USCCB: Archbishop Wenski on President Obama’s Gun Control Measures

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released comments from Archbishop Wenski yesterday on the President’s newly announced measures on gun control.

The USCCB provides:

“For a long time now, the bishops of the United States have called for reasonable policies to help reduce gun violence,” said Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, January 6, following the announcement by President Obama of measures concerning regulation of firearms.

“Violence in our society is a complex issue with many facets, taking many forms. While no measure can eliminate all acts of violence which involve firearms, we welcome reasonable efforts aimed at saving lives and making communities safer [Tweet this]. We hope Congress will take up this issue in a more robust way, considering all of the varied aspects involved. In addition to reasonable regulation, conversations must include strengthening social services for persons with mental illness, while being mindful that the vast majority of those suffering with mental illness are not likely to commit violent criminal acts.”

We’ve followed the announcement of President Obama’s executive action and shared some previous remarks offered by the US Bishops on gun control to Congress.

It is quite important to note the failure of Republican leaders to move forward with funding for services treating mental illness and substance abuse, let alone seek universal background checks, etc.

It’s quite a shame that we’ve encountered so much push back from Catholic readers on gun control.

Here’s to “reasonable efforts aimed at saving lives and making communities safer”!

Now, if we can only address the violence of capitalism.

Cheers,

Keith Michael Estrada