On December 14, two men targeted an event during the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach, Australia, killing 16 people and injuring over 20 more. In the wake of news about the terrorist attack, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, sent a letter to leaders of the Jewish community in the United States, expressing the Catholic Church’s prayerful solidarity with the Jewish community.
“The shooting in Sydney, Australia is a painful reminder that hatred remains a threat to our lives, our communities, and the bonds that unite us,” Archbishop Coakley said. “At the same time, the selfless intervention of a Muslim man who disarmed one of the gunmen stands as a sign of hope that compassionate concern for others can still prevail… As this year’s Hanukkah celebration coincides with the season of Advent observed by the Church, Jews and Catholics both share in the promise that light and hope prevail over darkness. May these celebrations strengthen our hearts, honor the memory of those killed and injured, and help us to build a world shaped by justice, compassion, and peace.”
The Australian direction of the Pontifical Mission Societies also condemned the vicious attack. According to Fides News Agency, the organization expressed solidarity with those who have died or been injured, with those who were in Bondi when this act of violence occurred, with their families, their friends, and with all Australians.
Further details on the attack and its aftermath can be found here at the Vatican News website. To read the full statement by the USCCB, click the link here.