Tragedy in Tucson: A Statement from All Saints Rector Ed Bacon

Statement, Sunday, January 09, 2011

The Rev. Ed Bacon, Rector,
All Saints Church, Pasadena, CA

Our hearts are breaking over the victims of gun violence in Tucson, Arizona yesterday – those who were killed and the grief of their families and friends. We pray for the healing of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and all those who were wounded.

The United States has a shameful and painful legacy of the assassination of political leaders. The assassination attempt on the life of Representative Giffords highlights the current dysfunction of American political life and discourse, revealing the destruction carried in the heart of vitriolic polarization. Violent rhetoric and the dehumanization of public servants create an environment that both legitimates hatred and tempts unstable personalities to engage in violent acts. Language that “targets” opponents and places our adversaries on “hit lists” cannot be condoned.

Jesus wept over the soul of Jerusalem, a city that did not know the ways of peace. May we weep, pray, and work faithfully for the soul of the United States so that it may become a more perfect union and example of democratic tolerance and appreciation of difference of opinions.