Catholic leaders respond to White House correspondents' dinner shooting

Several Catholic leaders condemned the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, calling for prayer and an end to political violence. 

>> Trump evacuated after shooting at White House correspondents’ dinner, suspect in custody << 

Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), issued a statement April 26 saying, "We are grateful the lives of the President, those who protect him, and everyone in attendance last night were spared from serious harm. Because human life is a precious gift, there is no room for violence of any kind in our society."

Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester, one of the most-followed Catholic leaders on social media, also issued a statement on X. 

"I'm grateful that the President and his entourage are unhurt after this latest attack. May I raise my voice against the viciousness and tribalism that are so prevalent on the internet and that contribute mightily to the violence we see in our political culture,” he wrote. 

“Can we please remember that it is possible to disagree with a politician's ideas without demonizing and de-humanizing him?” he asked. “Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, and that includes our ideological opponents." 

Brian Burch, the US Ambassador to the Holy See, wrote on X that he woke up in Rome to news of "another assassination attempt on" President Trump, calling it "the third attempt on his life, that we know of." "Grateful he is safe and the suspect is in custody," Burch wrote. "May God bless and protect our President." 

Bishop David Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown also released a statement, writing, "The United States is built on freedom and respect for all.” 

“There is no room for violence that endangers the life of any human being,” he said. “Moreover the issue of gun violence must be addressed. Violence is never the answer. We all must look deeper into the human heart to build each other up rather than tear each other down."

As Zeale News reported, CatholicVote President and CEO Kelsey Reinhardt described the attack as a shock.

“America does not solve its problems through violence; the highest ideals push us to reconcile in open debate and through political action,” Reinhardt said. “Tonight’s assassination attempt is yet another reminder that political violence by the left is circumventing these ideals. Still, providence continues to protect President Trump. CatholicVote thanks God for that, as do I. Hate should not have the final word.”