Dear Siblings in Christ,
Our hearts are heavy with the news of the racially motivated mass shooting that took place this past Saturday in Buffalo, NY, leaving ten innocent people dead. As we all are experiencing, it has continued to be a harrowing process to learn of these events, attempt to process them, all while grieving and praying for the affected families. Our baptismal vows call us to uphold and respect the dignity of every human child of God; and we vehemently denounce any actions that contribute to the reprehensible sickness in our nation that manifests itself as white supremacy and anti-black bias.
We ask that you join us in praying for the victims and loved ones of this tragedy, to recommit to ending racism and white supremacy in our midst, and work to end the epidemic of gun violence in our nation. We also would like to commend our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s pastoral statement, which can be found here.
In Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Bishop Diocesan
The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan
God of peace, we remember all those who have died in incidents of mass gun violence in this nation’s public and private spaces. Give to the departed eternal rest.
Roberta A. Drury of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 32
Margus D. Morrison of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 52
Andre Mackneil of Auburn, N.Y. – age 53
Aaron Salter of Lockport, N.Y. – age 55
Geraldine Talley of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 62
Celestine Chaney of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 65
Heyward Patterson of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 67
Katherine Massey of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 72
Pearl Young of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 77
Ruth Whitfield of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 86
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
Litany in the Wake of a Mass Shooting (Bishops Against Gun Violence)
