Catholic leaders are expressing optimism that a framework agreed to by a bipartisan group of U.S. senators could lead on to latest laws geared toward reducing gun violence.
“I’m deeply grateful that members of Congress have undertaken bipartisan negotiations to handle the plague of gun violence in our nation,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, who heads the domestic justice and human development committee for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a press release on June 14. “I commend their recent announcement of a framework to assist prevent senseless violence, which incorporates reasonable gun safety measures.”
The archbishop said that engaging in dialogue geared toward strengthening the common good is “an example of the ‘higher form of politics’ that Pope Francis champions.” He urged Congress “to proceed these essential efforts which is able to help construct a culture of life. It’s imperative this Congress passes into law latest protections for the American people.”
“I’m deeply grateful that members of Congress have undertaken bipartisan negotiations to handle the plague of gun violence in our nation,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley said.
On Sunday, a gaggle of 20 senators announced that that they had reached a consensus on a framework that could possibly be used to pass rare laws geared toward stemming gun violence. While supporters of stricter gun control measures say the framework doesn’t go far enough, some praised the compromise as a great first step.
The top of the Catholic Health Association sent a letter to senators on Wednesday, urging them “to maneuver quickly and approve laws to handle the distressing surge in gun violence affecting our nation.”
The president and C.E.O. of the Catholic Health Association, Mary Haddad, R.S.M., called gun violence in america “a profound health, economic and moral crisis.” Sister Haddad laid out quite a lot of items that C.H.A., which represents greater than 2,200 Catholic hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities, have supported in an effort to cut back gun violence. Those include expanded background checks, increased federal funding to check gun violence and banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
In her letter, Sister Haddad notes that the proposed framework addresses among the goals supported by C.H.A., akin to a grant program to encourage states to enact “red flag” laws, increased financial support for mental health programs and college security measures.
“While we strongly encourage you to proceed developing strong legislative proposals to handle this issue, we do welcome these initial steps and urge you to maneuver as quickly as possible to approve laws that may gain the vital support within the Senate,” Sister Haddad wrote.
Earlier this month, 4 bishops who chair various U.S.C.C.B. subcommittees sent a letter to lawmakers urging them to take motion on guns within the wake of several recent mass shootings throughout america. Additional high-ranking Catholic leaders, including Pope Francis, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago and Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, have also been vocal in calling for stricter gun laws in america.
[Read next: Cardinal Cupich: The Second Amendment did not come down from Sinai]
