The coldblooded murders of police officers in Dallas during a peaceful demonstration on July 7 have shaken our nation to the core. Following a week in which we have seen two black men, one in Louisiana and the other in Minnesota, killed in incidents with the police, these unspeakable tragedies are horrible examples of the effects of our fallen human nature, the presence of sin in the world, and the real effects of what occurs when we forget who and what we are and what we are created to be.

A few things to keep in mind when we wish to formulate a Catholic Christian response to these situations:

First, Satan is a reality. Satan, the fallen angel, is very, very real and he must be rejoicing over the chaos that has infected our nation.

Second, sin is a reality. What exactly is Original Sin? We read in the Catechism that original sin is, ultimately, lack of trust in the Creator and abuse of the great gift of free will given to us from God our Father. Oftentimes, people seem to be unclear as to a definition of what’s a sin and what isn’t. It’s actually quite simple. Again, we can turn to the Catechism to glean a clearer understanding: “Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as ‘an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.’”

Third, every human being is created in God’s image and likeness and is fundamentally good, despite the presence of sin in the world and in ourselves. No matter what race, creed, gender, or sexual orientation, every person is to be respected and loved. Every life – white, black, brown, yellow, older, younger, all life – is sacred, from conception in the womb to natural death.

Fourth, racism is a sin. The alleged shooter in Dallas is reported to have said that he wanted to kill white people in general, and white police officers in particular. It has been alleged that the events in Louisiana and Minnesota are incidents of racial profiling. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity.”

Fifth, legitimate civil authority must be respected. The police are not our enemies. As much as black lives and white lives, “blue” lives also matter. True, some officers can abuse their power and true, mistakes can and do occur, but these women and men who serve in law enforcement can and must be supported.

Again, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “The duty of obedience requires all to give due honor to authority and to treat those who are charged to exercise it with respect, and, insofar as it is deserved, with gratitude and good-will.”

Sixth, there are problems, there are difficulties, there are unspeakable horrors like we have seen this week, but God always wins! In Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, we are redeemed, and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Hope is the virtue needed at this moment.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio’s example of leading a prayer vigil for peace in reaction to the events of the past week offers an atmosphere of calm and listening, which is the best way to proceed at this moment.