Search
-
May 6, 2021On the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing:
"Lord God, we lift our hearts in prayer and remembrance this day. We praise you for your faithfulness and love. In our darkest hour, you revealed your presence in countless ways as 'Emmanuel,' 'God with us.' You are with us still. ...
Lord, you are the God of mercy and compassion. We thank you for the gifts of healing so graciously bestowed on countless individuals and families in this community. We thank you for the many signs of recovery and rebirth in this great city. We ask your continued grace to heal those who still suffer and grieve the loss of loved ones or other painful losses of health or innocence that day.
We pray that our city will continue to be a beacon of hope, of healing and reconciliation for all people. Lord, we pray especially that violence and hatred will never rule our hearts, but will always be overcome by mercy and forgiveness and compassion.
We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen."
Following the verdict in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd:
“Today, a jury found Derek Chauvin guilty of the murder of George Floyd. As we receive this result, we recall that God is the source of all justice, love, and mercy. The death of George Floyd highlighted and amplified the deep need to see the sacredness in all people, but especially those who have been historically oppressed. Whatever the stage of human life, it not only matters, it is sacred.
The events following George Floyd's death also highlighted the urgent need for racial healing and reconciliation. As we have seen so plainly this past year, social injustices still exist in our country, and the nation remains deeply divided on how to right those wrongs. We join our voices and prayers in support of Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and the entire Minnesota Catholic Conference which said today:
‘As a diverse community, the Catholic Church is committed to changing hearts and minds and to moving the conversation about race in this country beyond accusations and recriminations toward practical, nonviolent solutions to the everyday problems that are encountered in these communities.’
Let us pray that through the revelation of so much pain and sadness, that God strengthens us to cleanse our land of the evil of racism which also manifests in ways that are hardly ever spoken, ways that never reach the headlines. Let us then join in the hard work of peacefully rebuilding what hatred and frustration have torn down. This is the true call of a disciple and the real work of restorative justice. Let us not lose the opportunity to pray that the Holy Spirit falls like a flood on our land again, as at Pentecost, providing us with spiritual, emotional, and physical healing, as well as new ways to teach, preach, and model the Gospel message in how we treat each other.”
(With Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux, chairman of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism)
On passage of pro-life bills by the Oklahoma Legislature and signed by Gov. Stitt:
“We are fortunate in Oklahoma to have political leaders who understand and seek to protect our most vulnerable from abortion, which claims the lives of unborn children and too often endangers their mothers as well. Every life is precious and has infinite value in the eyes of God who creates each of us out of love. I urge prayers for a renewed respect for the dignity of every human life and for a rejection of the throw away mentality that treats human beings as disposable based merely on their usefulness, health, age or economic status. We must offer compassion and mercy to those in need.”
Following the Leaders Summit on Climate April 22-23, which included a video message by Pope Francis:
“Pope Francis addressed a virtual gathering of over 40 leaders from the highest levels of world government at the White House’s Leaders Summit on Climate, saying, ‘our concern is to see that the environment is cleaner, healthier and conserved, and to take care of nature so that it takes care of us.’
We commend the Biden Administration’s commitment to climate stewardship and environmental justice, consistent with the decision to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. The Leaders Summit on Climate reflects renewed American leadership on climate change, and the pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 is an ambitious and welcome national goal. Consistent with the Holy Father’s call for integral ecology, the movement towards a net-zero emission world must also emphasize just transition so that working families who rely on the energy sector are not left behind.”
(With Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace)
In response to the mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis:
“Tragically, we awoke to learn of another mass shooting today, this time in Indianapolis, that has reportedly left eight dead and several wounded. As we heard at Mass yesterday, ‘The Lord is close to the brokenhearted’ (Ps. 34:19). We again need prayer and concrete acts of charity for the families, and for all victims of violent crime.
Again and again, we react in horror to these violent acts, but many cannot agree on how to stop them. The bishops continue to support a number of policy measures to try to reduce homicides and suicides. In this Easter season, when we are reminded that there is always hope, even when we seem to be at a dead end, I would ask our political leaders, and all people of good will, once more to examine this issue and propose prudential solutions. It is good that President Biden and some leaders in Congress are drawing renewed attention to this. For a comprehensive and long-lasting path to peace, it will take bipartisan cooperation. In the spirit of Easter, let us pray for renewed reverence for the gift of life, and faith that by the grace of God, we can always begin again and work towards peace.”