Only Christ offers answers in our violent world, Baton Rouge bishop says

Last updated on: July 18, 2016 at 8:52 pm by CNA Daily News

Only Christ offers answers in our violent world, Baton Rouge bishop says 2016-07-18T20:52:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Baton Rouge, La., Jul 18, 2016 / 02:52 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Jesus Christ’s triumph over death, despair and hate should move us forward after a deadly attack on law enforcement officers in Baton Rouge, the city’s bishop said Sunday.

“Words cannot express the emotions we feel for those who have lost loved ones in the tragic events of this day. Their entire lives have been unexpectedly and terribly turned upside down,” Bishop Robert Muench of Baton Rouge said.

On July 17, a gunman identified as Gavin Long of Kansas City, Mo. ambushed and killed two police officers and a deputy, while wounding three more, CNN reports. The officers were responded to reports of shots fired. Long, a former Marine sergeant, was killed in a gun battle with police.

The FBI is investigating Long’s possible links to an anti-government group. The gunman claimed to be a member of the Nation of Islam, though an official told CNN that there is no indication he was directed by the group.

The shooting comes on the heels of two weeks of heightened tensions across the country.

On July 5, Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, was shot and killed by police in Baton Rouge. He had been selling CDs outside a convenience store when a homeless man approached him and asked for money persistently. Sterling showed the man his gun and asked him to leave him alone, according to CNN. The homeless man then called 911 and said Sterling had been brandishing a gun.

The next day, 32-year-old Philando Castile, an African American man in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, was shot four times by a police officer and later died, after being pulled over for an alleged broken tail light.

In both cases, videos of the encounter with police or its aftermath surfaced online, reigniting racial tensions that had already been smoldering in some parts of the country. Protests were held in numerous cities, many linked to the Black Lives Matter movement.

On July 7, five Dallas police officers were killed in what authorities called a “sniper ambush” at the end of one of these peaceful protests.

The latest shooting brings with it a new wave of shock, horror and grief, Bishop Muench said Sunday.

Bishop Muench and diocese vicar general Father Tom Ranzino visited two of the families affected by the shootings. They prayed and offered support.

The bishop reflected on a faithful response to the attack.

“Prayer is a powerful path to follow when tragedy happens, but even the most devout of us sometime question: ‘What good could come of this?’” he said.

“Only the Word of God has the answer to the questions that shake our faith: The answer is our Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus, hope ultimately triumphs over despair; love ultimately triumphs over hate; and resurrection ultimately triumphs over death,” Bishop Muench said.

The Bishop of Baton Rouge cited two of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called ‘children of God’” and “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Bishop Muench renewed his previous call for prayer and fasting across the diocese.

Last week, in response to the violence against both African-American men and police officers, the bishop had asked members of the diocese to fast and pray, “so that we may gain wisdom and courage to become personally and communally involved in building bridges across everything that divides us to become better brothers and sisters to each other.”

Previous Post

July 18, 2016

Archbishop Ganswein calls German Church Tax 'a serious problem'

Next Post

July 18, 2016 Americans think statute of limitations laws should be applied equally

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What part of the body does the Breastplate of Righteousness protect?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The head The stomach The heart The back