In Response to the Act of Violence at Santa Fe High School
BY ISN STAFF | May 18, 2018
In response to the shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas on Friday, May 18, 2018, we offer a few resources (NOTE: This list is not exhaustive) on gun violence and Catholic teaching on this issue.
This resource was initially developed in 2012 after the tragic shootings at the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado and at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and in February of 2018 after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
As a network of individuals and institutions committed to justice and peace, we join the entire country in praying for the victims, their families, and those responsible, particularly in light of the continued epidemic of gun violence in the U.S.— and for hope that we can collectively work for a more peaceful world.
Statements and Letters:
- USCCB Chairmen of Domestic Justice and Education Committees Urge Concrete Actions to End Scourge of Gun Violence (3/5/18)
- Letter and video message to President Trump and Congress from Fr. Michael Sheeran, S.J., president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities;
- Letters from Jesuits Schools Network dated February 21,2018, to Congress and President Trump calling for a ban on the sale of assault weapons and high capacity ammunition, and the requirement of background checks for gun sales.
- Letter from Fr. Scott Santarosa, S.J., (Provincial of the Jesuit’s West Coast Province) dated February 18, 2018, to Jesuit school leaders in the province to listen encouraging them to listen to their students reflections on gun violence;
- Bishop Conference President Reaction to School Shooting at Florida High School (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2/14/18)
- Letters to President Obama and Congress from Jesuit Secondary Schools Association, known today as Jesuit Schools Network (2012)
- Pastoral Statement: Confronting a Culture of Violence – A Catholic Framework for Action (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1994)
Articles:
- 2018 has been deadlier for schoolchildren than service members (Washington Post, 5/18/18)
- Students Walk Out, Speak Out, and Pray for End to Gun Violence Across Ignatian Network (Ignatian Solidarity Network, 3/15/18)
- Why Demonstrating is Good for Kids (The New York Times, 3/12/18)
- Catholic high school principals in Queens demand ‘proactive change’ in wake of Florida school shooting (Queens News Service, 3/1/18)
- ‘March For Our Lives’ gun-control rally bumped from Mall by ‘talent show’ (Washington Post, 3/1/18)
- What students should know about the National School Walkout (USA Today, 3/1/18)
- Catholic Social Doctrine Sheds Light on How to Combat Gun Violence (National Catholic Reporter, 2/28/18)
- These Colleges Don’t Care If You Get Suspended for Never Again Protests (USA Today, 2,/27/18)
- Chicago’s Cardinal Cupich: Listen to young people about guns (America, 2/28/18)
- Catholic colleges say peaceful gun control protests won’t impact admission (America, 2/26/18)
- Pope Francis, U.S. bishops offer prayers after another act of “horrifying evil” in Florida school shooting (America, 2/15/18)
- Shootings Demonstrate Need for Gun Control, USCCB Says (Catholic News Agency, 11/7/17)
- Gun control: Church firmly, quietly opposes firearms for civilians (U.S. Catholic, 1/14/11)
- Catholic Bishops Favor Gun Control But Who Knows It? (National Catholic Reporter, 1/11/11)
Resources:
- March for Our Lives
- Backgrounder on a Mercy and Peacebuilding Approach to Gun Violence (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops)
- Xavier College Preparatory School “Summit on Human Dignity: Reloading Faith” Resources – In Spring 2017, Xavier hosted their yearly summit on the topic of gun violence. They have shared three collection of slides (Set #1, Set #2, Set #3) describing the ways they engaged in prayer, learning, and action throughout the week.
- Gun Violence Statistics (National Institute of Justice)
Prayer and Reflection Resources:
- Dear Parkland students: This land is your land (National Catholic Reporter)
- How Many Signs? (Ignatian Solidarity Network/Break Forth: Lent 2018)
- A Catholic parish in Parkland preaches love the first Sunday after the massacre (America)
- Can students of the Parkland massacre make a difference in U.S. gun debate? (America)
- The spiritual lessons of a school shooting on Ash Wednesday (America)
- Sad, Tired and Angry: A Prayer in the Face of Gun Violence (America Magazine, 2017)
- An Ignatian Prayer for Peace (Canisius College Campus Ministry)
- The Mystery of Pain, the Solace of Faith – A reflection by Fr. Jim Martin, S.J. on the tragedy in Newtown (New York Daily News, 2012)
- Would Jesus Pack Heat? – An interview with Fr. James Martin, S.J. (USA Today, 2012)
- Gun Control is a Pro-Life Issue (America Magazine, 2012)
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