Amid violence, Central African Republic bishops denounce 'lack of patriotisms'
- Jan 19, 2021
As a politically divided nation prepares to inaugurate a new president in the wake of a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, a group of Christian leaders is hoping to ease tensions through prayer during three days of ecumenical, nonpartisan programming.
Bishop W. Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City prayed Jan. 11 that God would bless and guide the newly sworn officials of Missouri’s executive branch to lead not just with the “power of their office” but also “with the moral authority founded on personal integrity and character.”
Seeing the U.S. Capitol building being stormed by a rioting mob Jan. 6 brought a visceral reaction from Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, a Republican from Nebraska. Fortenberry, who is Catholic and often attends daily Mass at St. Peter’s Church on Capitol Hill, called the attack a “desecration.”
The buzz of text messages from campaign volunteers, handwritten political postcards mailed from out of state, along with a barrage of advertisements, came to a halt after the U.S. Senate runoff elections in Georgia on Jan. 5.
Holy Cross Father John I. Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame, condemned last week’s violence at the nation’s capitol.
Jesuit Father Leo O’Donovan, former president of Georgetown University, will deliver the invocation at the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden Jan. 20.