Catholic leaders have condemned the Nov. 19 attack on an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that killed at least five people and injured at least 25. Seven of those wounded were in critical condition.
Colorado Spring’s Bishop James Golka issued a statement about the tragedy on Monday, re-shared then by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on its social media with the additional comment: “The bishops of USCCB join their brother, Most Reverend James Golka and the community of Colorado Springs in lamenting this violent act and praying for all those impacted. Lord, have mercy!”
The Redemptorists of Denver Province posted a statement on their website that expresses solidarity with the grieving LGBTQ community in Colorado Springs:
“The Redemptorists of the Denver Province grieve the tragic loss of five lives and the injury of twenty-five people on November 19, at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As Redemptorists, we pray Christ the Redeemer shower the victims with unfailing new life and grant their families and friends healing consolation. We also extend our prayers to the well-being of the LGBTQ community in Colorado Springs as it faces the trauma of this attack and the pain it incurred. We, as Redemptorists, recognize that LGBTQ people as especially vulnerable to an inordinate and unwarranted amount of violence in the world. We, as Redemptorists, commit ourselves to work against such violence and discrimination and to assist those LGBTQ people who suffer it. As followers of the Redeemer, we hope LGBTQ people will find with us a place of safety and esteem.”
They also invited religious leaders – Catholic Bishops and leaders of religious orders and congregations to join in solidarity with the LGBTQ community in Colorado Springs and thus to identify the victims as LGBTQ people so that the Church can deepen its mission as a place of safety and esteem for vulnerable minorities.
(redemptoristsdenver.org)
