SAN DIEGO, April 27, 2019 — San Diego Catholic Bishop Robert W. McElroy issued a statement after today’s shooting, which left one person dead and three injured at a local synagogue. And he asked all the priests in the diocese to say prayers in Sunday Masses for the victims and for the Jewish community.
“Our hearts go out to everyone at Chabad House Poway for the senseless violence that took place earlier today. Houses of worship should be places of peace. Know that the entire Catholic Community of San Diego and Imperial Counties is keeping you in our prayers,” the Bishop said in a general statement.
The Bishop sent the following message to all the priests in the diocese:
“I know that you join in my profound sadness and outrage that violence born of hatred against people of faith has once again rent our nation, this time within our own diocese. I would ask you to include a prayer for the Jewish community and the Chabad victims in your petitions at Sunday Masses. I offer the following as one example you might wish to use:
“For the victims of the Chabad shootings and their families; for the Jewish community, our elder brothers in faith, who are once again subjected to the evil of anti-Semitic hatred and violence, this time in our own diocese; and for our world, so consumed by anger and division, that we might understand that the gift of peace you give in today’s Gospel is a command for us to love every man and woman in the human family; we pray to the Lord.”