After a statement on Saturday denouncing the “abhorrent acts of hatred” in Charlottesville, Viriginia, but not identifying responsible forces by name, America’s Catholic leadership on Sunday spoke out again, this time specifically condemning “the evil of racism, white supremacy and neo-nazism.”
In this case, the statement was issued jointly by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the U.S. bishops’ conference, and Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Florida, who chairs the conference’s committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.
“We stand against the evil of racism, white supremacy and neo-nazism,” the two prelates said. “We stand with our sisters and brothers united in the sacrifice of Jesus, by which love’s victory over every form of evil is assured.”
DiNardo and Dewane then addressed American Catholics who would be attending Mass on Sunday.
“At Mass, let us offer a special prayer of gratitude for the brave souls who sought to protect us from the violent ideology displayed yesterday,” the said. “Let us especially remember those who lost their lives. Let us join their witness and stand against every form of oppression.
“As we learn more about the horrible events of yesterday, our prayer turns today, on the Lord’s Day, to the people of Charlottesville who offered a counter example to the hate marching in the streets,” the prelates added.
The tragedy in in Charlottesville unfolded Saturday, when an alt-right rally called “Unite the Right” protested the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee. It sparked violence, including what many are calling a terrorist incident when an alt-right protester drove his car into a crowd of counter-protestors killing one woman and injuring at least 19 others.
The bishop’s specificity stands in contrast to the way a statement by U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday has been received.
Sunday news coverage was saturated with talk about the apparent ambiguity of Trump’s remark, in which he said, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.”
Sunday brought from the White House a revised condemnation of violence, stating “of course that includes white supremacists, KKK, neo-Nazis and all extremist groups.” It came after a series of tweets by Republican leaders, such as Senators Oren Hatch and Marco Rubio, urging Trump to call those groups out.
Full story at Crux.
Amen!
YFC do reject and condemn leftist anti-Catholic group like ANTIFA, who started the violence in Virginia or does that compromise your leftist world view. Dear. Bishops you have about as much moral courage as a loaf of french bread.
I reject and condemn fascism, nationalism, and racism
YFC I reject you and the entire political. Noticed you will not condemn ANTIFA…. I knew it
The US Bishops would have far more credibility if they at the same time forcefully condemned the violent and vicious Antifa movement and its armed thugs who have become emboldened by the inertness of the police authorities and the contrived silence of the so-called media.
Agreed.
The KKK and Nazis and alt-right were marching through the streets with torches, shields, knives, automatic guns, and shouting “blood and soil” with anti-black, anti-gay, and anti-Jewish threats – threats of death and riot – and you are arguing that the anti-fascists were the ones who started the violence?! How can you call yourself a Catholic, or a Christian, and equate anti-fascists with Nazis? Have you seen what they stand for? They are not simply marching to support a statue of a man who not only had slaves, but fought and killed fellow Americans for the right to own, beat, and kill, human chattel; they are marching to eliminate the rights of there fellow humans because of the color of their skin. There is a reason my grandparents’…
Evidence developed by — none other than the left-leaning Southern Poverty Law Center — indicates the instigator of the Charlottesville riot, Jason Kessler of “Unite the Right”, was an Obama supporter and a member of “Occupy!” until Nov. 2016:
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-08-14/report-%E2%80%98unite-right%E2%80%99-organizer-jason-kessler-was-occupy-movement-obama-supporter-8-m
Maybe the US Bishops want to check out the definition of “false-flag”.
Thank you Bishops for condemning the incident in Charlottesville more forcefully and more quickly than President Trump. The bishops finally did something right!
Leftist agitating groups started the violence. The same biased media that refuse to see Islamic terrorism as rooted in Islam and that refuse to condemn when Black Lives Matter inspires riots, mayhem, murders and assassinations, and the same inept bishops who issue reactionary statements in ignorance of all the facts are all rushing to judgment against conservatives, attempting to tie the violence in Charlottesville to conservatism and to President Trump.
Harold why don’t these pathetic men in miters call out the communist thugs, who started the violence, and the communist have killed far more Catholics than the NAZI’s ever did.
Bohemond, two things come to mind. What is your definition of a communist? Why do you say that communist thugs started the violence? Show us on the videos where that happened. I have no data on the number of Catholics killed by communists or nazi, so I won’ t go there. But, there are no excuses for anyone to support, even in idle comment, the thinking of Nazis or neo-Nazis such as those who marched in C’ville. They were marching to promote white supremacy. That is unacceptable at any level inthis country, or the world.
