After California shooting, pope says world is ‘obsessed’ with guns January 25, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Gun Violence, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — After the shooting Jan. 21 in Monterey Park, California, that killed 11 people and injured nine others, Pope Francis said that “the world is obsessed with having guns.” In an interview with the Associated Press published Jan. 25, the pope said that growth of the arms industry in recent years shows how rather than making efforts to promote life, society currently works “to help us kill each other.” On legal gun ownership, the pope said that “when people must defend themselves there is no other (option) but to have the tools for defense. It’s another thing when that need to defend gets extended, expanded, and it becomes a habit,” he said. In a telegram to Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said Pope Francis was “saddened” to learn of the Monterey Park shooting and assured the pope’s spiritual closeness “to those affected by this tragedy.” “His Holiness joins the entire community in commending the souls of those who died to almighty God’s loving mercy, and he implores the divine gifts of healing and consolation upon the injured and bereaved,” wrote Cardinal Parolin. A gunman attacked a dance hall in Monterey Park, just outside of Los Angeles Jan. 21 after a day of celebrations in the heavily Asian-American city for the Lunar New Year. California police said the gun used by the shooter, a semi-automatic MAC-10 assault weapon, is illegal to buy or sell in the state. Authorities do not yet know where the gunman acquired the weapon. Read More Gun Violence Biden establishes first White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention New Mexico public health order’s gun ban not ‘a threat to Constitution,’ says archbishop Catholic parishes relied on faith, prudent planning during university shooting Fla. bishop condemns racially motivated shooting: ‘Violence, bigotry have no place in our hearts or society’ USCCB argues protecting innocent life must be priority in gun rights case before high court Archdiocese of Baltimore’s gun buyback effort takes 362 firearms off the streets, promotes peace and hope Copyright © 2023 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
Fla. bishop condemns racially motivated shooting: ‘Violence, bigotry have no place in our hearts or society’
Archdiocese of Baltimore’s gun buyback effort takes 362 firearms off the streets, promotes peace and hope
