Tree of Life Massacre - Response from our Presiding Bishop & Diocese

From our Presiding Bishop:

Our Jewish neighbors, our brothers and sisters, are fearful and we must stand with them and provide comfort and support for them and for all. It is reported that the gunman not only ranted anti-Semitic sayings, he has also ranted and spoken against immigrants and refugees and other peoples.

We must pray, we must pray for him, we must pray for the spirit of our nation, that a spirit of love and compassion and goodness and decency would pervade, and that spirits of hatred and bigotry would be cast away. But, above all, at this time, pray for those who have died and for their families and their loved ones. Pray for those who are wounded. Pray for the first responders, pray for our brothers and sisters in the Jewish community. Pray for the Tree of Life synagogue. Pray for the City of Pittsburgh. Pray for America. Pray for us all.

And then, go out and do something. Do something that helps to end the long night and helps to bring in the daylight. Visit a neighbor. Remind our Jewish brothers and sisters that they do not stand alone. Care for someone. Love. Stand for what is right and good. Then pray. And then act.

Read the whole thing here.

From our Diocesan Bishops:

Once again, sadly, during our 2018 Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, we were called to pause and pray for victims of violence whose lives were in the process of being senselessly taken by individuals intent on spreading terror and hatred. The first time we stopped to pray for such was November 13, 2015 during the Paris terrorist attacks. And then last Saturday, as we met in Convention in Mystic, we paused yet again to pray for the victims of the horrific shooting in the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. Such madness has got to stop.

Read the whole letter here (including Bishops United Against Gun Violence letter).

And from the Episcopal Bishop of Pittsburgh:

This terror is added to the great heap of such crimes we have witnessed in the past. Yet our hope is not dimmed, and our obligation is clear: “Behold, I set before you this day, life and death, blessing and curse: therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19) May we especially who bear the name of Christ be fierce in our love and unwavering in our courage, as we mourn with those who mourn, and work with others to lay the foundations for blessing, life and peace for all people. 

and

Today will be a difficult day for Pittsburgh. The President will be visiting. He says his purpose is to express his condolences and support for the families of those who died in the massacre at Tree of Life Synagogue. I believe there is also a rally scheduled for later this afternoon to protest the President’s visit. There will be many voices lifted up both for and against these events.

In the middle of it all, the Jewish rituals of mourning will continue: washing eleven bodies, burying the dead, sitting shiva.

The Mayor has said he will focus on the care of those who lost loved ones in the assault. I ask us all to follow the Mayor’s lead. Do not be caught up in the maelstrom of this day, or in bitter exchanges on social media. Let us be quiet. Wherever we are, let us mourn with the living and bless the dead. Let the only words be words of comfort, words of prayer. There will be time for other words. This is not the time.

 You can find his responses here and here.