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“We call for action,” said Rev. Stephen P. Newton, CSC, responding to the horrific slaughter of school children and teachers in Texas. “Congress must address gun violence and offer reasonable solutions that include limiting the ease with which guns are accessible.,” said Newton, executive director of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests.
The AUSCP in 2021 established “Gospel Non-Violence” as a top priority for action over the next three years, and now calls for legislative solutions, executive action and judicial approval of measures to stem gun violence in the individual states and at the federal level.
“Once again, the gun slaughter of schoolchildren and their teachers has temporarily shocked the nation and the world,” said the AUSCP statement. “Once again, the pundits and politicians scratch their heads and ask: ‘What can we possibly do?’ Then they offer their thoughts and prayers.
“Thoughts and prayers are not enough,” said Newton. “In Texas, the scene of this latest horror, Texans can carry handguns in public without training or getting permits. Whatever the cause or the location, what matters is that we prevent an all too regular occurrence in our schools and cities,” Newton said. “Indeed, our courts and legislatures should be able to develop solutions that do not violate anyone’s constitutional rights, including the right to live granted by the fourteenth amendment. We call on our elected and appointed officials to do so. If they cannot, we need to replace them.”
Rev. Greg Barras, Chair of the Leadership Team
Association of U.S. Catholic Priests
gregmbarras@gmail.com
Rev. Stephen Newton, CSC, Executive Director
Association of U.S. Catholic Priests
auscpexdir@gmail.com