Archbishop Wilton Gregory, the Archbishop of Washington, in the United States, has released a statement on the recent visit of US President Donald Trump to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine.
President Trump’s visit to the shrine came as several cities in the United States experience civil unrest over the death of George Floyd, an African American man who was killed by a white American police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last week.
Archbishop Gregory’s statement is below:
I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people even those with whom we might disagree.
Saint Pope John Paul II was an ardent defender of the rights and dignity of human beings. His legacy bears vivid witness to that truth.
He certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, scatter or intimidate them for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace.
Read his full statement here: https://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/060220-ADW-Press-Release.pdf
