GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
JUSTICE, PEACE, AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION (JPIC)
If you would like to join us in our JPIC efforts to address gun violence in our community through our Promoting Human Dignity team and Durham CAN, please contact Ken Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC).
CATHOLIC BISHOPS CALL FOR DECISIVE LEGISLATIVE ACTION ON GUN VIOLENCEOn June 27th, eight bishops of the Province of Atlanta, including our own Bishop Luis Zarama of Raleigh and Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, O.F.M. Conv. of Atlanta, signed a joint statement at the Cathedral of Christ the King urging “decisive action” on legislation to curb “plague of gun violence” nationwide and locally.
As of June 30, 2023, this year alone, the Gun Violence Archive, which draws data from law enforcement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies, has reported 21,511 deaths from gun violence, including 338 mass shootings, 12,078 suicides, and the deaths of more than 902 children and teens (ages 17 and under) killed by gun violence. Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) stands united with the bishops and the entire Catholic Church in its efforts within our parish, Durham CAN, and throughout our city to address the issue of Gun Violence. A full article from the "The Georgia Bulletin" is included below. |
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BISHOPS OF ATLANTA PROVINCE CALL FOR ‘DECISIVE ACTION’ ON GUN SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION
By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Editor - The Georgia Bulletin | Published June 27, 2023
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ATLANTA—Sitting in front of a replica of Michelangelo’s Pietà—the sculpture of Mary holding her crucified son—the bishops of the Atlanta Province signed a joint statement June 27 urging “decisive action” on legislation to curb gun violence.
The Bishops of the Province of Atlanta gathered at the Cathedral of Christ the King following the noon Mass. Each of the eight bishops attending signed the letter. The Atlanta Province includes the Diocese of Savannah, the Diocese of Charleston in South Carolina and the Dioceses of Charlotte and Raleigh in North Carolina. |
Photo by Tim Durski/Cathedral of Christ the King
Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., right, looks on as Bishop Bernard E. Shlesinger III takes his turn signing a joint statement of the bishops of the Atlanta Province, urging action on gun safety reforms. Eight bishops signed the statement June 27 at the Cathedral of Christ the King.
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“The Gospel calls us in a particular way to protect the most vulnerable among us,” read the statement. “The ready accessibility of firearms presents an immediate threat to the wellbeing of children, families impacted by domestic violence and individuals experiencing mental illness. Our first priority must therefore be to prevent firearms from falling into the hands of those who would carry out violent acts against children in schools, against their families or against themselves.”
In the statement, the bishops called on federal and state officials within the province to implement meaningful legislation addressing the “plague of gun violence” nationwide and locally. “As legislators, you are in a unique position to support and promote public policy that will save lives,” they wrote.
The Gun Violence Archive, which draws data from law enforcement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies, has reported more than 200 mass shootings, 9,000 suicides and the deaths of more than 700 children and teens by gun violence in the first half of 2023.
In the statement, the bishops called on federal and state officials within the province to implement meaningful legislation addressing the “plague of gun violence” nationwide and locally. “As legislators, you are in a unique position to support and promote public policy that will save lives,” they wrote.
The Gun Violence Archive, which draws data from law enforcement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies, has reported more than 200 mass shootings, 9,000 suicides and the deaths of more than 700 children and teens by gun violence in the first half of 2023.
Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer was joined by seven bishops of the Atlanta Province for the noon Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King June 27. Gathering for their annual meeting, the bishops signed a gun safety statement following Mass. Photo by Tim Durski/Cathedral of Christ the King
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During his homily, Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., spoke about the symbolism of the Book of the Gospels held over a bishop’s head during a rite of ordination. It represents the principal task of proclaiming and living the Gospel.
“It means that the bishop must be especially attentive to the needs of his people and their concerns,” said the archbishop. “One of those concerns that keeps surfacing in our city and in our country is gun violence.” He said while the bishops do not deny the right to defend oneself, the vulnerable must be protected. |
“As bishops, we would be failing in our ordination promises, if we were to remain silent on an issue that has caused so much pain and sadness,” he said. “As the great statesman Edmund Burke declared: ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’”
The archbishop affirmed that “our dignity lives in the fact that every person is made in the image and likeness of God.”
“We are a people of life, and we must proclaim the Gospel of Life, whether it is convenient or inconvenient,” he said referencing St. Paul’s exhortation to Timothy from the first Scripture reading of the Mass.
The eight bishops signing the statement were Archbishop Hartmayer, Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, of Charleston, Bishop Luis Zarama of Raleigh, Bishop Stephen D. Parkes of Savannah, Bishop Emeritus John Kevin Boland of Savannah, and Atlanta’s auxiliaries, Bishop Joel M. Konzen, SM; Bishop Bernard E. Shlesinger III and Bishop John N. Tran. Bishop Peter Jugis of Charlotte was unable to attend the meeting.
The archbishop affirmed that “our dignity lives in the fact that every person is made in the image and likeness of God.”
“We are a people of life, and we must proclaim the Gospel of Life, whether it is convenient or inconvenient,” he said referencing St. Paul’s exhortation to Timothy from the first Scripture reading of the Mass.