Bob One, let us help you out on the sheer numbers killed by communists (you can decide how many were Catholics, if you wish)—from historian sites or the Wash Post:
Hitler – a “National SOCIALIST” – new estimates, 20 million:
https://www.businessinsider.com/shocking-new-holocaust-study-claims-nazis-killed-up-to-20-million-people-2013-3
Stalin – “Communist” – estimates range up to 60 million, but most historians are settling on 20 million:
https://historyofrussia.org/stalin-killed-how-many-people/
Mao – “Communist” – at least 30 million but likely according to the historians 45 million:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/08/03/giving-historys-greatest-mass-murderer-his-due/?utm_term=…
Smiling Chairman Mao deserves special note: From Frank Dikotter’s book “Mao’s Great Famine”:
“..Mao emerges as one of the greatest mass murderers in history, responsible for the deaths of at least 45 million people between 1958 and 1962.
It is not merely the extent of the catastrophe that dwarfs earlier estimates, but also the manner in which many people died: between two and three million victims were tortured to death or summarily killed, often for the slightest infraction. When a boy stole a handful of grain in a Hunan village, local boss Xiong Dechang forced his father to bury him alive.”
Can you say Media Double Standard
5-Year FRC Shooting Anniversary Offers A Study In Presidential Reactions To Hate Crimes
https://thefederalist.com/2017/08/15/5-year-frc-shooting-anniversary-offers-study-presidential-reactions-hate-crimes/
Today, is the five-year anniverary of the Family Research Council shooting in Washington DC – Corkins would later admit that he had located Family Research Council’s office on a “hate map” produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and he planned to shoot people in the building and smear the Chick-fil-A sandwiches on them.
Both the Family Research Council and the owners of Chick-fil-A have received heavy public criticism for opposition to same-sex marriage and other socially conservative views…
They say that the best defense is a good offense, and that seems to be apparent in many of the comments posted here. Regardless of what you think about Antifa, I find it incredible that commenters take issue with condemnation of Nazis. When the counter protesters have an ideology of racism, anti-Semitism and everything else the Klan and Nazis stand for, there’ll be moral equivalency. Until then, sorry, but no. Just. No.
Be specific: who specifically has “..taken issue with condemnation of Nazis”? Don’t blame the President, because he left the Reformed Party in 2000, at that time bitterly criticizing Neo-Nazis, because David Dukes tried to join it. Check it out.
As for the Klan, remember they always were Demokkkrats. Ever heard of Sen J. William Fulbright (D-Ark? Klansman. Sen Robert Byrd (D-WVa)? He was a a “Grand Cyclops” in their order. In the 1920’s south membership in the Klan was exclusive to the Democrat party. That is why they often attended the Democrat convention.
Shouldn’t the Democrat party be condemned as a racist org? Or is this too much of a thought exercise for you?
The utterly inane pretense of a superior ‘enlightened’ nature of the leftist radicals is shown by the images of their ‘leaders’ (aka anyone who can get on lame steam media video making a violent fool of themselves) – Kicking Metal Statues
I laughed when I saw video of these amoral idiots Kicking a Metal Statue with tennis shoes. Statues feel no pain, but human feet aren’t designed to break metal, rather flesh & bone break, particularly when wearing flimsy shoes
Some apparently got the message, the hard way, when they limped off afterwards. Others seemed so hyped up on by the spotlight on their hate to be impervious to pain – at least while the cameras were running. Truly a Podiatrist Dream Date – they should give business cards…
The Bishops were addressing the specific incident in Charlottesville. The extent of the atrocities committed by Nazi’s against Humanity (including Jews, Catholics and others) continues to be investigated and documented. In fact, there is a French Catholic priest, Father Patrick Desbois, who continues to investigate holocaust atrocities. Since Vatican II, the Catholic Church has taught of the dignity of every human being regardless of race, creed, sex, disability or religion.
Effort to create a subject change.
In fact, the violent Antifa group, the new SA of the Left, at Charlottesville set upon the crowd, some of whom were neo-Nazis, some of whom were white nationalists, and some of whom were ordinary people who opposed the tearing down of the Confederate memorial statue.
Yet the US bishops maintained a studied silence on the violence of the left. Strange bedfellows.
Well Bob One you are as predictable as the sunrise, never once will you criticize you friends on the Left will you. My definition of communist take close look at who is running Cuba and Venezuela and the leftist punk walking around Che Guevera and Hammer and Sickles on their shirts. “They were marching to promote white supremacy. That is unacceptable at any level inthis country, or the world” But Black supremacy is OK right ? Bob One should I be allowed to be proud of my European heritage great men like Dante, Verdi, Copernicus, Galileo or is all of this now racism in your narrow mind?? .
Bohemond, be proud of your heritage! I’m proud of mine, all Northern European. But pride doesn’t allow for thinking we are better than anyone else. We may be richer, better educated, have better jobs, pay more taxes, vote the “right” way, and whatever else you want to add to the list. But, that doesn’t make us better than anyone else. Whites are not superior because they are right, and they don’t have the right to own slaves or to put down people of color. We can’t call ourselves true Americans if we don’t provide equal opportunity to all, treat everyone equally and come to grips with the notion that all are made in the image of God. Marching for white supremacy is not American, and more importantly, not Christian. Caritas.
