USCCB President and Chairman of Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Respond to Terror Attack at Mosque in London

WASHINGTON—CardinalDaniel DiNardo, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops(USCCB) and Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, Bishop ofSpringfield, Massachusetts and Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Ecumenicaland Interreligious Affairs have issued a joint statement in response to Sunday's attack onworshipers outside a mosque in London.

Theattack occurred after a van plowed into a crowd existing a mosque after Ramadanprayers near Finsbury Park located in north London.

The full joint statementfollows:

"We wouldlike to express our deepestcondolences to the peopleof London who once again woke to the news of a terrorist attack.  Ourprayers extend especially tothe communityof Muslims from Finsbury ParkMosque in North London whom it appears were the intended victims of theattacker. 

Once again, in this now sad reality ofregular acts of terror that are meant to destroylife and tocrush hope,we remember that light has overcome darkness once and for all. Letus be united in hope and with one voice reject utterly all forms of terror andviolence that seek to dissuadeus from the pursuit of a culture of life andsolidarity. 

The Bishops of the United States unequivocallyreject suchacts of violence and plead withall people to cease from committing or plotting to commit furtheracts.  

In this dark hour for the people of London,especially the Muslim community, please know that we stand in solidarity with you,mourning for the loss of life and praying for the victims, their families, andthe entire nation." 

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Keywords:United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, mosque attack, Muslim community,Finsbury Park, London, terror attack, culture of life, solidarity, violentextremism, peace.

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