Just Thoughts--A Call for Common-Sense Gun Safety Measures

[Krista Zivkovich wrote this "Just Thoughts" column; it will appear in the October 25th bulletin of St. Mary's in Painesville, Ohio.]

Just Thoughts:

Faith Communities Calling for Common-Sense Gun Safety Measures

Our Catholic Bishops have long called on Congress to pass basic laws that would almost certainly cut down on the amount of gun violence in our country. The life of each  person God has created is precious to Him, and as individuals living in community with each other, we have a duty to respect the dignity and value of each life and to do what is within our power to protect the lives of His beloved people.

Many people have said, and rightly so, that laws alone will not prevent the kind of mass shootings to which our country is becoming all too accustomed.  However, many reasonable people agree that some common-sense measures will help to curb this plague of gun violence.

As you have probably heard or read often, the United States has more incidences of gun violence than any other developed country in the world. Following the December 2012 killing of 27 first graders and teachers in their classroom in Newtown, Connecticut, many Americans believed that Congress would act to pass basic gun safety measures.  In June another mass killing took place in Charleston, SC as members of AME Emanuel church gathered to pray and study Scripture in their church. Gun violence resulting in multiple deaths continued this summer around the country in a movie theater, an Army recruiting station and on live television. Gun violence touched our own parish family and last month took the life of a 5 year old Cleveland child while he played in his yard.

The Catholic Bishops have sent statements and letters to Congress urging them to pass gun safety measures. But has each of us made that same demand of our elected representatives?   Let us, members of the St. Mary faith community, join our voices together and call for changes in the gun safety laws. The Lake/Geauga Diocesan Social Action Commission has written a petition calling for the same 4 gun safety measures called for by the U.S. Bishops.  This weekend after each Mass, the petition will be available to sign in the Good Shepherd entrance. The petitions will be forwarded to our representatives in Congress and in Columbus.

The petition can also be found on the Catholic Charities website: Link to the petition. Or cut and past this address into your browser:

http://cqrcengage.com/ccdocle/app/sign-petition?2&engagementId=124658

Christmas in Jail

Last evening my daughter Carolan and I joined about 30 other church members (from St. Mary's Painesville, a church in Burton, St. Bede's, St. Anthony's, St. Matthew's of Kalispell, Montana (Carolan's parish), and a few other churches) in a Christmas celebration of song and prayer.

This activity took place in the Lake County Jail, under the watchful eyes of the corrections deputies, in the 4th floor gymnasium. We had 3 separate groups: the first group, maybe 40 or so women; the second group, maybe 30 men; and the third group, maybe 60 men. Fr. Mark Riley, of St. Mary's Painesville, led the activities. Behind him were the choir members from St. Mary's and three musicians, including St. Mary's music director (and flute and whistle player extraordinaire), Mary Ann Ratchko.

This is the second such religious liturgy/celebration that I've taken part in at the jail. And each time I've been amazed how the prisoners look so much like my students and my daughters' friends. The women especially are young--most appear in their twenties or early thirties; they were enthusiastic participants, singing and even dancing to the final song (the joyous "Feliz Navidad"). There was a greater age range among the men, and some appeared "harder" in some ways, especially with all their tattoos. Even they, at the end of the night, sang joyfully (and some even danced) to "Feliz Navidad."

In my Catholic grade school (St. William's) and high school (St. Joe's) I learned the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy--one of which is to "visit the imprisoned." It was a blessing for Carolan and me to do that last evening. I hope we brought the prisoners some solace and joy; they sure gave us those Christmas presents.

Postscript: At one point last night, Fr. Mark Riley asked everyone to pray for the 20 families in Newtown, Connecticut who have lost their six and seven-year-old children. I noticed great sympathy among the prisoners--and anger, too. I had the feeling that many of the prisoners would have protected these little children--would have defended them.