Resources and Prayers in Response to the violent acts in Aurora, Colorado

BY CHRIS KERR | July 20, 2012

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
-Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

In response to the horrific acts of violence in Aurora, Colorado today (7/20/12) we offer a few resources on gun violence and Catholic teaching on this issue which can be found below. As a network of individuals and institutions committted to justice and peace, we join the entire country in praying for the victims, their families, and those who committed these acts.

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops – Statements Regarding Gun Control and Gun Violence
http://nccbuscc.org/sdwp/national/criminal/gunsample.shtml

National Institute of Justice – Gun Violence Statistics
http://www.nij.gov/nij/topics/crime/gun-violence/welcome.htm

1/14/11 – Gun control: Church firmly, quietly opposes firearms for civilians (U.S. Catholic)
http://www.uscatholic.org/news/2011/01/gun-control-church-firmly-quietly-opposes-firearms-civilians

1/11/11 – Catholic Bishops Favor Gun Control But Who Knows It?
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/catholic-bishops-favor-gun-control-who-knows-it

An Ignatian Prayer for Peace (Source: Canisius College Campus Ministry)
http://www.canisius.edu/mission/peaceprayer.asp

“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral; returning violence with violence only multiplies voilence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.”

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Christopher Kerr

Chris joined the Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) as executive director in 2011. He has over fifteen years of experience in social justice advocacy and leadership in Catholic education and ministry. Prior to ISN he served in multiple roles at John Carroll University, including coordinating international immersion experience and social justice education programming as an inaugural co-director of John Carroll’s Arrupe Scholars Program for Social Action. Prior to his time at John Carroll he served as a teacher and administrator at the elementary and secondary levels in Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Chris speaks regularly at campuses and parishes about social justice education and advocacy, Jesuit mission, and a broad range of social justice issues. He currently serves on the board of directors for Christians for Peace in El Salvador (CRISPAZ). Chris earned a B.A. and M.A. from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. He and his family reside in Shaker Heights, Ohio.