Following a gunman’s assassination attempt on President Trump during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on April 25, Catholic bishops of the United States denounced violence and called for prayer.
In a statement issued on April 26, Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, expressed gratitude that the lives of the President and everyone in attendance at the function were spared from serious harm. He invited everyone to pray for the elected leaders and public officials. Upholding the value of human life, the archbishop said, “There is no room for violence of any kind in our society.”
Meanwhile, Bishop David Bonnar of Ohio wrote in a statement that the issue of gun violence must be addressed. Stating that violence was never the answer, Bishop Bonnar also offered a prayer for the nation. In a post on X, Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, spoke out against the “viciousness and tribalism” on the internet that contributed to political violence. He reminded the public that it was possible “to disagree with a politicianʼs ideas without demonizing and dehumanizing him.”