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US bishops condemn ‘abhorrent acts of hatred’ in Charlottesville

August 14, 2017

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued two separate statements denouncing the violence surrounding the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, this weekend.

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On August 12, the day of the rioting, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the USCCB president, condemned “the abhorrent acts of violence and hatred” and offered prayers for the victims. “We join our voices to all those calling for calm,” he said.

The next day, Cardinal DiNardo joined with Bishop Frank Dewane, the chairman of the US bishops’ committee on domestic justice and peace, in another statement, praising the law-abiding people of Charlottesville “who offered a counter-example to the hate marching in the streets.” They said:

We stand against the evil of racism, white supremacy and neo-nazism. We stand with our sisters and brothers united in the sacrifice of Jesus, by which love’s victory over every form of evil is assured. At Mass, let us offer a special prayer of gratitude for the brave souls who sought to protect us from the violent ideology displayed yesterday.

Three people were killed in the Charlottesville violence, including two policie officers who died in a helicopter crash. At least 38 people were injured.

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Show 7 Comments? (Hidden)Hide Comments

Posted by: feedback - Aug. 16, 2017 2:54 AM ET USA
The police were ordered by the city mayor to stand down, which is what lead to escalation of violence. That decision should be condemned by USCCB.
Posted by: jackbene3651 - Aug. 15, 2017 5:57 PM ET USA
There was more than one violent ideology on display. I guess the bishops are wearing PC blinders.
Posted by: Bveritas2322 - Aug. 15, 2017 4:30 PM ET USA
Will the bishops ever unite to condemn the neo-Naziism of the political left that advocates the extermination of inconvenient life? Will they ever condemn the Vatican for welcoming fanatical pro-abort after fanatical pro-abort to give them and the rest of the Church moral lectures on population management?
Posted by: brenda22890 - Aug. 15, 2017 5:53 AM ET USA
All people of goodwill stand against extremist racist views. It saddens me that only the white supremacy is called out in this respect. It has become impossible in our culture today to acknowledge that Black Lives Matter conducts themselves in equally racist behavior or that programs originally created to equalize opportunities have become weighted against the "white" race. The failure to address these facts will lend itself to more reactionary attitudes. If not honest we will lose our nation.
Posted by: [email protected] - Aug. 14, 2017 10:00 PM ET USA
Let's wait until all the facts are in. There is plenty of blame to go around including the mayor who knew both groups were coming but the counter group had no permits to march. Interesting!
Posted by: dbancrof_20005038 - Aug. 14, 2017 9:42 PM ET USA
I understand that there were white supremacists in the march, however, the march was about removal of a Robert E. Lee statue not white supremacy, and the people marching included those who had nothing to do with the white supremacists. On the other hand, the people who were rallying against the march were involved in violence and hate speech as well. So what was the counter-example that the bishops referring to? Am I incorrectly informed?
Posted by: Dennis Olden - Aug. 14, 2017 6:35 PM ET USA
The Bishops themselves bear some responsibility for this horror, inasmuch as they associate themselves with the elite against whom the perpetrators and many other white males are rebelling, whether at the ballot box or on the streets.