WASHINGTON (CNS) – The U.S. Catholic Church stands “in unity” with the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and the larger community after a shooting during Sunday services took the lives of at least 26 people and injured at least 20 others.
Those who died ranged in age from five to 72 years old, and included 14-year-old Annabelle Pomeroy. Her father, Frank Pomeroy, is pastor of the church but he was not at the service.
“We stand in unity with you in this time of terrible tragedy – as you stand on holy ground, ground marred today by horrific violence,” said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, Texas, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
With San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, “I extend my prayers and the prayers of my brother bishops for the victims, the families, the first responders, our Baptist brothers and sisters, indeed the whole community of Sutherland Springs.”
Pope Francis also has sent condolences to Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller following the deadly massacre in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
His message was conveyed by the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
“Deeply grieved by news of the loss of life and grave injuries caused by the act of senseless violence perpetrated at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, the Holy Father asks you kindly to convey his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the wounded, to the members of the congregation, and to the entire local community,” said Cardinal Parolin.
“He asks our Lord Jesus Christ to console all who mourn and to grant them the spiritual strength that triumphs over violence and hatred by the power of forgiveness, hope and reconciling love.”
Law enforcement officials told CNN that a lone gunman entered the church at about 11:30 a.m. while 50 people were attending Sunday services. Almost everyone in the congregation was shot. Sutherland Springs is 30 to 40 miles southeast of San Antonio.
Two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press the suspect was Devin Kelley, described as a white male in his 20s. He parked at a gas station across the street from the church, crossed the street and allegedly began firing as he walked toward the church and then continued firing once inside. He was wearing black tactical-type gear and used an assault weapon, AP said.
After he left the church, he was confronted by a local resident who had a rifle “and engaged the suspect,” AP said, quoting Freeman Martin, who is with the Texas department of Safety. The suspect was later found dead in his vehicle some distance away. It was not clear if he died from a self-inflicted gun shot or from wounds suffered when the resident shot him.
His motive was not immediately known. He had been in the Air Force but was discharged for bad conduct allegedly for domestic abuse and served a 12-month sentence in confinement after being court-martialed in 2012.
“We ask the Lord for healing of those injured, his loving care of those who have died and the consolation of their families,” Cardinal DiNardo said. “This incomprehensibly tragic event joins an ever-growing list of mass shootings, some of which were also at churches while people were worshipping and at prayer, he continued.
“We must come to the firm determination that there is a fundamental problem in our society. “A culture of life cannot tolerate, and must prevent, senseless gun violence in all its forms. May the Lord, who himself is peace, send us his spirit of charity and nonviolence to nurture his peace among us all,” the cardinal said.
Speaking at an event at the University of Chicago on Monday, Chicago’s Cardinal Blase Cupich said, “It is important to do mourning, and support, and expressions of outrage, but then we also need to tell ourselves that that’s not enough.
“We need to take action. We need to make sure our legislator knows that we need to enact laws that ban these high-power weapons.”
Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik urged the country “to reclaim a culture of life and a civilization of love, in which people actually solve problems by helping others.
“We need to refocus our entertainment, so that instead of encouraging violence, it inspires us with stories of selfless love and service,” he said in a statement. “There will always be wounded souls who seek to lash out in anger. We need to do everything possible to make it unthinkable and difficult to express that anger with a gun.”
Contributing to this article was Christopher White in Brooklyn.