Mourning after Orlando attack © Ryan Stone
Catholic Church leaders in the U.S. condemn the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. But many find it difficult to clearly identify the victims. The Archbishop of Chicago distinguishes himself as an exception.
Shock, grief and sympathy for victims and relatives also dominate church reactions after the Orlando bloodbath with 50 dead and 53 injured. Meanwhile, speculation is also growing about a possible Islamist background to the crime at a well-known gay club in the city. But whether religious hatred of homosexuals actually played a role in the Muslim perpetrator is far from clear. A sensitive ie – for Muslims in the country, for evangelical Christians and also for many Catholic bishops.
Archbishop of Chicago names taboo topic
But not for everyone: for Chicago's Archbishop Blase Cupich addresses the obvious in Pulse after the massacre: "Our prayers and hearts are with the victims of the Orlando mass shooting, their families, and our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters".
The archbishop, who is said to have a special closeness to Pope Francis, addresses the taboo subject with great matter-of-factness. Well aware that Orlando is considered a center of Christian fundamentalism, whose leaders repeatedly condemn homosexuality in harsh terms.
Sharp criticism of U.S. gun laws
Not so Archbishop Cupich, who now calls to respond to hate with love: "In response to violence: peace. And in response to intolerance: tolerance". Strong, moving words from an archbishop who didn't shy away from talking about easy access to weapons.
"We can no longer stand by and do nothing," churchman appeals to U.S. policymakers who, in the face of repeated mass shootings, have so far failed to enact even the smallest restrictions on access to war-grade weapons.
Few clear words
This unequivocal statement by the archbishop clearly stands out from the reactions of other Catholic church leaders, who call for prayer but are rather tongue-tied about it. Orlando Bishop John Noonan, for example, laments "the massive assault on the dignity of human life," but doesn't mention in a sentence that the attack targeted gays and lesbians at a relevantly known club. Noonan speaks of an act "that goes against God's love" and invites people to a candlelight vigil at St.James Cathedral in Orlando.
Even the president of the bishops' conference, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, does not speak as clearly as his brother from Chicago. He deplores the "unspeakable violence" and calls for greater efforts "to protect the life and dignity of every person".
Compared to the massacre at an African-American church in Charleston almost exactly a year ago, Archbishop Kurtz remains rather non-specific. At that time, he had clearly taken a stand against racism and violence, "which are evident everywhere.".
Difficult relationship with the ie of homosexuality
Experts in the U.S. see here another sign of the continuing difficult relationship of many religious leaders on the subject of homosexuality – far beyond the Catholic Church. For Eliel Cruz, director of the group "Faith in America," it does not fit when clerics of all religions only call for prayer, but otherwise devote themselves to the fight against lesbians, gays and transsexuals. Prominent Catholic voices also want more clarity here: Popular Jesuit publicist James Martin, for example, calls on U.S. Catholic Church leaders in a tweet to take an unequivocal stand against hate and violence directed at these minorities.
The U.S. bishops are currently gathering for a non-public retreat in California. On Sunday, there was initially no official statement from the entire bishops' conference. Pope Francis condemned the massacre as a "new manifestation of deadly madness and senseless hatred" that he deeply abhors and condemns. The Vatican further announced that the Pope is praying for the families of the victims and injured of this "horrific and absurd violence".
The head of the Muslim umbrella organization "CAIR", Nihat Awad, found that the attack was a hate crime. "We will never give in to hatred". However, he did not comment on the subject of homosexuality either.
The father of Omar Mateen, the 29-year-old assassin, refuses to speak of his son's religious motives. But he cannot rule out hatred of homosexuals as a possible motive. His son, for example, was horrified when he recently saw two men kissing in public in Miami. So the debate will continue – and not just in church circles.