Pastoral Message from Bishop Joe S. Vásquez on Gun Violence

Español

The past several weeks have opened a painful wound in our nation related to violence and the use of guns in schools, places of work, shopping centers, and even houses of worship.  Bishop Vásquez and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops implore our Congressional members to consider their roles in helping to stem the tide of gun violence by focusing on mental health, the state of families, the sanctity of human life, and the availability of firearms in our overarching mission of protecting all life.
 
As we continue to pray for the children and teachers being laid to rest in Uvalde, their friends, families and all who remain grievously affected by this tragedy, we also mourn for our Catholic brothers and sisters in Nigeria who on Sunday were brutally attacked during Mass.  We implore world leaders to exercise their responsibility to protect one another, to call for an end to gun violence and to embrace the Gospel of Life to which Christ invites us to live.