Catholics can make a dent in violence – pray, reconcile

Just in the last month, the country has been rocked by mass shootings at a grocery store in Buffalo, at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and at a doctor’s office in Tulsa. What is going through your mind right now?

We talk about wars and rumors of war around the world, but in some ways, with the amount of gun violence that we have within our own country and community, it is war-like. There are obviously a number of issues that are apparent: One is that it has become accepted that guns are readily available to commit acts of violence. We’ve become desensitized to the daily shootings. Also, some of this violence is rooted in the lack of formation in family life and the lack of mental health services. When you put all of those together, we have a very violent society that disrespects human life.

Does it seem that we, as a society, can’t even have a respectful discussion about strategies that would move the country in a better direction?

Honestly, I think the whole issue has become political. Congress is divided by party, and there’s a lack of movement there. You combine that with people who have no patience today for any lack of agreement. Nowadays, whatever the issue is, if you don’t agree with me, you’re an enemy. It’s supposed to be, if you don’t agree with me, let’s talk and see if we can reach some kind of common ground. We have lost all sense of respect for differences of opinion. It seems to me that differences of opinion are natural today, but to be reconciled and to talk are no longer natural. Disagreement is the norm. What’s become extraordinary is finding common ground and finding peace in the midst of disagreement. This is happening between nations, and it’s happening within our own nation and within families. It happens sometimes within parish communities.

What can be done?

When we talk about gun violence, I don’t hear many talking about mental health. I don’t hear many talking about prayer and spirituality. And, I don’t hear many talking about family values. I’m not so naive as to think that if we had those three, that there would be no gun violence. But the violence certainly would be curtailed, and it certainly would not be to the extent that it is. I think over the Memorial Day weekend there were 130 deaths across the country from gun violence.

What would you recommend Catholics do about this issue?

I would say pray for peace. And, when there is a lack of peace in the family or in the community, we need to work toward reconciliation. We need to question what we’re teaching our children about violence in general. I also think we have to do something as Christians, within our own city, state and country, that would make some guns less available. It’s always amazing to me when I see legislation come up that would do away with training for how to use guns responsibly. It’s almost like we’re inviting people to act irresponsibly. The USCCB has made it clear that there have been too many school shootings, too much killing of the innocent. Our Catholic faith calls us to pray for those who have died and to bind the wounds of others. As we do so, each of us also needs to search our souls for ways that we can do more to understand this epidemic of evil and violence. We must implore our elected officials to help us take action and hold them responsible to help us curtail evil and seek peace.

Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to clarionherald@clarionherald.org.