The Bishop of Orlando said that “a sword has pierced the heart of our city” this morning as the Florida tourist town came to terms with the attack on a crowded nightclub that left 50 people dead and 53 wounded in what was the worst mass shooting in the US for 25 years.
“A sword has pierced the heart of our city. Since learning of the tragedy this morning, I have urged all to pray for the victims, the families and first responders,” Bishop John G. Noonan said in a statement.
He said that priests, deacons and counsellors from the diocese were helping survivors and families of victims to come to terms with the shooting which saw lone gunman Omar Mateen, 29, open fire inside the Pulse club in the early hours of Sunday morning. Mateen, who phoned emergency services in the US and declared his allegiance to the Islamic State, was killed when SWAT team members stormed the nightclub.
"The healing power of Jesus goes beyond our physical wounds but touches every level of our humanity: physical, emotional, social, spiritual," Noonan added. "Jesus calls us to remain fervent in our protection of life and human dignity and to pray unceasingly for peace in our world."
Meanwhile, UK LGBT societies have organised a number of candlelit vigils for this evening. Last night, most cities in the US had a candlelit vigil for the victims. A prayer vigil - called a "Vigil to Dry Tears" - has been organised for this evening by Bishop Noonan at St James Cathedral in Orlando.
"Waking up to the unspeakable violence in Orlando reminds us of how precious human life is," said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, who is president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. "Our prayers are with the victims, their families and all those affected by this terrible act," he said in a statement over the weekend. "The merciful love of Christ calls us to solidarity with the suffering and to ever greater resolve in protecting the life and dignity of every person.
"Our prayers and hearts are with the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, their families and our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters," said Chicago Archbishop Blase J. Cupich.
The Vatican also released a statement from the Pope who hoped that society was quick to find out why such a “terrible and absurd” atrocity had taken place.
"The terrible massacre that has taken place in Orlando, with its dreadfully high number of innocent victims, has caused in Pope Francis, and in all of us, the deepest feelings of horror and condemnation, of pain and turmoil," the statement said. "Pope Francis joins the families of the victims and all of the injured in prayer and in compassion.
"Sharing in their indescribable suffering he entrusts them to the Lord so they may find comfort. We all hope that ways may be found, as soon as possible, to effectively identify and contrast the causes of such terrible and absurd violence which so deeply upsets the desire for peace of the American people and of the whole of humanity," the statement concluded.
"In response to hatred, we are called to sow love," Archbishop Cupich added. "In response to violence, peace. And, in response to intolerance, tolerance."
MAIN PICTURE: Terry DeCarlo, executive director of the LGBT Center of Central Florida, pictured right, is comforted by an Orlando police officer
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