Faith leaders react to Texas school shooting: Put ‘prayers into action’
Faith leaders across the nation are reacting to the Texas school shooting on Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas, in which at least 19 children and two teachers lost their lives at the hands of an apparent lone gunman. Others were wounded in the melee.
The massacre was the second-deadliest school shooting recorded in the U.S., trailing only the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut that left 26 victims dead.
Here’s a sampling of reactions from around the country which includes calls for purposeful change and putting prayers into action:
Archbishop Garcia-Siller of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas
“Innocent children were taken from us but innocent people will get us through this” words spoken by SA Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller last night. We’ll be back in Uvalde tonight @ksatnews pic.twitter.com/8CqnhzKttJ
— John Paul Barajas (@KSATJohnPaul) May 25, 2022
The archbishop of San Antonio, Gustavo Garcia-Siller, comforts families outside the Civic Center following a deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (@AP_Images Photo by @DarioLopezMills #Uvalde) pic.twitter.com/83IMLck1vF
— AndrewSelsky (@andrewselsky) May 25, 2022
Bishop Michael Curry, 27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and Bishop David Reed, Episcopal Diocese of West Texas
Earlier this evening, @iamepiscopalian Presiding Bishop Michael Curry led a time of prayer via social media in the wake of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tx. @TheEPPN @episcopal_news pic.twitter.com/VjdZFPsnYY
— Presiding Bishop Michael Curry (@PB_Curry) May 25, 2022
From a letter by the Rt. Rev. David Reed, bishop of West Texas:
— Presiding Bishop Michael Curry (@PB_Curry) May 25, 2022
"What we have to offer is ourselves. To turn ourselves, our hearts and minds, to those who are suffering in Uvalde–to reach out our hands to lift up and extend our arms to embrace. . ." https://t.co/C3bdMpMWCQ
Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and senior vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism
There are no words left to describe the pain and horror of yet another school shooting. 15 lives cut short. The rage and heartbreak of living in a society that repeatedly permits the destruction of life. God forgive this country for loving guns more than children.
— Rabbi Jonah Pesner (@JonahPesner) May 24, 2022
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, lead pastor of New Season Worship in Sacramento, California, and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
My heart breaks for Texas; children massacred, teacher killed.
— Samuel Rodriguez (@nhclc) May 24, 2022
Praying for healing.
Something is definitely broken.
God, please heal our land, in Jesus name! #Uvalde #Texas
Dr. Omar Suleiman, imam, professor at Southern Methodist University, and founder and president of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, a Faith Counts partner
Some of the victims from yesterdays massacre at an elementary school in #Uvalde. I have a son in 3rd grade. I remember the college next door to my kids school having an active shooter. My daughter at the time was this age and terrified. The conversations that day were so heavy. pic.twitter.com/Nzq9RdPlXF
— Dr. Omar Suleiman (@omarsuleiman504) May 25, 2022
Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, and a member of several committees for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, a Faith Counts partner
The Second Amendment did not come down from Sinai. The right to bear arms will never be more important than human life. Our children have rights too. And our elected officials have a moral duty to protect them.
— Cardinal Cupich (@CardinalBCupich) May 25, 2022
Rabbi Samuel Stern of Temple Beth Sholom in Topeka, Kansas
Pray for the victims, and pray for their families. In Judaism, we pray for physical recovery, emotional endurance, and the souls of those who have died. Every murdered child is a tragedy. People of faith should share their prayers, and hopefully some comfort will come. #Uvalde
— Rabbi Samuel Stern (@RabbiSamStern) May 25, 2022
Sister Helen Prejean, spiritual adviser to men and women on death row, and author of “Dead Man Walking,” “The Death of Innocents,” and “River of Fire”
As a nun, I’m expected to offer thoughts and prayers, and indeed I do. But that’s not enough. We must rise up and take action together to stop this violence. This can’t keep happening.
— Sister Helen Prejean (@helenprejean) May 25, 2022
Simran Jeet Singh, Director of Aspen Institute’s Religion and Society Program and author of “The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life”
What’s unfolded in Uvalde, just an hour from my hometown, is a parent’s worst nightmare. There aren’t words that adequately capture the heartbreak and grief. Ten years on from Sandy Hook, this violence cannot continue.
— Simran Jeet Singh (@simran) May 25, 2022
Pastor Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in California and Hawaii
This is every parent's worst nightmare and our hearts are all breaking, but none are feeling the pain that those families who lost their precious loved feel.
— Greg Laurie (@greglaurie) May 25, 2022
This is a moment where we all should "Weep with those that weep" (Rom.12:15)https://t.co/DLJprWEAJl
Rabbi Naomi Levy, soul coach, bestselling author of “Einstein and the Rabbi,” and spiritual leader of Nashuva
Rev. Duke Kwon, pastor of Grace Meridian Hill and co-author of “Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair”
Rev. Duke Kwon, pastor of Grace Meridian Hill and co-author of “Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair”Archbishop Elpidophoros, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
The massacre of so many innocent today in Uvalde, TX, must challenge our Nation to finally address gun violence. This bloody sacrifice of children enabled by the death-culture of guns cannot be justified by appeals to “rights.” What of the right to their lives?
— Elpidophoros (@Elpidophoros) May 24, 2022
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