The eight bishops signing the statement were Archbishop Hartmayer, Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, of Charleston, Bishop Luis Zarama of Raleigh, Bishop Stephen D. Parkes of Savannah, Bishop Emeritus John Kevin Boland of Savannah, and Atlanta’s auxiliaries, Bishop Joel M. Konzen, SM; Bishop Bernard E. Shlesinger III and Bishop John N. Tran. Bishop Peter Jugis of Charlotte was unable to attend the meeting.
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In line with measures supported by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the statement asked for several reforms: a total ban on assault weapons, universal background checks for all gun purchases, limitations on civilian access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition magazines, improved access to and increased resources for mental health care and earlier interventions and regulations and limitations on the purchasing of handguns. An additional reform outlined was to require gun owners to provide safe storage and report lost and stolen guns.
After each bishop signed the document, Archbishop Hartmayer thanked parishioners who stayed to listen to its reading, asking them to “continue to pray for increased legislation to safeguard our children, our citizens and those who are visiting the United States.” |
The eight bishops attending their annual meeting of the Atlanta Province signed a joint statement advocating for gun safety reforms June 27. From left are Bishop John N. Tran of Atlanta, Bishop Emeritus John Kevin Boland of Savannah, Bishop Stephen Parkes of Savannah, Bishop Bernard E. Shlesinger III of Atlanta, Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, of Charleston, Bishop Luis Zarama of Raleigh, and Bishop Joel M. Konzen, SM, of Atlanta. Photo by Nichole Golden
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He urged all to “contact your elected officials to support those actions that would be necessary to cease the violence, the senseless violence, the killing of our people.”
GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS PRAYER VIGIL
FRANCISCAN ACTION NETWORK (FAN)
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The video is courtesy of Franciscan Action Network (FAN). A new collaborative group of women religious, “Nuns Against Gun Violence,” coordinated candlelight vigils across the country for National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Friday, June 2, 2023. The following link includes materials from their Gun Violence Prayer Service.
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FELLOW CHRISTIAN CHURCH WEBSITES HELPING US TO JOIN TOGETHER TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ADVOCACY
URGE THE SENATE TO PASS THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN
Mass shootings are a painful reality in our country. No group or place seems exempt: children and churchgoers, grocery stores and nightclubs alike are affected. But one thing that’s common is the weapon of choice used to commit the violence. It is almost always an assault weapon.
The House just passed an assault weapons ban for the first time in almost 30 years. This legislation will criminalize the knowing sale, manufacture, transfer, possession, or importation of many types of semi-automatic weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices. In other words, it will take weapons of war off our streets. With increased momentum due to the House passage of the bill, there is a real chance to pass this legislation. We have not been this close to a nationwide assault weapons ban in decades and we must keep up the pressure.
RSVP HERE to join the Newtown Action Alliance #EndGunViolence Lunch & Lobby sessions during the month of August from noon to 2 pm ET. Their Federal Legislation team will lead you to strongly urge the Senate to pass the assault weapons ban. You can also contact your Senators directly using this link.
The House just passed an assault weapons ban for the first time in almost 30 years. This legislation will criminalize the knowing sale, manufacture, transfer, possession, or importation of many types of semi-automatic weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices. In other words, it will take weapons of war off our streets. With increased momentum due to the House passage of the bill, there is a real chance to pass this legislation. We have not been this close to a nationwide assault weapons ban in decades and we must keep up the pressure.
RSVP HERE to join the Newtown Action Alliance #EndGunViolence Lunch & Lobby sessions during the month of August from noon to 2 pm ET. Their Federal Legislation team will lead you to strongly urge the Senate to pass the assault weapons ban. You can also contact your Senators directly using this link.
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ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN
In union with the Catholic Church and Immaculate Conception's JPIC's continuing efforts to address the issue of gun violence, we are asking our parishioners to please call their Senators to encourage them to vote in favor of S736, an assault weapons ban, which made it through the US House of Representatives earlier this year. Our Senators need to hear from their constituents that this is really something that will save lives: After the assault weapons ban of 1994, which lasted 10 years, we saw that there can be a 70% decrease in mortality from mass shootings when such legislation is in place.
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Please, if you are in favor, consider calling Senator Burr (202) 224-3154 and Senator Tillis (202) 224-6342.
https://www.senate.gov/states/NC/intro.htm
NOW is the time to get this passed, because if it does not come to a vote and pass before the end of the calendar year, it will die and is unlikely to make it through the House again next year.
https://www.senate.gov/states/NC/intro.htm
NOW is the time to get this passed, because if it does not come to a vote and pass before the end of the calendar year, it will die and is unlikely to make it through the House again next year.
© 2022. All rights reserved.
If you have questions regarding our various JPIC ministries, please contact me directly.
Kennith M. Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - 901-A West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-3449 Ext. 293 - chihak@icdurham.org
If you have questions regarding our various JPIC ministries, please contact me directly.
Kennith M. Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - 901-A West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-3449 Ext. 293 - chihak@icdurham.org