This past Wednesday, September 10, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot by a sniper’s bullet at Utah Valley University. He was on his “America Comeback Tour.” He left a wife and two young children behind. Let’s take a look.
Who was Charlie Kirk?
Charlie Kirk was the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point, a conservative non-profit organization founded in 2012. Its mission is to educate, train, and mobilize students to promote:
- Patriotism and liberty
- Free markets and fiscal responsibility
- Limited government
- Faith and family values
Turning Point operates thousands of chapters across high schools and colleges. It’s one of the largest youth political networks in the U.S. and is known for hosting high-energy conferences, campus debates, and media outreach—including podcasts like The Charlie Kirk Show and initiatives like the Professor Watchlist, which calls out educators it claims discriminate against conservative students.
Kirk would go to college and university campuses to debate with students to promote his Christian and conservative values. This was the equivalent of walking into the lion’s den, as most students and professors lean to the left. Kirk consistently treated his debate opponents respectfully, yet students and professors did not always respond with the same civility. Authorities continue to search for the suspect, who remains at large.
The Political Discourse in the U.S.
I have written many times about the divisive culture in the U.S. today. It has existed for many years, and the gap seems to widen daily. As the pandemic unfolded, it seemed to deepen the divide between the left and the right—particularly over vaccinations and COVID-19 restrictions. Following Trump’s re-election, tensions escalated even further across the political spectrum. Simultaneously, social media platforms became outlets for venting frustrations and launching personal attacks, which deepened the divide. As a result, many families and friendships have been destroyed under the weight of opposing views and beliefs. The Mainstream Media (MSM) exacerbates the situation with selective, and at times, false reporting. We as a country are a mess right now, folks. If we continue on our path, we may lose our wonderful country, and that cannot happen.
We are at a Crossroads
Charlie Kirk spoke freely about his beliefs. He was a contentious figure on college campuses because of his views. He went to those campuses to generate an open dialogue between people of different perspectives. Many people believed in Charlie’s ideas, and equally, many opposed his views. Sometimes, the discussions turned contentious. People sometimes just wanted to call him names and walk away; other times, both sides understood each other better. That being said, he didn’t deserve to die because he believed something different than the gunman.
Both sides have contributed significantly to the divide, but this week’s discourse took another very ugly turn after Kirk’s death. There were people on social media openly celebrating his death. This isn’t new. We saw the same behavior around the COVID-19 vaccines in 2021. People did not want to take the vaccines for valid reasons, and some who supported vaccines hoped the unvaccinated would die from the virus.
The Catholic View
This is evil incarnate—wishing or celebrating death because you disagree with someone’s views. It is despicable behavior. The First Amendment guarantees the right to Free Speech, but even more than that, we as God’s children have to be better than this. Jesus teaches us to love one another and care for each other. His teachings reveal not just the nature of evil but the posture we as believers are called to adopt in its presence:
Matthew 5:11 – “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:44 – “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,”
Openly mocking Kirk’s death because his views differed from someone else’s is not loving or caring for each other. Wishing death on someone who disagreed with you and chose not to take a largely untested vaccine is not loving or caring for each other. It is evil, plain and simple.
Going Forward
I cannot overstate how important it is that we, as Catholics and all Christians, must respond to these depraved attacks. If we are going to change the dialogue, we must respond in the way that Jesus teaches us – “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” It is not our job to change other people. We are not Jesus. He will continue to work with those who foment that behavior and will deal accordingly with their response to Him. Do not get caught up in your emotions and add to this disgusting discourse. Let’s not forget that our behavior sets an example for the younger generations. That is one of the main reasons we are in the mess we are – yelling at each other, talking over one another, and not listening to what the other person is saying. Enough is enough. It is time to change the dialogue; we can only succeed if we take Jesus with us.
Please share your thoughts about this article in the “Comments” section.
Peace
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