From Bishop Brookhart: Thoughts on the Events in Orlando
Thoughts on the Events in Orlando
When I awoke in my hotel room on Sunday morning a friend had sent me a message telling me to watch the news. I was shocked and sickened by the slaughter of men and women in Orlando.
This sort of ugly event calls us to examine our hearts and minds in the presence of God. I lay before you three questions that may help you as you seek to pray and act in light of the murder of many innocent people.
First, are we such a violent people? Why are we surrounded by so much savage brutality? In part we have to remember that we are a country founded in violence, even if it was for a righteous cause. But we are at the center of our beings Christians. We serve as Lord the one for whom peace is a sign of his presence, one who sought to end conflict and division.
Second, why the anti-gay feelings and actions? Certainly fear and misunderstanding are part of the reason, but it is clearly a distortion of our relationship with Christ to indulge in judgment, condemnation, and violence against people who are gay by reason of birth. In the end, judgment belongs to God, not us.
Third, why the defensiveness about guns? I do not want to press that hot button about a proper understanding of the second amendment, but surely we need a way to cope with the excess of firearms and the ease of buying them. To me it is clear that guns play an inordinately large role in our society. Again, our Lord asks us to be agents of peace and compassion, not violence and division.
In the days ahead I pledge to continue in honest prayer and examination of my heart in light of the terrors in Orlando. I invite you to do the same.
Bishop Franklin Brookhart+
Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Montana