by Andrew Nelson

ATLANTA (CNS) – Guns and other weapons are officially unwelcome at Catholic churches, schools and other buildings owned, leased or operated by the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the Diocese of Savannah in Georgia.

Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory and Savannah Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer issued a decree prohibiting guns and knives with blades longer than five inches from parishes, churches, schools, administrative offices and other buildings owned or used by the Catholic community effective July 1.

In a statement, the bishops said Catholic places of worship are sanctuaries where “ways of peace and reconciliation” should be the rule.

“This decree is rooted in the belief that our churches and other places of worship are intended to be – holy sites where people come to pray and to worship God. In this nation of ours, they have seldom been the locations where violence has disrupted the otherwise peaceful atmosphere. Should it be necessary, we will seek the assistance of trained law enforcement personnel for protection, but among ourselves we will first seek ways of peace and reconciliation.”

The new policy is in response to Georgia’s Safe Carry Protection Act of 2014 that went into effect July 1. The act still prohibits weapons in places of worship but allows religious leaders to “opt out” of the prohibition and allow these weapons in church, an option the Catholic Church in Georgia has declined to do.

Any parishioner or visitor unlawfully carrying a weapon in violation of the Catholic dioceses’ decree may be charged with trespassing. They will be asked to leave the facility and return only once they have removed the weapon.

The policy also will apply to activities sponsored by the Catholic Church in Georgia, such as conferences and parish and school trips.

Law enforcement workers and authorized security personnel, including campus police officers, are exempt from the ban, according to the decree.