Together with the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the Leadership of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville are committed to working towards a world free from violence, with respect for all living beings. Our hearts are broken for family members, friends, and members of the LGBTQ+ community as they grieve the tragic loss of those killed and those wounded in the Colorado Springs shooting on Saturday, November 19.

There can be no tolerance for hate. As women of the Gospel, we oppose any form of exclusion, discrimination, violence or hate speech directed at any group or those who practice a faith tradition different from one’s own religion. We pledge to work for the change of structural systems that promote messages of violence. We are all called to be instruments of peace.

We again call on our local, state, and federal officials to enact laws that will require universal background checks for all gun purchases; restrict civilian access to assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; make gun trafficking a federal crime; improve access to mental health care and other services for those in need; and fund educational programs on the effects of violence.

We pray for the courage necessary for each one of us to commit ourselves to speak out against the rhetoric leading to violence and to being makers of peace in the face of division and hate.

Ursuline Sisters of Louisville Leadership