Joint
Statement from Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, and Most
Reverend Barry C. Knestout, Bishop of Richmond, on July 9th Virginia
General Assembly Special Session
On May 31, we along with the faithful of both of our
dioceses mourned the loss of life that was so tragically taken in the shootings
that occurred at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center. We continue to keep in
prayer: Laquita Brown, Tara Gallagher, Mary Louise Gayle, Alexander Gusev,
Katherine Nixon, Richard Nettleton, Christopher Rapp, Ryan Cox, Joshua Hardy,
Michelle “Missy” Langer, Robert “Bobby” Williams and Herbert “Bert” Snelling.
We also continue to pray for their families, those injured, their co-workers
and those who provide assistance within the community.
Through prayer, we must also discern what can be done to make our communities
safer and address the root causes of violence and terror. Respect and reverence
for human life – all life, at every stage of development and in all
circumstances – require us to protect it. The culture of violence pervading our
society must be challenged by the Church and people of good will. We must be
people who reflect on the Word of Life and then act upon it.
Our commitment to respect all human life and to promote peace in our
communities through our words and actions has consistently led us, through the
Virginia Catholic Conference, to be advocates for reasonable safety regulations
for firearms and proper screening for those seeking to acquire a firearm. In a
statement issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2017, USCCB
Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development Chairman Bishop Frank J.
Dewane stated, “While acknowledging the Second Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution and related jurisprudence, we live in a fallen world with daily
advances in modern technology. Some weapons are increasingly capable of easily
causing mass murder when used with an evil purpose. Society must recognize that
the common good requires reasonable steps to limit access to such firearms by
those who would intend to use them in that way."
We recognize that many factors contribute to the violence in our society, which
will not be solved by a single piece of legislation. We recognize that firearms
often serve the legitimate purpose of self-defense and the defense of loved
ones. We also recognize that mental health has been a factor in past shootings
and more resources should be invested in early intervention for those at risk
of committing a violent act due to mental illness. Therefore, it is our hope
that our elected officials will engage in genuine discussions about
comprehensive legislation that will help save lives and make our communities
safer.
We will continue to be advocates for proposals that promote a comprehensive
approach to combating increasing occurrences of violence, keeping respect for
all life at the forefront and ensuring the fundamental liberties of all
Americans are protected. We urge our state leaders to engage in civil and
meaningful dialogue, seeking to combat all violence in our communities, most
especially during the Virginia General Assembly’s Special Session beginning today.
Finally, we continue to pray for our elected leaders as they explore sound
public policy options for the care and good of all.
© Arlington Catholic Herald 2019