Death of Discourse

 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ-

Today the world witnessed a horrific act of targeted political violence, in the form of the assassination of a conservative commentator, Charlie Kirk, in Utah.  As people of Christian faith and charity, I ask you all to remember his family and friends in your prayers; and commend to your prayers the intention of the repose of his soul.  Before too long, media outlets will shift the narrative of this day away from the story of what happened, and will begin blaming inanimate objects and victims themselves for acts of horrific violence; in a spectacle that is a revolving circle of self-righteous grandstanding rather than meaningful discourse or transmission of fact.  As both a Bishop but first and foremost a Christian; I have been heartbroken and utterly sickened to see so many people who profess Christian faith and love, actively celebrating the death of a man whom they deemed “the enemy.”  While he may have held views that we disagree with, or believed matters that we do not; he as an American citizen and baptized Christian had the right to his conscience.  However the violence that is being increasingly incited in online forums and media outlets have led to the breakdown in communication between people, making them little more than the leaves of trees in the fall; carried away by the slightest breath of wind of dissatisfaction and hatred.  

While man lives, he may hope, he may dream, he may grow; but above all else, he may change his ways to more conform to those of our Lord.  Mr. Kirk was a man who was on a journey to be ever more closely united to our Divine Savior; and an assassin who was encouraged to violence by men who speak hatred over politics and social matters, robbed him of the chance to walk that journey to its rightful conclusion.  You may rightly ask: “Bishop, are you angry?”  Yes.  I am angry that our society values hatred and violence in the name of political gamesmanship; while offering nothing of substance to a broken world.   I am angry that those who proclaim “love and tolerance” the loudest are the first to mock and gleefully celebrate the murder of innocent lives whom they despised.  I am angry that so many people who proclaim themselves to be Christian, allow themselves to hate anyone; especially over politics.  To those of you who claim to follow our Blessed Lord and actively speak or have spoken hatred and a desire for evil on Charlie Kirk or others you disagree with:  In the name of Christ who hath said “Whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement” (Matthew 5:22), I command you to pray for the repose of this poor man’s soul; who lies bloodied and dead from the hate that you and others have incited against them.  Pray for them until the end of your days; lest the blood of their lives be stained upon your hands at the judgement seat.  




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