An article in the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) reported the move by leaders of the US Roman Catholic Church to encourage people to rediscover their common humanity and turn their back on political violence.
In a pastoral letter, to coincide with the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical ‘Fratelli Tutti’ on fraternal love, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said, “I ask every American to reflect on the value of every human life. I beg you to see Christ in every person, even those whose politics you oppose.”
Quoting the late Pope, Archbishop Broglio explained that the encyclical “prophetically” called on the world to rebuild its sense of communion, reminding his readers how the erosion of social communion could lead to human beings being manipulated by the powerful. He attacked what he called a “perverse idea” that “one can serve the common good by becoming an instrument of violence”. “This happens”, he said, “when we refuse to see the face of Christ in the other person and only see an enemy that must be dominated or destroyed.”
Read the full story in the NCR here.
Picture above, the crucifix outside St Peter’s Church in Cuenca.