The Office of
Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) for the Sisters of Charity of
the Incarnate Word – in response to the suffering caused by various forms of violence
around the world - continues to say No!
to the violence that demeans and destroys God’s holy creation, and Yes! to a
culture of life. We extend our
deepest sympathies to all those in the Parkland, FL community who were impacted
by the most recent school shooting in our country. As a Congregation that seeks to incarnate the
healing and saving love of God in the world, we stand strong in our commitment
to Gospel nonviolence and lament the rampant and senseless violence plaguing
our society today.
Just four days
prior to the shooting in Parkland, FL, a meeting of “Moms Demand Action for Gun
Sense in America” was held at the University of the Incarnate Word with
candidates for state and federal office present to discuss their gun violence
prevention policies. Many Incarnate Word
Sisters and Sisters of other congregations participated. It is the responsibility of all people of
faith and good will to work together to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence, where students and teachers don’t have to fear for their lives
each day as they enter school.
Our CCVI
ministries include a high school in St. Louis, MO, two high schools and a
university in San Antonio, TX, and more than 8 educational institutions in
Mexico. We are aware of and share in the
fear and uncertainty felt by students, parents, and staff of educational institutions,
and are inspired by their powerful determination to prevent future school
shootings and gun violence.
We stand in
solidarity with the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and others
around the country who are rising up to demand action on gun control
legislation so that no other school and community have to face this
tragedy. While we keep all those
impacted by gun violence in prayers, we follow the lead of Pope Francis who
reminds us that we have to take action to answer those prayers as the Body of
Christ in the world today: “You pray for the hungry. Then you feed them. That’s how prayer works.”
We pray for the
victims and those mourning, and we seek to prevent future tragedies and end
senseless gun violence by calling upon our elected officials to find the
courage to reject the influence of the corporate gun lobby and immediately pass
legislation that:
1) Bans
semi-automatic assault weapons with high-capacity magazines (such as the
AR-15);
2) Requires
universal background checks for all gun purchases; and
3) Makes gun trafficking
a federal crime.
Please join us
not only in thought and prayer, but in action by contacting your current
elected representatives (both state and national) and demand the legislative
points above. Also educate yourself
about the candidates up for election in the mid-term this year and make gun
reform a top priority. Future mass
shootings are not inevitable.
We draw our hope
and strength through Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, who inspires us to
co-create a culture of peace and nonviolence.
Let us be his healing hands in the world today.
