickening sight of rioters storming the U.S. Capitol Building as members of Congress try to carry out their constitutional duties should be condemned by all Americans. We are not witnessing a peaceful protest—this is a violent attack on our democracy.” -Rabbi Jack Moline, leader of the Interfaith Alliance
“Make no mistake: the armed Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol are violent insurrectionists. We pray for the safety of everyone under siege on Capitol Hill, including lawmakers and their staff. We call on our government to protect those in harm’s way.” -Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
“At the macro level, we’ve failed to teach people how to make change, how our system of government and democracy work. Faith teaches us that violence is anathema, and that it’s dialogue that actually has the bigger impact.” -Diane Randall, general secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation
“We are outraged and deplore such mobocracy actions resulting from the President’s urging the unruly mob to overturn the declaration of election results. Like you all, I value the Freedoms of Human Rights and Religion. And like you all, I will work and dream of bringing peace and prosperity for everyone in our world.” -Homi D. Gandhi, immediate past president, Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America
“We call on all Americans—Democrat and Republican—to unite in prayer for our nation that righteousness and justice, love and faithfulness will guide the heart of our nation (Ps. 89:14).” -Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president, National Hispanic Leadership Conference and the Rev. Johnnie Moore, president, The Congress of Christian Leaders
“The rioters who climbed the steps and walls of the Capitol sought to overturn the law, a fair election, and justice, and claimed their motivation was to defend God and their freedoms. They waved banners emblazoned with the words, ‘Jesus Saves,’ but this is not what Emmanuel came to earth to embody. This is a perversion of the Gospel. This should drive all of us to our knees.” -United Methodist Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, leader of the Baltimore-Washington Conference
“Nothing, not even the emotional charges of voter fraud in a presidential election, can ever legitimize or excuse such behavior. For as the Talmud warns, ‘Pray for the welfare of the government, for without…it man would swallow his fellow.’ Today is a dark day for America.” -Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, senior officials of the Simon Wiesenthal Center
While The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declined to provide a statement on Wednesday’s events, the church did point the Deseret News to a General Conference talk delivered by President Dallin H. Oaks in October 2020.
“We peacefully accept the results of elections. We will not participate in the violence threatened by those disappointed with the outcome,” President Oaks said at the time.
Disclaimer: Several of the shared quotes and reactions come from organizations which partner with Faith Counts
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