FOR RELEASE: June 19, 2013
CONTACT:  Stephanie Niedringhaus, 202-347-9797 x224, sniedringhaus@networklobby.org

“Our nation continues to be shackled by the scourges of racism and an unholy love of guns. And when combined, as they were in Charleston, they become an intensely dark stain on all of our souls.”

Washington DC:  NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, today issued the following statement regarding the South Carolina murders:

With tears and prayers today, we rise in solemn solidarity with family members of the victims and all who have suffered as a result of the murders in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. We also stand in awe of those family members who expressed forgiveness rather than hatred during today’s bond hearing for the accused shooter. Nadine Collier, the daughter of one victim, is reported to have said to him, “You took something very precious from me. I will never talk to her again. I will never, ever hold her again. But I forgive you. And have mercy on your soul.”

This loving daughter and all those who chose to forgive rather than hate – and those who sang outside the church today – are evidence of the strength and beauty of authentic Christian love.

They also stand in contrast to those who immediately proclaimed that the shooter deserves the death penalty or that churches should arm themselves to prevent future killings.

Our nation continues to be shackled by the scourges of racism and an unholy love of guns. And when combined, as they were in Charleston, they become an intensely dark stain on all of our souls,

At NETWORK, we will continue to stand against gun violence, indeed violence of any sort.

And, absent an effective way to outlaw racism, we will commit ourselves even more strongly to embody and spread the Gospel message of love and acceptance that repudiates racism in all of its forms.

As Sister Campbell has noted, “Our Christian faith teaches us that we are called to honor all life. Gun violence remains one of the most powerful anti-life realities in our nation. We call on all people to responsibly support life by limiting gun violence.”

And as Nelson Mandela said, “”No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

We can do better. For the sake of our world and our children, we must.

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