Bob One, I reject multiculturalism completely…
Bohemond, you continue to make me ask questions. If you reject multiculturalism, then you must be in favor of one culture for all. If I’m correct in this assessment, then, would you please define the culture you favor? I assume you mean you favor a strict American culture. Can you tell me what that is? Please!
Bob One I reject multiculturalism when it tells me that ALL CULTURES are equal and they are not. I want a Christ centered culture, I know you reject that notion, because you believe a Christ centered culture means the Church become a social justice organization and NOT the sole means of salvation.
” I have no data on the number of Catholics killed by communists or nazi, so I won’ t go there. Of course you won’t go there Bob One, because if you did you be shocked to learn how many Catholics were killed by your communist friends.
The Alt-Left also came armed with baseball bats and lighter fluid to burn Confederate flags and to use as flame-throwers. Moveon.org and BML and CAIR came fully armed with bats. There are to sides to every story. The truth is the Charlottesville and Virginia police were ordered to stand down by Major Singer and Governor McCauliffe. Mob would followed. Y
So are Dante, Verdi, Copernicus and Galileo being linked to the Nazis and white supremacists? I think all of them are shouting from heaven that hate and bigotry are wrong!
Hey Harold I dare you to go to any college campus, and say you are proud White European and see what happens to you.
If you want to read drivel that exemplifies just how foolish some bishops can be, read Bishop McGrath’s statement on events in Virginia. Why he’s issuing a statement on it, I don’t know. But he uses the worrisome “Diversity is our strength” falsehood and even goes a step further to claim that diversity is our beauty. He also calls sexual orientation a defining characteristic. Clueless. How is he a man of God?
https://www.dsj.org/blog/statement-san-jose-bishop-patrick-j-mcgrath-recent-events-charlottesville-virginia/
He wrote about the terrorism in C’ville because if he hadn’t, as a faith leader, he would be complicit in support of the white supremacists and neo Nazis. Our leaders are supposed to lead. We don’t have a national leader, so we must rely on local leaders to show us the way.
“He wrote about the terrorism in C’ville because if he hadn’t, as a faith leader, he would be complicit in support of the white supremacists and neo Nazis.”
That is just pure nonsense.
How often did the good Bishop speak up to defend the Christians murdered by ISIS and Boko Haran?
Was he complicit and support those murders and kidnappings because he did not speak up?
Yours is the language of the Left.
He’s campaigning for cardinal, and he has seen what gets Pope Francis’ attention and what others have done, said and written to get the red hat. It’s just for show, for self-promotion.
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is our faith that love prevails over hate, love is stronger than evil, life is worth living and God has the last word. Say what you will but the Catholic faith and the Catholic Church will never align with Neo-Nazis, white supremacy, bigotry and hate.
Amen!
“He wrote about the terrorism in C’ville because if he hadn’t, as a faith leader, he would be complicit in support of the white supremacists and neo Nazis.” This is the mindset of a leftist who spews drivel. Why Bob One, has this so called bishop not once uttered the condemnation of his fellow Catholics by Muslims in the Middle East or the slaughter of Catholics by the communists. Why because its easy to condemn NAZI’s is does not take any courage of sense of leadership to do that. But I can guess this so called Bishop along with yourself will NEVER condemn acts of hate and violence by the Left.
Bohemond: how do you know I am a white European? My primary identity is as a simple servant of the Lord trying to live as a faithful Roman Catholic. Quite frankly, my life does not belong to me…it belongs to the Lord. I have had no problems in sharing this with anyone…anywhere, including a college campus.
Gratias: Some Alt-Right members at the Charlottesville incident were armed with rifles and handguns. Bats and lighter fluid are no match for bullets! Also, the alt-left group did not kill anyone; a member of the Alt- right group murdered an innocent protester and injured many more using his car. Undoubtedly this confused young man was inspired to do so by another terrorist group: ISIS.
The usual moral inconsistencies from our spiritual solons. They bark.
Harold, I never said you were, but as liberal I knew that you would assume this. Try saying you are proud of your European heritage and see what happens to you. You get labeled racist, NAZI the garbage that the Left always spews. I pray for the complete destruction of cultural Marxism.
Bohemond, here is a really leftist idea for you to ponder: “We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal…endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights”…. America is a multicultural country, always has been. Since the day Europeans discovered and took over the land from the native inhabitants, people have come from all over the world to find a new and better life. They brought their cultures with them. They attended their ethnic churches until they assimilated – from the many, one. Then others came are assimilating and changing. When we talk of one Christ centered culture, let’s remember the fights over who is more Christian than others. Think the history of Catholic Maryland.
Behomond: who cares what other people think? Just be yourself! The Marxists, White Supremacists and Neo-Nazis are deluded!